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Barred yellowtail scad (Atule mate) — Carangidae

Barred yellowtail scad

Atule mate
Family: Carangidae
LC · Least Concern

The Barred yellowtail scad (Atule mate) is a brackish-water fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
1.0–80.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; mangroves, coastal bays and pelagic coastal waters.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The yellowtail scad is a jack of the family Carangidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with a yellowish tail and a row of hardened scales (scutes) along the rear lateral line. Adults inhabit mangroves and coastal bays in pelagic waters and form schools. As a fast predator it feeds on small zooplankton, shrimps and small fishes. The yellowtail scad is an important commercial schooling fish eaten fresh and dried. It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barred yellowtail scad?

The Barred yellowtail scad has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Yellowish tail and hardened scales along the rear lateral line; commercial schooling fish.

Where does the Barred yellowtail scad live?

The Barred yellowtail scad lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific; mangroves, coastal bays and pelagic coastal waters.

How big does the Barred yellowtail scad get?

The Barred yellowtail scad grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 26 cm.

Is the Barred yellowtail scad dangerous to humans?

No, the Barred yellowtail scad is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Barred yellowtail scad edible?

Yes, the Barred yellowtail scad is commonly eaten.

More photos

Barred yellowtail scad (Atule mate) — Carangidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Snow Dennis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Barred yellowtail scad (Atule mate) — Carangidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Kare Kare (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Barred yellowtail scad (Atule mate) — Carangidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Ben Costamagna, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Barred yellowtail scad (Atule mate) — Carangidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) portioid, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Barred yellowtail scad verified
Scientific name
Atule mate
Family
Carangidae
Other names
Deep trevally; Finlet scad; Horse mackerel; Northern yellowtail scad; One finlet scad; Yellowtail scad; One-finlet scad; Scad; Slender-scaled scad; Trevally; Yellow-tail scad; Yellowtailed scad verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
26.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
80.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; mangroves, coastal bays and pelagic coastal waters. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton, shrimps and small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Yellowish tail and hardened scales along the rear lateral line; commercial schooling fish. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Carangidae

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