Scomberomorus regalis
Cero
NS
GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Scombridae (Mackerels)
Scomberomorus
Scomberomorus regalis (Cero)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Relatively large jaw teeth, closely spaced dorsal fins, pointed snout longer than eye diameter but shorter than remainder of head, maxilla extends below posterior margin of eye and is exposed when mouth is closed, jaw teeth triangular and compressed in a single series, palatine and vomer with teeth in patches, 12 to 18 gill rakers on first arch, pectoral fin short with 20 to 24 rays, first dorsal fin originates above pectoral fin base with 16 to 18 spines, second dorsal fin with 16 to 19 rays followed by 7 to 9 finlets, interpelvic process bifid and small, anal fin similar to second dorsal fin with 15 to 20 rays followed by 7 to 10 finlets, caudal peduncle with long lateral keel, caudal fin semilunate, body covered with small scales, lateral line single and sloping downward toward caudal peduncle, gas bladder absent, vertebrae number 47 or 48
Silvery dorsally and silvery to whitish on sides and ventrally, with midlateral stripe, rows of yellowish orange streaks, and small yellow spots on either side of stripe, anterior third of first dorsal fin black and remainder white
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Cape Cod to northern South America, including the northern and southern Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles
Habitat Associations
Clear water around reefs
Biology
Squids, shrimps, and small schooling ray-finned fishes, such as clupeids (Harengula, Jenkinsia, and Opisthonema) and atherinids (Atherinella)
Maximum known size is 835 mm FL
Fecundity ranges from 160,000 to 2,230,000 in females ranging from 38 to 80 cm FL, males mature between 325 to 349 mm FL, and females mature at about 380 mm FL
Most abundant in clear waters around coral reefs, occasionally forming schools. Feeds on clupeoids (Harengula, Jenkinsia and Opisthonema) and atherinids (Allanetta [= Craterocephalus), squids and shrimps. Good food and game fish (Ref. 5521). Utilized fresh, smoked and frozen; consumed pan-fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9987). Sometimes called the "Painted Mackerel" (Ref. 13442).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2022-11-10. Resilience: Medium (Fec=160,000; assuming tm=2-4).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.
References
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998
Manooch et al. 1978
Collette and Russo 1984
Collette and Nauen 1983
Schaldach et al. 1997
Banford et al. 1999
Castro-Aguirre et al. 1999
Collette 2002g
Randall, J.E. (1967) Food habits of reef fishes of the West Indies. Stud. Trop. Oceanogr. Miami 5:665-847.
Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen (1983) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137 p.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Collette, B.B. and J.L. Russo (1984) Morphology, systematics, and biology of the Spanish mackerels (Scomberomorus, Scombridae). Fish. Bull. 82(4):545-692.
Cervigón, F. (1994) Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 3. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 295 p.
Claro, R. (1994) Características generales de la ictiofauna. p. 55-70. In R. Claro (ed.) Ecología de los peces marinos de Cuba. Instituto de Oceanología Academia de Ciencias de Cuba and Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana Roo.
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