Any of various fishes of the mackerel family, especially the
common mackerel (
Scomber scombrus) found in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. It weighs about 0.7 kg/1.5 lb, and is blue with irregular black bands down its sides, the sides and under surface having a metallic sheen. Like all mackerels, it has a deeply forked tail, and a sleek, streamlined body form. (Family Scombroidia.)
The largest of the mackerels is the
tuna, which weighs up to 700 kg/1,550 lb.
© RM 2012. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.