Okhotsk Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus azonus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Okhotsk Atka Mackerel is a fish of the northwest Pacific near Japan, Korea, and Russia, with no natural range in U.S. waters. It has a deeply forked tail and resembles the Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius).

Appearance

Appearance: It has an elongated body, a deeply forked tail, and five sensory lines along each side. Adults are often brown and mottled.

Look-alikes

Atka mackerelPleurogrammus monopterygius

The Atka mackerel has more distinct dark crossbands. On the Okhotsk Atka Mackerel, the bands fade and narrow toward the belly.

Why they get mixed upThe two close relatives have similar forked tails and have sometimes been grouped together.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Rocky seafloor
Northwest Pacific coasts
Range: Native to waters from the Sea of Okhotsk to Korea and Japan. The related Atka mackerel occurs off Alaska; this species has a western Pacific range.

Behavior

Diet: Off Korea, this fish has been found eating North Pacific krill.

Life cycle

Breeding season: Breeding in its native range spans fall and winter.
Nest: Eggs are placed in rocky crevices, where the male guards them.

Name and classification

About the name: The Okhotsk Atka Mackerel is also called the arabesque greenling.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

11 sources