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Snake Mackerel
Gempylus serpens Cuvier, 1829
Head of a Snake Mackerel.
The Snake Mackerel is a member of the fish family Gempylidae. This family also contains the gemfishes, escolars, Oilfish and snoeks. Fishes in this family are generally long and slender, have strong teeth (which are often fang-like), two dorsal fins, and a forked tail (caudal fin).
The Snake Mackerel is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. It has been recorded from the surface to a depth of at least 200m. It grows to a length of 1m and feeds on fishes, squids and crustaceans.
Further Reading
- Nakamura, I & N.V. Parin. 1993. Snake Mackerels and Cutlassfishes of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of the Snake Mackerels, Snoeks, Escolars, Gemfishes, Sackfishes, Domine, Oilfish, Cutlassfishes, Scabbardfishes, Hairtails and Frostfishes Known to Date. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 15. FAO. Rome. Pp. 136.
- Stewart, A & C. Roberts. 1999. Identification of tuna longline bycatch: Snake Mackerel, Escolar and Oilfish. Seafood New Zealand. 17(5):82-84.
