Initial language selection is based on your web browser preferences.
Distribution: Atlantic Ocean
Size Length: 60 cm
Life Span: 20 years
Diet: Carnivorous
Social life: Schools
IUCN red list status: Least Concern
Mackerel is a fast swimming fish which are related to the tuna. They are found in both temperate and tropical seas, mostly living along the coast or offshore in the oceanic environment. They may move offshore into deeper waters and spend the winter in relative inactivity. During the rest of the year they migrate across oceans.
Their body is covered with small silver, blue and green scales. Females grow bigger than males.
Often form schools and feed on small fishes, squids and small crustaceans. Mackerel are prolific and must breed near the surface of the water due to the eggs of the females floating. Individual females lay between 300,000 and 1,500,000 eggs.
## Keywords
animals chordates ray perch-likes Mackerels