Home · Carangidae · Cordyla scad
Cordyla scad (Megalaspis cordyla) — Carangidae

Cordyla scad

Megalaspis cordyla
Family: Carangidae
LC · Least Concern

The Cordyla scad (Megalaspis cordyla) is a brackish-water fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 80 cm.

Length
80 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
20.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The torpedo scad is a jack of the family Carangidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 80 cm and has a streamlined, torpedo-shaped, silvery body with a thin tail stem armoured by a row of large, hardened scales (scutes), and finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins. Adults are mainly oceanic and pelagic and form fast schools, rarely seen above reefs. As a fast predator it hunts small fishes and crustaceans. The torpedo scad is an important commercial fish and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cordyla scad?

The Cordyla scad has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Cordyla scad live?

The Cordyla scad lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Cordyla scad get?

The Cordyla scad grows to a maximum of about 80 cm. On average the species is around 45 cm.

Is the Cordyla scad dangerous to humans?

No, the Cordyla scad is harmless to humans.

Is the Cordyla scad edible?

Yes, the Cordyla scad is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Torpedo-makreelhorsmakreel sourced
English name
Cordyla scad verified
Scientific name
Megalaspis cordyla
Family
Carangidae
Other names
Finletted mackerel; Finletted mackerel scad; Finny scad verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
80.0 verified
Average length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
5.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Carangidae

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