CHAPTER XIV 



THE MACKEREL FAMILY 

 {Scot)ibrid(B) 



The fishes of this family are all pelagic, and 

 most of them are highly valued for food. They 

 are characterized by an elongate body, more or 

 less compressed ; pointed head ; large mouth ; 

 sharp teeth ; two dorsal fins ; the anal and second 

 dorsal fins are similar in shape and size, and 

 both are followed by detached finlets ; the caudal 

 fin is widely forked or falcate, its pedicle very 

 slender and with a sharp keel ; scales small and 

 smooth. 



Scomberomorus maculatus. The Spanish Mackerel. Body elongate, 

 covered with rudimentary scales, which do not form a distinct 

 corselet ; head pointed, short and small ; mouth wide ; strong 

 teeth in jaws, knife-shaped ; sandlike teeth on vomer and pala- 

 tines ; gill-rakers 2 4- 1 1 ; caudal peduncle with a single keel ; 

 head 4^; depth 4^ ; D. XVII-18-IX; A. II-17-IX; eye 4f; 

 soft dorsal inserted in advance of anal, somewhat ; lateral line 

 undulating, with about 175 pores; spots bronze. 



Scotnbero?ftonts regalis. The Cero. Body rather elongate, its dorsal 

 and ventral curves about equal ; mouth large, maxillary reaching 

 to below the eye ; angle of preopercle produced backward ; pec- 

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