The bigeye scad or big-eyed scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) is a species of oceanic fish found in tropical regions around the globe.[2] Other common names include purse-eyed scad, goggle-eyed scad, akule, chicharro, charrito ojón, jacks, matang baka, mushimas and coulirou.[2] The bigeye scad is fished commercially, both for human consumption and for bait.[3][4]

Bigeye scad
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Family: Carangidae
Genus: Selar
Species:
S. crumenophthalmus
Binomial name
Selar crumenophthalmus
(Bloch, 1793)
Synonyms

Scomber crumenophthalmus Bloch, 1793

Description

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The bigeye scad is blue-green or green on its back and sides and white on the underside. It grows to about 15 inches (38 cm) long and feeds on small invertebrates, fish larvae, and zooplankton. It is a schooling fish, it is mostly nocturnal, and it prefers clean, clear insular waters.

Uses

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Global capture production of Bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) in thousand tonnes from 1950 to 2022, as reported by the FAO[5]

The bigeye scad are fished commercially; the global catches are about 200 thousand tonnes per year.[3] They are highly valued as food in Asian and Pacific cultures.[4] In Maldivian cuisine it is known as mushimas and commonly eaten in garudhiya or fried.[6] In Florida and the Caribbean, they are popular as bait.[4]

 
Philometra selaris (Nematoda, Philometridae), a parasite of the ovary of the bigeye scad. SEM.

Parasites

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Parasites of the bigeye scad include the philometrid nematode Philometra selaris, which lives inside the ovary of the females.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Smith-Vaniz, W.F.; Williams, J.T.; Brown, J.; Curtis, M. & Pina Amargos, F. (2017) [errata version of 2015 assessment]. "Selar crumenophthalmus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T190388A115316971. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T190388A16510647.en.
  2. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Selar crumenophthalmus". FishBase. August 2014 version.
  3. ^ a b "Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch, 1793)". FAO Species Fact Sheets. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Welch, A.; Hoenig, R.; Stieglitz, J.; Daugherty, Z.; Sardenberg, B.; Miralao, S.; Farkas, D.; Benetti, D. (2013). "Growth rates of larval and juvenile bigeye scad Selar crumenophthalmus in captivity". SpringerPlus. 2: 634. doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-634. PMC 3856327. PMID 24324928.
  5. ^ "Fisheries and Aquaculture - Global Production". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  6. ^ Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom, Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5
  7. ^ Moravec, František; Justine, Jean-Lou (2014). "Philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) in carangid and serranid fishes off New Caledonia, including three new species". Parasite. 21: 21. doi:10.1051/parasite/2014022. ISSN 1776-1042. PMC 4023622. PMID 24836940.  
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