You can sponsor this page

Scomberomorus niphonius (Cuvier, 1832)

Japanese Spanish mackerel
Add your observation in Fish Watcher
Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.
Scomberomorus niphonius   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
Upload your photos and videos
Pictures | Stamps, coins, misc. | Google image
Image of Scomberomorus niphonius (Japanese Spanish mackerel)
Scomberomorus niphonius
Picture by CAFS


Korea (South) country information

Common names: Sam-ch'i, 삼치
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: commercial | Ref: FAO, 1994
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Also Ref. 168.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Kim, I.S., Y. Choi, C.L. Lee, Y.J. Lee, B.J. Kim and J.H. Kim, 2005
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Scombriformes (Mackerels) > Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
Etymology: Scomberomorus: Latin, scomber = mackerel + Greek, moros = silly, stupid (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: Cuvier.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 200 m (Ref. 54883).   Temperate; 45°N - 18°N, 108°E - 143°E (Ref. 54883)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Northwest Pacific: confined to the subtropical and temperate waters of China, the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan north to Vladivostok, former USSR. Often confused with Scomberomorus munroi.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 113 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 116934); max. published weight: 8.0 kg (Ref. 116934)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 19 - 21; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 19; Anal soft rays: 16 - 20; Vertebrae: 48 - 50. Interpelvic process small and bifid. Lateral line gradually curving down toward caudal peduncle. The only species in the genus with a straight intestine. Swim bladder absent. Body covered with small scales. Anterior quarter of first dorsal fin and a narrow distal margin of the rest of the dorsal fin black. Sides with seven or more rows of longitudinal spots on the sides; some spots connected together.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Found near shore (including semi-enclosed sea areas) (Ref. 11230). Undergoes a spawning migration in spring (March to June) and a feeding migration in fall (September to November) in the Inland Sea of Japan. Feeds on small fishes. Another major fishing gear that is used are set nets. This species is the most important Scomberomorus species in Japan which is cultured and released for fishery. Marketed fresh and especially tasty in winter. Eaten pan-fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9988).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Collette, Bruce B. | Collaborators

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, 1983. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137 p. (Ref. 168)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Near Threatened (NT) (A2bd); Date assessed: 19 October 2022

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
FAO(Fisheries: production, species profile; publication : search) | FishSource | Sea Around Us

More information

Trophic ecology
Food items
Diet compositions
Food consumptions
Food rations
Predators
Ecology
Ecology
Home ranges
Population dynamics
Growths
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversions
Recruitments
Abundances
Life cycle
Reproduction
Maturities
Fecundities
Spawnings
Spawning aggregations
Egg(s)
Egg developments
Larvae
Larval dynamics
Distribution
Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
BRUVS - Videos
Anatomy
Gill areas
Brains
Otoliths
Physiology
Body compositions
Nutrients
Oxygen consumptions
Swimming type
Swimming speeds
Visual pigment(s)
Fish sounds
Diseases / Parasites
Toxicities (LC50s)
Genetics
Genetics
Electrophoreses
Heritabilities
Human related
Aquaculture systems
Aquaculture profiles
Strains
Ciguatera cases
Stamps, coins, misc.
Outreach
Collaborators
References
References

Tools

Special reports

Download XML

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 13 - 24.5, mean 19.2 (based on 181 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5000   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00288 (0.00155 - 0.00538), b=3.15 (2.97 - 3.33), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  4.5   ±0.8 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.7; Fec>100,000).
Prior r = 0.57, 95% CL = 0.37 - 0.85, Based on 1 data-limited stock assessment.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Low to moderate vulnerability (34 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref. 125649):  High vulnerability (58 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Very high.