Scombrolabracidae

Swartmakriel

Scombrolabrax heterolepis

Spur on lowest caudal ray

• Cross-climate
• Subtropical
• Tropical
• Regional distribution
• Marine fish
• Atlantic Ocean
• Indian Ocean
• Pacific Ocean
• Fusiform
• Medium
• Tropical fish

The longfin escolar, Scombrolabrax heterolepis, also known as the black mackerel, is a widespread but uncommon deep sea ray-finned fish that presents some difficulties for taxonomy. It is placed in its own family Scombrolabracidae, but the family's placement in the suborders of Perciformes has included Scombroidei, Percoidei, and Trichiuroidei, while some authors place it in its own suborder Scombrolabracoidei and even in its own order the Scombrolabraciformes. The fish bears some resemblance to members of Gempylidae, but has protrusible premaxillae, serrated opercles and preopercles, and a spur on the lowest principal caudal ray, all of which are characteristic of percoids.