Scombridae

Scombridae is the family of the mackerels, tunas, and bonitos, and thus includes many of the most important and familiar food fishes. The family consists of about 55 species in 15 genera and two subfamilies. All species are Scombrinae, except Butterfly kingfish - which is the sole member of subfamily Gasterochismatinae.

Scombrids have two dorsal fins, and a series of finlets behind the rear dorsal fin and anal fin. The caudal fin is strongly divided and rigid, with a slender, ridged, base. The first (spiny) dorsal fin and the pelvic fins are normally retracted into body grooves. Species length varies from the 20 cm length of the island mackerel to the 458 cm recorded for the immense Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Scombrids are generally predators of the open ocean, and are found worldwide in tropical and temperate waters. They are capable of considerable speed, due to a highly streamlined body and retractable fins. Some members of the family, in particular the tunas, are notable for being endothermic (warm-blooded), a feature that also helps them to maintain high speed and activity. Other adaptations include a large amount of red muscle, allowing them to maintain activity over long periods. The fastest recorded scombrid is the wahoo, which can attain speeds of 75 kilometres per hour (47 mph).^[1]

Classification

Jordan, Evermann and Clark (1930) divide these fishes into the four families Cybiidae, Katsuwonidae, Scombridae, and Thunnidae,^[2] but this article follows FishBase in placing them in the single family Scombridae.^[3]

There are about fifty extant species in fourteen genera:

Family Scombridae

• Subfamily Gasterochismatinae
  • Genus Gasterochisma
• Subfamily Scombrinae
  • Genus Acanthocybium
  • Genus Allothunnus
  • Genus Auxis
  • Genus Cybiosarda
  • Genus Euthynnus
  • Genus Grammatorcynus
  • Genus Gymnosarda
  • Genus Katsuwonus
  • Genus Orcynopsis
  • Genus Rastrelliger
  • Genus Sarda
  • Genus Scomber
  • Genus Scomberomorus
  • Genus Thunnus

Timeline of genera

See also

• Scombroid poisoning

References

• Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560. http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class. Retrieved 2011-05-19.