Greenback horse mackerel

Taxobox
name = Greenback horse mackerel

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regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Carangidae
genus = "Trachurus"
species = "T. declivis"
binomial = "Trachurus declivis"
binomial_authority = (Jenyns, 1841)The greenback horse mackerel or greenback scad, "Trachurus declivis", is a species of jack in the family Carangidae, found around southern Australia, and around New Zealand, from the surface to depths of 460 m. Its length is up to 64 cm.

Its common name derives from the legend that other smaller species of fish could ride on its back over great distances.

The greenback horse mackerel is similar to the koheru but has a blunter snout, larger eyes, and a line of 71 - 89 large and conspicuous bony scutes along the entire lateral line. They are commonly found near the bottom, in midwater and occasionally at the surface over the continental shelf. They form pelagic schools for most of the year but may move close to the sea bed during winter. They are generally found at less than 300 m water depth with temperature less than 16° C. Juveniles inhabit coastal and estuarine waters although they may sometimes be found offshore.

They feed mostly during the day, mainly on krill and other planktonic crustaceans, hatchetfishes (Sternoptychidae) and lantern fish (Myctophidae) at the edge of the continental shelf.

It is an important commercial fish.

References

*
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, "Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand", (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8