How to Identify Okhotsk Atka mackerel

To identify Okhotsk Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus azonus), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

elongated

Coloration

Dorsal side is typically dark olive-green to brownish-gray, often with irregular darker blotches or bands that provide camouflage. The ventral side is lighter, silvery-white. Fins may have darker markings.

Scale type

ctenoid

Mouth position

terminal

Distinctive features

Five lateral lines on each side of the body, a key characteristic of the family Hexagrammidae., Two dorsal fins, with the first being spiny and the second soft-rayed., A relatively large mouth with small, conical teeth., Large pectoral fins.

Dorsal fin

Two dorsal fins: the first with 20-23 spines, the second with 24-28 soft rays. The two fins are typically separated by a distinct notch.

Tail fin

Caudal fin is emarginate to slightly forked.

Pectoral fin

Large and rounded, with 18-20 rays.

Distinctive fins

Pelvic fins are thoracic, located beneath the pectoral fins, with one spine and five soft rays. Anal fin has 24-28 soft rays, lacking spines.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Lateral Lines

   Count the lateral lines; Pleurogrammus azonus has five distinct lateral lines on each side, a defining feature of greenlings.

2. 2

   Dorsal Fins

   Observe the two dorsal fins; the first is spiny and the second is soft-rayed, with a clear separation between them.

3. 3

   Coloration and Pattern

   Note the dark olive-green to brownish-gray dorsal coloration with irregular blotches, contrasting with a lighter ventral side.

4. 4

   Mouth Size

   The mouth is relatively large, extending to below the anterior margin of the eye.

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