Shark Mackerel (species: Grammatorcynus bicarinatus) in Lady Elliot Island (Gaia Guide)
Grammatorcynus bicarinatus
Shark Mackerel


©Andy Lewis: Lizard Island

©Anne: Shark Mackerel at Snake Pit near Lizard Island

©Anne: Shark Mackerel at Hicks Reef near Lizard Island. Note the greenish mottling on upper side, the double lateral line and relative size of the eye.
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Scombridae
Genus Grammatorcynus
Species Grammatorcynus bicarinatus
Status least concern

Colours

                        

Distinguishing features

A silvery mackerel with blue/green tinge on upper side, up to about 60 cm long in the Lizard Island area although reported to 130 cm elsewhere. A double lateral line, the upper one running straight from gill cover to tail, the other splitting from it behind the pectoral fin and plunging steeply towards the lower side, running along belly and joining the first near the tail. A small eye, only 3 to 4% of fork length.

Size

  • Up to 112 cm (Length of specimen)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

It can be found in marine environments.

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia: This is probably the most common mackerel in the Lizard Island area.

Web resources

References

  • Bott, N.J. and T.H. Cribb (2005). Grammatorcynicola n. g. (Bucephalidae: Dolichoenterinae) from Grammatorcynus sp(p). (Scombridae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Systematic Parasitology, 61: 93-98. LIRS catalog number 1008.
  • Bray, R.A. and T.H. Cribb (2008). Stephanostomum sp(p). (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from scombrids and carangids (Perciformes) from the Great Barrier Reef, with the description of two new species, Revisita Mexicana de Bidiversidad, 79: 49S-68S. LIRS catalog number 1151.
  • Bray, R.A., T.H. Cribb and S.C. Barker (1993). Hemiuridae (Digenea) from marine fishes of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, Systematic Parasitology, 25: 37-62. LIRS catalog number 484.
  • View all references