Horse Mackerel

Body elongate and slightly compressed; posterior edge of upper jaw reaching to below anterior margin of eye; eye large with a well developed adipose eyelid; shallow furrow on upper margin of shoulder girdle; body except for small part behind pectoral fin covered with small cycloid scales; body dark blue dorsally, silver-white ventrally; black blotch on posterior margin of opercle; tip of snout dusky; anterior margin and tip of first dorsal fin dusky, other parts pale; second dorsal fin pale; caudal fin dusky, pectoral and pelvic fins pale (Ref. 13608).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 28

Coastal pelagic and demersal over continental shelves. Rare in oceanic insular areas (Ref. 5217). Preyed on by juvenile comb grouper (Mycteroperca acutirostris) when protection given by the jellyfish fails (Ref. 52493). Often in schools. Feeds on small invertebrates. Marketed fresh locally and considered a good food fish (Ref. 9626). In southern Brazil found in 147 m depth (Ref. 47377).

Adults are benthopelagic over continental shelves (Ref. 5217). Rare in oceanic insular areas (Ref. 5217). Juveniles associate with the jellyfish Chrysaora lactea in Southwestern Atlantic. Preyed on by juvenile comb grouper (Mycteroperca acutirostris) when protection given by the jellyfish fails (Ref. 52493). Adults are found often in schools. They feed on small invertebrates. Marketed fresh locally and considered a good food fish (Ref. 9626). In southern Brazil, stocks are found in 147 m deep water (Ref. 47377).

fisheries: commercial