Thyrsites atun (Euphrasen, 1791)
Snoek
Thyrsites atun
photo by Le Noury, P.

 Family:  Gempylidae (Snake mackerels)
 Max. size:  200 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 6,000.0 g; max. reported age: 10 years
 Environment:  benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 550 m, oceanodromous
 Distribution:  Southwest Atlantic: Uruguay, Argentina and Tierra del Fuego. Eastern Atlantic: Tristan da Cunha and South Africa. Western Indian Ocean: South Africa and the St. Paul and Amsterdam islands. Eastern Indian Ocean: Tasmania and southern coast of Australia. Southwest Pacific: New Zealand and southern coast of Australia. Southeast Pacific: southern Peru, Chile, and Tierra del Fuego.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 19-21; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10-12; Vertebrae: 35-35. Body elongate and strongly compressed. Lateral line single, running close to the upper contour of the body below most of the first dorsal-fin base then abruptly curving ventrally. Body is dark blue, slightly paler on belly; first dorsal fin membrane black (Ref. 6181).
 Biology:  Inhabit continental shelves or around islands. Feed on pelagic crustaceans (Euphausia, Nyctiphanes), cephalopods and fishes (Ref. 6181) like anchovy and pilchard (Ref. 36731). Form schools near the bottom or midwater; sometimes even at the surface at night (Ref. 6181). Prefers temperature between 13° and 18°C (Ref. 36731). Marketed fresh, smoked, canned and frozen; eaten fried, broiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988). Good for fish and chips or smoking; also made into fillet or fish cake in Japan (Ref. 6181).
 IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated  (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 17.10.90
 Modified by: Sampang-Reyes, Arlene G. - 17.10.02
 Checked by: Luna, Susan M. - 09.04.99

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