Bigeye scad

The bigeye scad or big-eyed scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) is a species of oceanic fish found in tropical regions around the globe.^[2] Other common names include purse-eyed scad, goggle-eyed scad, akule, chicharro, charrito ojón, jacks, matang baka, mushimas and coulirou.^[2] The bigeye scad is fished commercially, both for human consumption and for bait.^[3][4]

Bigeye scad
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Carangiformes
Suborder:	Carangoidei
Family:	Carangidae
Genus:	Selar
Species:	S. crumenophthalmus
Binomial name
Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch, 1793)
Synonyms
Scomber crumenophthalmus Bloch, 1793

Description

The bigeye scad is blue-green or green on its back and sides and white on the underside. It grows to about 15 inches (38 cm) long and feeds on small invertebrates, fish larvae, and zooplankton. It is a schooling fish, it is mostly nocturnal, and it prefers clean, clear insular waters.

Uses

Global capture production of Bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) in thousand tonnes from 1950 to 2022, as reported by the FAO^[5]

The bigeye scad are fished commercially; the global catches are about 200 thousand tonnes per year.^[3] They are highly valued as food in Asian and Pacific cultures.^[4] In Maldivian cuisine it is known as mushimas and commonly eaten in garudhiya or fried.^[6] In Florida and the Caribbean, they are popular as bait.^[4]

Philometra selaris (Nematoda, Philometridae), a parasite of the ovary of the bigeye scad. SEM.

Parasites

Parasites of the bigeye scad include the philometrid nematode Philometra selaris, which lives inside the ovary of the females.^[7]