Rastrelliger brachysoma, commonly known as the short-bodied mackerel, is a species of fish found in the Indian Ocean. It is a relatively small fish, reaching a maximum size of 34.5 centimeters. Rastrelliger brachysoma is an important food source for humans and is also commercially fished.
Description & Characteristics
Rastrelliger brachysoma is a streamlined fish with a fusiform body shape. It has a silvery-blue back, a silvery-white belly, and a series of dark stripes running along its sides. The fish has a forked tail fin, a small mouth, and a long dorsal fin. Its body is covered in small, smooth scales.
Habitat and Occurrence
Rastrelliger brachysoma is a pelagic fish, typically found in the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones of the Indian Ocean, ranging from the surface to depths of 200 meters. It prefers areas with high levels of plankton, its primary food source. The species’ distribution spans the Indian Ocean, making it a common inhabitant of these marine ecosystems.
Taxonomy
Rastrelliger brachysoma is classified within the Class: Teleostei, Order: Scombriformes, and Family: Scombridae. This classification places it among the ray-finned bony fishes, specifically within the tuna-like fishes, and the family that includes tunas, mackerels, and bonitos.
Feeding
Rastrelliger brachysoma is a carnivorous fish that feeds primarily on plankton, small crustaceans, and other small fishes. It is an opportunistic feeder, consuming whatever prey is most abundant in its environment.
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