Trachurus

Trachurus 

(horse mackerel), a genus of fishes of the order Perciformes. The spindle-shaped body measures up to 50 cm long and weighs up to 400 g. There is a thin caudal peduncle, and the lateral line is covered with bony scutes over its entire length. There are more than ten species, distributed mainly in the subtropical and moderately warm waters of the world ocean. The horse mackerel is a pelagic schooling fish that makes long seasonal migrations. The roe are pelagic and the fingerlings frequently swim under the umbrella of jellyfishes. The diet consists of planktonic crustaceans and small fishes. The fishes are commercially valuable. Four species are encountered in the waters of the USSR: two in the Sea of Japan and two in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Sea of Azov.

REFERENCES

Svetovidov, A. N. Ryby Chemogo moria. Moscow-Leningrad, 1964.
Nikol’skii, G. V. Chastnaia ikhtiologiia, 3rd ed. Moscow, 1971.
Zhizn’ zhivotnykh, vol. 4, part 1. Moscow, 1971.,