mackerel

1. Any of several widely distributed marine fishes of the family Scombridae, especially the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), an important food fish having dark wavy bars on the back and a silvery belly.
2. Any of the smaller fishes of the suborder Scombroidea, such as the Spanish mackerel.
3. Any of various similar fishes.

[Middle English makerel, from Old French maquerel.]

For more information on mackerel, visit Britannica.com.

A fish which is a member of the order Perciformes, family Scombridae. There are about 50 carnivorous species found in the middle layer or near the surface of tropical and temperate seas. Mackerel are characterized by a long slender body, pointed head, and large mouth.

Scomber scombrus, the common mackerel, is an important fish commercially. It is a migratory species found on both sides of the North Atlantic. The Pacific mackerel (Pneumatophorus diego) is also an important commercial fish but differs from the common mackerel in having a swim bladder. The American Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) is a choice food fish. See also Perciformes.

An oily fish, Scomber scombrus. A 150-g portion is a rich source of protein, vitamins D, B₂, B₆, B₁₂, niacin, copper, iodine, and selenium; a source of vitamin B₁ and iron; contains 24 g of fat, of which 20% is saturated; supplies 330 kcal (1390 kJ).

[MAK-uhr-uhl] Any of several species of fish found in the Atlantic Ocean off both the North American and European coasts. The king mackerel (also called kingfish) is probably the most well known of this family of fish. The mackerel has a firm, high-fat flesh with a pleasant savory flavor. When small (about 1 pound), it's sold whole. Larger fish are cut into fillets and steaks. Mackerel is also available smoked or salted. The latter must be soaked overnight before using to leach excess salt. Mackerel can be cooked in almost any manner including broiling, baking and sautéing. See also fish.

A type of tabby pattern in cats where the coat colors appear to be striped.

Atlantic horse mackerel

For other uses, see Mackerel (disambiguation).

Look up mackerel in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

King mackerel

Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They may be found in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), enter bays and can be caught near bridges and piers. Common features of mackerels are a slim, cylindrical shape (as opposed to the tunas which are deeper bodied) and numerous finlets on the dorsal and ventral sides behind the dorsal and anal fins. The scales are extremely small, if present. The largest species called "mackerel" is the king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) which can grow to 66 inches (1.68 m). A female mackerel lays about 1,000,000 eggs at a time.

Shearwater, tuna, dolphins, whales, orca, seagulls, marlins, sharks, and humans may hunt mackerels. Mackerels are prized (and are highly harvested) for their meat, which is often very oily. They are known for their fighting ability, and are an important recreational and commercial fishery. The meat can spoil quickly, especially in the tropics, causing scombroid food poisoning - it must be eaten on the day of capture, unless cured. For this reason, mackerel is the only common salt-cured sushi. Mackerel fishery is well established in India, the species caught is usually Rastrelliger kanagurta.

Contents 1 Species 2 Use as an adjective 3 Notes 4 References 5 External links

Species

Family Scombridae

• Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus
• Atlantic chub mackerel, Scomber colias
• Atlantic Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus maculatus
• Blue mackerel Scomber australasicus
• Broadbarred king mackerel Scomberomorus semifasciatus
• Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus
• Australian spotted mackerel Scomberomorus munroi
• Double-lined mackerel Grammatorcynus bilineatus
• Happened mackerel Happundreus maculatus
• Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta
• Indo-Pacific king mackerel Scomberomorus guttatus
• Indo-Pacific mackerel Rastrelliger neglectus
• Short(-bodied) mackerel Rastrelliger brachysoma
• Island mackerel Rastrelliger faughni
• Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius
• King mackerel Scomberomorus cavalla
• Streaked Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus lineolatus

Family Carangidae

• Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus
• Blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus
• Cape horse mackerel Trachurus capensis
• Cunene horse mackerel Trachurus trecae
• Greenback horse mackerel Trachurus declivis
• Japanese horse mackerel Trachurus japonicus
• Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus
• Pacific jack mackerel Trachurus symmetricus

Family Hexagrammidae

• Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus
• Painted greenling, Oxylebius pictus
• Arabesque greenling Pleurogrammus azonus
• Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius

Family Gempylidae

• Black snake mackerel Nealotus tripes
• Blacksail snake mackerel Thyrsitoides marleyi
• Snake mackerel Gempylus serpens
• Violet snake mackerel Nesiarchus nasutus
• White snake mackerel Thyrsitops lepidopoides

Indo-Pacific king mackerel

King mackerel

Streaked Spanish mackerel

Greenback horse mackerel

Use as an adjective

"Mackerel" is also used as an adjective in the vernacular names of other animals or breeds thereof, often used to indicate types with a mackerel-like pattern of vertical stripes:

• Mackerel icefish - Champsocephalus gunnari
• Mackerel pike - Cololabis saira
• Mackerel scad - Decapterus macarellus
• Mackerel shark - several species
• Sharp-nose mackerel shark - Isurus oxyrinchus
• Mackerel trevalla - Seriolella punctata
• Mackerel tuna - Euthynnus affinis
• Mackerel tabby cat - Felis silvestris catus
• Mackerel Tail Goldfish - Carassius auratus

Atlantic Mackerel

Atlantic Spanish mackerel

Chub mackerel

Blue mackerel

Notes

References

• Bigelow HB and and Schroeder WC (1953) Fishes of the Gulf of Maine: Mackerel Fisheries Bulletin, Volume 53, Number 74, United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

External links

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on Mackerel

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mackerel

• Mackerel Nutrition Facts
• Fishing for mackerel

v • d • e Principal commercial fishery species groups Wild Large pelagic fish Mackerel · Salmon · Shark · Swordfish · Tuna (yellowfin, bigeye, bluefin, albacore and skipjack) Forage fish Anchovy · Capelin · Herring · Hilsa · Menhaden · Sardines · Shad Demersal fish Catfish · Cod (Atlantic, Pacific) · Flatfish (flounder, halibut, plaice, sole and turbot) · Haddock · Mullet · Orange roughy · Pollock · Smelt-whitings · Toothfish Freshwater fish Carp · Sturgeon · Tilapia · Trout Other wild fish Eel · Whitebait · more... Crustaceans Crab · Krill · Lobster · Shrimp · more... Molluscs Abalone · Mussels · Octopus · Oysters · Scallops · Squid · more... Echinoderms Sea cucumbers · Sea urchin · more... Farmed Carp (bighead, common, crucian, grass, silver) · Catfish · Freshwater prawns · Mussels · Oysters · Salmon (Atlantic, salmon trout, coho, chinook) · Tilapia · Shrimp Commercial fishing · Fishing topics · Fisheries glossary

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Common misspelling(s) of mackerel

• mackeral

Dansk (Danish)
n. - makrel

Nederlands (Dutch)
makreel

Français (French)
n. - maquereau

Deutsch (German)
n. - Makrele

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ιχθυολ.) σκουμπρί

Italiano (Italian)
scombro, maccarello

Português (Portuguese)
n. - cavalinha (f) (Ictiol.)

Русский (Russian)
макрель

Español (Spanish)
n. - caballa

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - makrill

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
鲭

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鯖

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 고등어

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - サバ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) نوع سمك من شمال الأطلسي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮דג מקרל, קולייס (דג)‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.