False Scad

Diagnosis: body elongate and slightly compressed, its depth comprised from 3.8 to 4.4 times in fork length; eye posteriorly with a well developed adipose eyelid; 2 well separated dorsal fins, 1st with 8 spines, 2nd with 1 spine and 28-32 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines, followed by 1 spine and 25-28 soft rays; last dorsal and anal ray transformed into a partially separate finlet, connected to the preceding ray by a low interradial membrane; pectoral fins short (comprised from 1.0 to 1.2 times in head length); scales small and cycloid; curved part of lateral line with 45-55 scales and 0-3 scutes, straight part with 0-8 scales and 24-32 scutes (Ref. 57392).Coloration: back brownish to olivaceous, sides light olivaceous to whitish; a narrow yellowish band sometimes extending from head to caudal-fin base; a black spot on upper margin of gill cover; a black blotch with a narrow light distal margin present on second dorsal-fin lobe (Ref. 57392).

A partial spawner (Ref. 57055).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28 - 32; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 25 - 28

Form schools. They occur frequently near the bottom, mostly in depths of 30 to 50 m. Also pelagic and found near the surface at times. Entering brackish-water lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 57392). Feed on small fish and invertebrates (Ref. 3195). Spawning grounds are located in shallow waters (Ref. 57055). Eggs are pelagic (Ref. 4233).

fisheries: commercial