Author: Mather, 1971
Seriola carpenteri Mather, 1971
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Seriola carpenteri Mather, 1971 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: end of upper jaw relatively broad. In specimens larger than about 20 cm fork length, total gillrakers (excluding rudiments) 19-23 on first gill arch. Dorsal fin VII or VIII (anterior spines may be completely embedded in large fish) + I + 28-33; anal fin II (reduced and embedded in some large fish) + I + 19 or 20; soft anal fin base distinctly shorter than dorsal fin base; in adults, length of dorsal fin lobe about equal or slightly longer than pectoral fin and 15-18% fork length. Anterior margin of first pterygiophore of anal fin moderately concave. Caudal peduncle grooves present. Lateral line without scutes. Colour: in adults, not well established, large fish reported to be 'old rose' coloured. Juveniles smaller than about 20 cm fork length, with interradial membranes of soft dorsal and anal fins heavily pigmented; juveniles (about 9-13 cm fork length) with 5 dark body bars, becoming irregularly split vertically, that do not extend onto membranes of soft dorsal and anal fins and a sixth bar at end of caudal peduncle. Size: to at least 48 cm fork iength, probably attains a much larger size.
Habitat: adults pelagic or epibenthic; generally restricted to coastal waters over continental shelf, from the surface to at least 200 m. Food: squids and fishes. Reproduction: see family.
Distribution: Relatively common along African coasts from Angola northward to Cape Verde, Dakar; single records from near Agadir, Morocco and the Bay of Biscay (45° 30' - 40' N, 20° 05' - 15' W). Generally confined to areas where surface temperatures exceed 25° C. Distribution perhaps influenced by seasonal movements of the 18-27° C water mass along the African coast. Recently recorded at 45° 30' N and 2° 05' W (Quéro, 1986).