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Arumau (Decapterus macarellus) — Carangidae

Arumau

Decapterus macarellus
Family: Carangidae
LC · Least Concern

The Arumau (Decapterus macarellus) is a saltwater fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 46 cm.

Length
46 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–400.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Venomous / poisonous
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The mackerel scad is a slender, streamlined jack of the family Carangidae living in schools in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. The species has a fusiform, blue-green to silvery body with detached finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins and reaches about 46 cm. Adults prefer clear oceanic water, often around islands and along reef edges near deep water, and feed mainly on zooplankton. The species is of great fishery importance and is caught with purse seines and trawls and marketed fresh, salted or dried.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Arumau?

The Arumau has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Arumau live?

The Arumau lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Arumau get?

The Arumau grows to a maximum of about 46 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Arumau dangerous to humans?

The Arumau is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed.

Is the Arumau edible?

Yes, the Arumau is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Steenmarsbanker sourced
English name
Arumau verified
Scientific name
Decapterus macarellus
Family
Carangidae
Other names
Cigarfish; Kingston; Kombong; Mackerel verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
46.0 verified
Average length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue 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
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
400.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Gevangen met ringzegen en trawls; vers, gezouten of gedroogd verhandeld. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Venomous / poisonous sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Decapterus

More from the family Carangidae

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