Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Scombriformes (Order) > Scombroidei (Suborder) > Scombridae (Family) > Scombrinae (Subfamily) > Grammatorcynus (Genus)

Thazard à larges écailles, Maquereau saumon, Thazard kusara, Scad mackerel, Double-lined mackerel, Shark mackerel, Doublelined mackerel, Carite-cazón pintado, Serra-cação-pintada, Nijôsaba, ニジョウサバ, 大眼双线鲅,

Synonymes
Grammatocrynus bilineatus (Rüppell, 1836)
Grammatorcynos bilineatus (Rüppell, 1836)
Grammatorcyus bilineatus (Rüppell, 1836)
Grammatorycnus bilineatus (Rüppell, 1836)
Nesogrammus piersoni (Evermann & Seale, 1907)
Thynnus bilineatus (Rüppell, 1836)

----------------------------------------

Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-14 + 6 finlets; Anal soft rays: 10-14 + 7 finlets; Pectoral fin rays: 22-26; Gill rakers: 18-24; Vertebrae: 14 precaudal plus 17 caudal, total: 31. Dorsal fins separated by a narrow space. Pectoral fins stout. Body elongate and slightly compressed. Mouth relatively small, upper jaw reaching about to middle of eye. Slender conical teeth forming a single series in each jaw, 20-30 in each jaw. Body covered in moderately small scales, no prominent corselet present. There are two lateral lines, one on the dorsal profile, and the other at the height of the pectoral fins. Caudal peduncle with well-developed keel, flanked on each side by a smaller keel. Swimbladder present. Max. published weight: 10.0 kg. Max. length: 100.0 cm FL; Common length: 50.0 cm TL. Depth range: 15 - 50 m.

Color
Metallic blue-green dorsally, similar for sides, fading to silvery white with golden tinge on belly. Belly with no spots.

Etymology
Grammatorcynus: from Latin, gramma-, ae- = line, solide line + from Latin, orycnus = Thunnus.
bilineatus: from Latin, bi = two + from Latin, lineatus, a, um = lined. In reference to the divided lateral line. 
Orginal description: Thynnus bilineatus Rüppell, 1836 - Type locality: Massawa, Eritrea, Red Sea.

Distribution
Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden east to Marshall Islands, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Scott Reef (Western Australia) and Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.

Biology
Inhabits open water but often seen swimming near outer reef walls or deep clear-water slopes. Found mostly in shallow reef waters where it forms large schools. Feeds on crustaceans and fishes, particularly clupeoids (Sardinella, Thrissocles), and other fishes such as Sphyraena and Balistes. Recreational fishers catch this species while trolling lures. This species is not highly sought after as the flesh is oily and not considered good eating. Its flesh is mild and pleasantly flavored, but brushed with lemon juice prior to cooking to remove the ammoniac-like smell. Marketed canned and frozen.

Similar species
Grammatorcynus bicarinatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) - Reported from New Caledonia. Grammatorcynus bilineatus differs from the closely related Grammatorcynus bicarinatus in having no spots on the belly, a larger eye (4.0-6.0 % vs 3.1-4.6 % in FL), more gill rakers (18-24 vs 12-14), and in its smaller size (60.0 cm vs 110.0 cm in FL). The two species also differ in a number of osteological characters.