CHAPTER XIV 



THE MACKEREL FAMILY 

 (Scombridce) 



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 + 11; caudal peduncle with a single keel ; 

 head 4j; depth 4$; D. XVII-i8-IX; A. II-I7-IX; eye 4f; 

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

 undulating, with about 175 pores; spots bronze. 



Scomberomorus 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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