# Atlantic Mackerel (*Scomber scombrus*) The Atlantic Mackerel is a fast and sleek fish that swims in the ocean. They have beautiful greenish-blue stripes on their backs! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Open ocean - **Also known as:** Boston Mackerel, Mackerel, Scomber scombrus ![Atlantic Mackerel](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426335/objects/4695.jpg) ## Appearance The Atlantic Mackerel has a sleek, torpedo-shaped body with an iridescent blue-green back and wavy, dark stripes. Its sides are silvery, fading to a white belly. This coloring provides excellent camouflage in open water. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopteri - **Order:** Scombriformes - **Family:** Scombridae - **Genus:** Scomber ## Interesting facts - Atlantic Mackerel must swim constantly to breathe, or they'll suffocate! - Mackerel eggs just float around in the ocean, drifting wherever currents take them! - These fish have very red blood, packed with oxygen for their speedy swimming! - They don't have a swim bladder, letting them change ocean depth super fast! ## Special abilities - **Schooling Shield:** Atlantic Mackerel forms massive schools that confuse predators and increase their chances of survival. - **Ocean Camouflage:** Atlantic Mackerel has a dark back and light belly (countershading) that helps them blend in with the ocean from above and below. - **Endurance Traveler:** Atlantic Mackerel can migrate thousands of kilometers because they are built for long, efficient swims to feeding and spawning grounds. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-50 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Swim Speed:** 75 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 200 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding They are agile hunters, mostly eating small fish and tiny ocean creatures like crustaceans. - **Age differences:** Young mackerel eat tiny plankton, while adults hunt small fish and larger crustaceans. - **Primary Foods:** Copepods, Krill, Amphipods, Sand eels, Herring - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Bluefin Tuna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluefin-tuna) (*Thunnus thynnus*) — A fast predator of mackerel in the open ocean. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Gannet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-gannet) (*Morus bassanus*) — Diving seabird that preys on surface-dwelling mackerel schools. - **Eats:** Copepod (*Calanus finmarchicus*) — Primary food source for young and adult mackerel. - **Eaten by:** [Humpback Whale](https://www.snappit.app/explore/humpback-whale) (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) — Filter-feeding whale that engulfs schools of mackerel. - **Eaten by:** [Atlantic Cod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-cod) (*Gadus morhua*) — A common demersal predator of mackerel. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Atlantic Mackerel? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Atlantic Mackerel? 30-50 cm ### How much does Atlantic Mackerel weigh? 0.5-1.5 kg ### How long does Atlantic Mackerel live? 10-20 years ### What does Atlantic Mackerel eat? They are agile hunters, mostly eating small fish and tiny ocean creatures like crustaceans. ### How fast can Atlantic Mackerel swim? 75 km/h ### Where is Atlantic Mackerel usually found? Open ocean ### How does Atlantic Mackerel hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Kennebunkport Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kennebunkport-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-arundel-summer-colony-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [OZEANEUM Stralsund](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ozeaneum-stralsund) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Aquarium [View all places to see Atlantic Mackerel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/atlantic-mackerel) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Atlantic Mackerel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-mackerel)