The
mackerel,
tuna, and
bonito family, Scombridae, includes many of the most important and familiar
food fishes. The family consists of 51 species in 15 genera and two subfamilies. All species are in the
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...
Scombrinae, except the
butterfly kingfish, which is the sole member of subfamily
Gasterochismatinae.
Scombrids have two
dorsal fins and a series of
finlets behind the rear dorsal fin and
anal fin
Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the back bone and are supported o ...
. The
caudal fin is strongly divided and rigid, with a slender, ridged base. The first (spiny) dorsal fin and the
pelvic fins are normally retracted into body grooves. Species lengths vary from the of the
island mackerel to the recorded for the immense
Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Scombrids are generally predators of the open ocean, and are found worldwide in tropical and temperate waters. They are capable of considerable speed, due to a highly streamlined body and retractable fins. Some members of the family, in particular the tunas, are notable for being partially
endothermic (warm-blooded), a feature that also helps them to maintain high speed and activity. Other adaptations include a large amount of red muscle, allowing them to maintain activity over long periods. Scombrids like the
yellowfin tuna can reach speeds of 22 km/h (14 mph).
Classification
Jordan, Evermann, and Clark (1930) divide these fishes into the four families: Cybiidae, Katsuwonidae, Scombridae, and Thunnidae, but
taxonomists later classified them all into a single family, the Scombridae.
The
World Wildlife Fund and the
Zoological Society of London jointly issued their "Living Blue Planet Report" on 16 September 2015 which states that a dramatic fall of 74% occurred in worldwide stocks of scombridae fish between 1970 and 2010, and the global overall "population sizes of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish fell by half on average in just 40 years".
Extant genera
The 51 extant species are in 15 genera and two subfamilies – with the subfamily
Scombrinae further grouped into four
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...
s, as:
;Family Scombridae
* Subfamily
Gasterochismatinae
** Genus ''
Gasterochisma''
* Subfamily
Scombrinae
** Tribe
Scombrini –
mackerels
*** Genus ''
Rastrelliger''
*** Genus ''
Scomber''
** Tribe
Scomberomorini
Scomberomorini is a tribe of ray-finned, saltwater, bony fishes that is commonly known as Spanish mackerels, seerfishes, or seer fish. This tribe is a subset of the mackerel family (Scombridae), which it shares with four sister tribes, the tu ...
–
Spanish mackerel
Scomberomorini is a tribe of ray-finned, saltwater, bony fishes that is commonly known as Spanish mackerels, seerfishes, or seer fish. This tribe is a subset of the mackerel family (Scombridae), which it shares with four sister tribes, the tu ...
s
*** Genus ''
Acanthocybium''
*** Genus ''
Grammatorcynus''
*** Genus ''
Orcynopsis''
*** Genus ''
Scomberomorus''
** Tribe
Sardini –
bonitos
*** Genus ''
Sarda''
*** Genus ''
Cybiosarda''
*** Genus ''
Gymnosarda''
** Tribe
Thunnini –
tunas
*** Genus ''
Allothunnus''
*** Genus ''
Auxis''
*** Genus ''
Euthynnus''
*** Genus ''
Katsuwonus''
*** Genus ''
Thunnus''
Fossil genera
The following fossil genera are known:
*Genus †''
Aramichthys'' (fossil;
middle Eocene of Syria)
*Genus †''
Eoscomber'' (fossil;
early Eocene of Senegal)
* Genus †''
Eoscombrus'' (fossil; late Eocene of California)
* Genus †''
Godsilia'' (fossil; early Eocene of Italy)
* Genus †''
Landanichthys'' (fossil;
middle Paleocene of Angola)
* Genus †''
Palaeocybium'' (fossil; Eocene to Oligocene of the United States and parts of Europe)
* Genus †''
Pseudauxides'' (fossil; early Eocene of Italy)
* Genus †''
Scombrinus'' (fossil; early Eocene of England)
* Genus †''
Thunnoscomberoides'' (fossil; early Eocene of Italy)
* Genus †''
Wetherellus'' (fossil; early Eocene of England)
* Subfamily
Scombrinae
** Genus †''
Tamesichthys'' (early Eocene of England)
** Genus †''
Mioscomber'' (middle Miocene of the
North Caucasus
The North Caucasus, or Ciscaucasia, is a subregion in Eastern Europe governed by Russia. It constitutes the northern part of the wider Caucasus region, which separates Europe and Asia. The North Caucasus is bordered by the Sea of Azov and the B ...
(Russia) and Croatia)
** Tribe †
Eocoelopomini
*** Genus †''
Eocoelopoma'' (early Eocene of England &
Turkmenistan)
*** Genus †''
Palaeothunnus'' (early Eocene of Turkmenistan)
*** Genus †''
Micrornatus'' (early Eocene of England)
**Tribe
Scomberomorini
Scomberomorini is a tribe of ray-finned, saltwater, bony fishes that is commonly known as Spanish mackerels, seerfishes, or seer fish. This tribe is a subset of the mackerel family (Scombridae), which it shares with four sister tribes, the tu ...
***Genus †''
Caucombrus'' (
Early Oligocene
The Rupelian is, in the geologic timescale, the older of two age (geology), ages or the lower of two stage (stratigraphy), stages of the Oligocene epoch (geology), Epoch/series (stratigraphy), Series. It spans the time between . It is preceded b ...
of the North Caucasus (Russia) and Germany)
***Genus †''
Neocybium'' (Late Eocene of Kazakhstan, Early Oligocene of Germany & Georgia)
**Tribe
Scombrini
***Genus †''
Auxides'' (early Eocene of Senegal, Turkmenistan, and much of Europe) (=''Scombrosarda'')
See also
*
Scombroid food poisoning
*
Mackerel as food
References
*
External links
*
* Skaphandrus.co
Scombridae
{{Authority control
Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque
Percomorpha families