Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich, 1825)
Blue jack mackerel
Trachurus picturatus
photo by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP

Family:  Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Caranginae
Max. size:  60 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 18 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 305 - 370 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: southern Bay of Biscay to southern Morocco including Azores, Madeira , Canary Islands, Tristan de Cunha and Gough Islands. Also known from the western part of the Mediterranean Sea. Reported from Mauritania (Ref. 55783). Is also reported from the eastern part of Mediterranean by several references that may need confirmation - see the list of countries (NB).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Adults are found at depths ranging from 305 to 368 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). They can be seen up to depth of 370 m (Ref. 4233). They are confined to neritic zones of island shelves, banks and sea mounts; a schooling species (Ref. 4233). Known to migrate between the coast of Sahara and the offshore seamounts possibly reaching the Cape Verde Islands (Ref. 26139). They feed mainly on crustaceans (Ref. 4233). Eggs are pelagic (Ref. 4233).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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