Synopsis on the Biology of the Jack Mackerel 



By 

 JOHN S. MACGREGOR, FISHERY BIOLOGIST (RESEARCH) 



BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES 

 TUNA RESOURCES LABORATORY, LA JOLLA, CALIF. 



ABSTRACT 



This synopsis brings together all extant knowledge of the jack mackerel. This 

 knowledge covers nomenclature, taxonomy, morphology, distribution, ecology and 

 life history, population, exploitation, and protection and management. 



INTRODUCTION 



The Fisheries Biology Branch of F.A.O.has 

 formed a "Synopsis Association" composed of 

 fishery agencies willing to contribute to the 

 preparation of synopses on fishes and other 

 aquatic organisms of commercial value. As 

 of this time several organizations, including 

 the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, have 

 agreed to collaborate with F^.O. in this 

 undertaking. Some Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries personnel have already prepared 

 species synopses, issued by F.A.O. Fisheries 

 Biology Branch, in connection with the world 

 species meetings on sardine and tuna. Under 

 the present agreement the Bureauhas assigned 

 the preparation of synopses on various eco- 

 nomically important species to a number of 

 its laboratories. These synopses will be pub- 

 lished in the Special Scientific Report--Fish- 

 eries series, and will follow the format pre- 

 sented in "Preparation of Synopses on the 

 Biology of Species of Living Aquatic Orga- 

 nisms" by H. Rosa Jr., Biology Branch, 

 Fisheries Division, F.A.O. 



The primary purpose of this series is to 

 make existing information readily available 

 to fishery scientists, according to a standard 

 pattern, and by so doing also to draw attention 

 to gaps in knowledge. It is hoped that synopses 

 in this series will be useful to scientists ini- 

 tiating investigations of the species concerned 

 or of related ones; as a means of exchange of 

 knowledge among those already working on 

 the species, and as the basis for comparative 

 study of fishery resources. 



Trachurus symmetricus (Ayres) Gill, Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862: 261. (Cape San 

 Lucas), 



Caranx picturatus (Bowdich); Jordan and Gil- 

 bert, Proc, U.S. Nat. Mus. 1882; 269. (Mon- 

 terey, Santa Barbara, San Pedro, Cape San 

 Lucas). 



Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich)^ Jordan and 

 Gilbert, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1882, 269. 

 Proc. U.S. Nat, Mus. 1883: 191. (Monterey, 

 Santa Barbara, San Pedro, Cape San Lucas). 



Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich). Jordan and 

 Everman, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., 47, 1896; 909. 

 (San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Barbara, San 

 Pedro, Cape San Lucas). 



Decapterus polyaspis Walford and Myers, 

 Copeia. 1944: 45. (Oregon, British Columbia). 



Trachurus symmetricus (Ayres) Roedel and 

 Fitch, Copeia. No. 1, 1952; 4. (Oregon, British 

 Columbia; Oregon to San Juanico Bay, Baja 

 Calif.). 



1.2 Taxonomy 



1.21 Affinities 



Phylum 

 Class 

 Order 

 Family 



Chorda ta 

 Teleostomi 

 Perciformes 

 Carangidae 



1 IDENTITY 



1.1 Nomenclature 



1.11 Valid name 



Trachurus symmetricus (Ayres), Proc. Cal. 

 Acad, Nat. Sci. 1: 1855, 62. 



1.12 Synonymy 



Caranx symmetricus Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. 

 Nat, Sci, 1, 1855: 62. (San Francisco). 



TRACHURUS 



Scomber Linnaeus , 1758, Systema naturae, 

 Ed, X, vol, 1; 298, Scomber, trachurus 

 Linnaeus after S comber linealaterali 

 aculeata of Artedi. 



Trachurus Rafinesque, 



1810: Caratteri di 



Alcuni Nuovi Generi e Nuove Specie di 

 Animale e Piante della Sicilia, p. 41, 

 Type: Scomber trachurus Linnaeus = 

 Trachurus saurus Rafinesque. 



