Gempylus serpens Cuvier, 1829

Snake mackerel

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Gempylidae
Synonyms	Gempylus coluber, Gempylus ophidianus, Lemnisoma thyrsitoides, ... more
Common names	Escolier serpent, Escolar de canal, Snack mackerel, ... more

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Image of Gempylus serpens (Snake mackerel)

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This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Nakamura, I. and N.V. Parin. 1993. (Ref. 6181)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Parin, Nikolay V. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 100.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6181); common length : 60.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6181)

Length at first maturity

, range 43 -

Environment

Pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 0 - 600 m (Ref. 13628)

Climate / Range

Deep-water; 42°N - 40°S, 180°W - 180°E (Ref. 6181)

Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Adults also often caught in temperate waters. Specimen caught on the Atlantic side of South Africa (33°08'S 16°47'E at 700 m) (Ref. 6193) probably strayed from the Indian Ocean.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 27 - 33; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12; Vertebrae: 48 - 55. Body is elongated and strongly compressed. The mouth is large with fang-like teeth. There are two lateral lines, both originating below the first spine of the dorsal fin. The upper lateral line follows the dorsal contour of the body to the end of the first dorsal fin base. The lower descends gradually posterior to about the tip of the pectoral fin and runs mid-laterally. Body color is uniformly dark brown; all fins dark brown with somewhat darker margins.

Strictly oceanic and usually solitary (Ref. 6181). Adults migrate to the surface at night while larvae and juveniles are found near the surface during the day (Ref. 6181). Feed on fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans (Ref. 9302). Males mature at 43 cm SL, females at 50 cm (Ref. 36731). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6766). Sold frozen, as sausages or fish cake (Ref. 9302). Not eaten raw, but cooked in any way, also dried (Ref. 7364).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; bait: occasionally


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment Abundance	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)

PD₅₀ = 1.0000

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec=300,000)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High vulnerability (63 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Luna, Susan M.

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