| Synonyms | | | | Scomber cordyla Linnaeus, 1758, (original description). |
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| FAO Names | | En - Torpedo scad, Fr - Comète torpille, Sp - Macarela torpedo. |
| 3Alpha Code: HAS Taxonomic Code: 1702317901 |
| Diagnostic Features | | | Body elongate, subcilindrical, a little compressed posteriorly, and with caudal peduncle strongly compressed with a marked medial keel. Snout and lower jaw pointed with a single row of small teeth, except a narrow band anteriorly; upper jaw extending posteriorly to centre of eye with small villiform teeth, outer teeth moderately enlarged. Eye moderate, with well developed adipose eyelid completely covering eye except for a vertical slit centred on pupil. Gillrakers (including rudiments) 8 to 11 upper, 18 to 22 lower and 26 to 32 total on first gill arch. Shoulder girdle (cleithrum) margin smooth, without papillae. Lateral line strongly arched anteriorly, with junction of curved and straight parts below 4th or 5th spine of dorsal fin; chord of curved part of lateral line contained 3.6 to 4.7 times in straight part (to caudal base); scales in curved part of lateral line 21 to 28; straight part with 51 to 59 very large scutes. Breast naked ventrally and laterally in a triangular area for about one third distance to pectoral fin base. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with 8 spines; the second with I + 18-20 soft rays, posterior 7 to 9 rays consisting of detached finlets. Anal fin with 2 spines and I + 16-17 soft rays, posterior 8 to 10 rays consisting of detached finlets. Colour head and body bluish to green dorsally, sides and belly silvery; large black opercular spot. Dorsal and anal fins pale to yellow, distally dusky; pectoral and pelvic fins pale, with upper half dusky. Caudal fin dark, especially leading and trailing edges of fin. |
| Geographical Distribution | | | | Broadly distributed throughout the Western Indian Ocean. Elsewhere found in the Western Pacific Ocean from Japan to Australia. Records of the species from Hawaii appear to be erroneous. |
| Habitat and Biology | | | Pelagic species,occurs in inshore waters of the continental shelf.Forms schools.Feeds mainly on fish. |
| Size | | | Reported maximum, 80 cm total length; commonly attains 30 to 40 cm total length and 3 to 4 kg. |
| Interest to Fisheries | | Global Capture production for
Megalaspis cordyla
(FAO Fishery Statistic) |  |   |
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Throughout its range, rather important commercially in Indian waters. Caught on hooks and lines, with beach seines, trawls, purse seines and traps. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 78 259 t. The countries with the largest catches were Thailand (21 300 t) and Malaysia (19 895 t).
Generally marketed fresh and dried salted. | |  Related Fishing Techniques |
| Local Names | | | Arabic : Diayooh , Diyayoo , Teety , Titi . |
| English : Finletted mackerel , Finny scad , Hardtail scad , Torpedo trevally . |
| French : Carangue à bouclier , Comère torpille . |
| Malay/Indonesian : Besi hangat , Celek , Cencaru , Cincaru , Gelenggu , Geronggong , Jarajaru , Jaru-jaru , Keras ekor , Kerongan , Tegap . |
| Portuguese : Carapau torpedo . |
| Sinhalese : Giralava , Pothu giralava , Vangadi . |
| Tagalog : Atulay , Bakutut , Balangoan , Malaguno , Oriles , Pak-an . |
| Visayan : Adlao , Kalape-on . |
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Bibliography Catalog On Line. Fischer, W.; G. Bianchi (eds.). - 1984 FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and printed with the support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Vol. I-6: pag. var. Fishbase: ICLARM . |
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