Temperate Scad (Decapterus muroadsi) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Temperate scad is a schooling fish found in coastal waters and around Pacific islands. A yellowish side stripe and a tail with a paler upper part and darker lower part help distinguish temperate scad from mackerel scad, though faded colors can make photos inconclusive. Temperate scad is also known as amberstripe scad.

Appearance

Appearance: The long, narrow body is blue-green above and silvery below. An amber stripe can run along the side, and the upper tail lobe is paler than the lower one.

Look-alikes

Mackerel ScadDecapterus macarellus

Temperate Scad can show an amber side stripe and a tail with a yellowish upper lobe and darker lower lobe. Mackerel Scad has a more evenly yellow-green tail; faded color may make photos inconclusive.

Why they get mixed upBoth are narrow, silvery scads found around Pacific islands.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: coastal open water
waters around islands
Range: It occurs around the northwestern Hawaiian Islands and in the eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California southward. Reports also extend into southern California.

Behavior

Diet: It mainly eats small drifting invertebrates.
Social life: Adults swim in schools.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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