Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner 1868)

Body elongate, fairly compressed. Head large; posterior end of upper jaw reaching anterior margin of eye; lower jaw projected. Maxilla large, wide, not covered by lachrymal. Adipose eyelid well developed. Small nostrils closely situated each other, anterior nostril oval and posterior nostril crescent. A distinct notch on posterior margin of opercle. Dorsal accessory lateral line terminating below eighth spine to soft dorsal ray 3. Gillrakers, including rudiments, 36-41 on lower limb of first gill arch. Shoulder girdle (cleithrum) margin smooth, without papillae. First dorsal fin with 8 spines and I + 29-35. Anal fin with I + 26-39 preceded by 2 strong spines. Pelvic fin (I,5) moderate in size, originating below end of pectoral fin base. Scales in curved lateral line 39-48, expanded dorsolaterally and scute-like; in straight lateral line 35-44 scutes; total scales and scutes 75-89. Colour no distinctive markings except for a small, black opercular spot on edge near upper angle. Upper part of body and top of head dusky to nearly black or grey to bluish green; lower two thirds of body and head usually paler, whitish to silvery; caudal fin yellowish.

Eastern Atlantic, from Morocco, Portugal to Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean. The subspecies T. mediterraneus ponticus occurs in the Marmara and Black Seas, and southern and western parts of the Azov Sea.

To about 50 cm fork length, common 10 to 30 cm.

Benthopelagic species;usually near bottom in 5-250 m, at times also in surface waters;pelagic and migratory in large schools; often shoals with other species of Trachurus (T. trachurus, T. picturatus ).Feeding primarily on small crustaceans (copepods), shrimps, but also small fishes (especially sardines, anchovies, etc.). All have pelagic eggs and spawning generally occurs during the summer.

Caught commercially with pelagic and bottom trawls, longlines and purse seines (using light); traps and on line gear. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 12 898 t. The countries with the largest catches were Turkey (9 220 t) and Greece (3 534 t). Utilized fresh, canned and for fishmeal.