How to Identify Talang Queenfish

To identify Talang Queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianus), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

elongated

Coloration

Silvery-grey dorsally, fading to white on the belly. Juveniles may have a yellowish tint. Adults typically display 5-8 large, dark, vertically elongated spots or blotches along the lateral line, often extending above and below it. These spots can sometimes be indistinct or appear as a series of broken bars.

Scale type

none

Mouth position

terminal

Distinctive features

Elongated, compressed body, Large, dark, vertically elongated spots along the lateral line, Small, embedded scales giving a 'leathery' feel, Deeply forked caudal fin, Two separate dorsal fins, the first with short, sharp spines

Dorsal fin

Two separate dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin has 6-7 short, stout spines, which are venomous. The second dorsal fin has 1 spine and 19-21 soft rays, followed by 7-10 finlets. The anterior rays of the second dorsal fin are elongated.

Tail fin

Deeply forked caudal fin with pointed lobes.

Pectoral fin

Short and falcate (sickle-shaped), located low on the body.

Distinctive fins

Anal fin similar in shape and size to the second dorsal fin, with 2 detached spines followed by 1 spine and 16-19 soft rays, also followed by 7-10 finlets. Pelvic fins are small.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Body Shape

   Look for a distinctly elongated and compressed body, typical of a fast-swimming pelagic predator.

2. 2

   Coloration and Spots

   Identify the silvery body with 5-8 prominent, vertically elongated dark spots or blotches along the lateral line. These spots are a key distinguishing feature.

3. 3

   Scales

   Feel the skin; it will feel smooth and leathery due to the very small, embedded scales, unlike many other carangids with larger, more obvious scales.

4. 4

   Dorsal and Anal Finlets

   Note the presence of 7-10 finlets behind both the second dorsal and anal fins, a characteristic shared with other queenfish species.

5. 5

   Mouth

   Observe the large mouth, extending to or beyond the posterior margin of the eye, indicating its predatory nature.

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