Island mackerel (Rastrelliger faughni) is a saltwater species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia. It is found at depths of 2–150 m.
Scientific name: Rastrelliger faughni · Water: Saltwater
Size: up to 24 cm
The island mackerel is a scombrid of surface inshore waters, appearing only where the surface temperature does not fall below 17°C. It schools by size, so the members of one school are all about the same length. It also divides the plankton with its relatives: it specialises in the largest zooplankton organisms, leaving the smaller prey to the other two Rastrelliger species. Maximum about 24 cm fork length, at 2-150 m. Note that IUCN lists it as Vulnerable, even though it breeds quickly and has a fishing vulnerability of only 13 out of 100.
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