Fin's Fish Guide
The False scad (Caranx rhonchus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 60 cm.
Eastern Atlantic from Morocco to Angola, along the African Mediterranean coast and to Namibia.
Description
The false scad is a slender predator of the family Carangidae reaching about 60 cm. The back is brownish to olive, the flanks light olive to whitish, with a black spot on the upper edge of the gill cover and a dark blotch on the second dorsal fin. The last dorsal and anal rays form a partly separate finlet. The species lives in schools, often close to the bottom and sometimes pelagic near the surface, in the eastern Atlantic and southern Mediterranean, usually between 30 and 50 m. It hunts small fishes and invertebrates and is a valued food fish across its range.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the False scad?
The False scad has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Slender jack with a black blotch on the upper edge of the operculum and a black blotch on the second dorsal fin.
Where does the False scad live?
The False scad lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Eastern Atlantic from Morocco to Angola, along the African Mediterranean coast and to Namibia.
How big does the False scad get?
The False scad grows to a maximum of about 60 cm. On average the species is around 35 cm.
Is the False scad dangerous to humans?
No, the False scad is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.
Is the False scad edible?
Yes, the False scad is commonly eaten.
More photos
Easily confused with
These species look like the False scad and live in the same waters.
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Caranx
More from the family Carangidae
Want the complete picture on the False scad?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the False scad is one of 12,519 species in the app.