Atlantic saury
The Atlantic saury, scientifically known as Scomberesox saurus, is a species of fish commonly found in temperate waters, particularly in the western Atlantic Ocean, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to North Carolina and Bermuda. Recognized for its long, thin snout and distinctive greenish to bluish back with silvery sides, this fish can grow to about 20 inches (50 centimeters) in length. One of its notable features is the presence of finlets—small fins located between its dorsal and caudal fins—which help differentiate it from related species like halfbeaks and needlefish.
As a carnivorous fish, the Atlantic saury predominantly feeds on insects, small crabs, smaller fish, and plankton. It typically swims in large schools, and while it has natural predators, it also faces threats from human fishing practices, especially as it is valued as food in various cultures, notably in Japan. Spawning occurs during the winter and spring, with maturity reached between two and three years. Despite being a sought-after species, the Atlantic saury is currently classified as of least concern in terms of conservation status, with a life span of about three to four years.
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Atlantic saury
The Atlantic saury is one of the four most common sauries. Although sauries are closely related to halfbeaks, ricefish, flying fish, and needlefish, the Atlantic saury comes closest to resembling a halfbeak. One of the main identifying marks on the Atlantic saury, which set it apart from halfbeaks, are the finlets, or tiny fins, between this fish's dorsal and caudal fins.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Beloniformes
Family: Scombersocidae
Genus: Scomberesox
Species: Saurus
The Atlantic saury generally grows to a length of about twenty inches (fifty centimeters). It has greenish to bluish scales on its back and silvery-to-white scales on its sides and belly. It has a dark green spot on each side of its body directly above its pectoral, or side, fins. Between its dorsal, or back, and caudal, or tail, fins the Atlantic saury has a number of raised spots called finlets, or tiny fins. These finlets are one of the characteristics which help to separate the Atlantic saury from other fish. In general, the Atlantic saury has a very similar body shape to many species of needlefish and halfbeaks. Like the needlefish and halfbeaks, the Atlantic saury has a long, thin snout.
The Atlantic saury swims through the water using its many fins. It uses its dorsal and anal, or back and belly, fins to help keep balanced, while its caudal fin moves from side to side propelling the fish as its swims. This movement is very similar to the motion made by a ship's propeller. The Atlantic saury uses its pectoral fins along with the help of its smaller pelvic fins to paddle through the water.
Like other fish, the Atlantic saury needs oxygen to survive. Unlike humans, who have lungs and can get the oxygen they need from the air, the Atlantic saury must get the oxygen it needs from the water in which it lives. The Atlantic saury takes water into its mouth, uses the oxygen in the water, and filters the waste chemicals out through the gills on the sides of its body.
The Atlantic saury can be found nearly worldwide in temperate waters. It is especially common throughout the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to North Carolina and Bermuda. The Atlantic saury is generally found in large schools, or groups.
As a carnivorous, or meat-eating, fish the Atlantic saury feeds on a variety of sea life. Its diet includes insects and insect larvae, young crab, smaller fish, and tiny, aquatic, or water-living, organisms known as plankton.
When schools of Atlantic saury feed in the open, larger, predatory fish often threaten them. Humans also threaten the Atlantic saury. The Atlantic saury is fished, canned, and sold as fish food. They are especially popular food fish in Japan.
Mating season of the Atlantic saury occurs during winter and spring. Mature age for mating is between two and three years. These fish reproduce through spawning. Spawning among Atlantic saury is when the female releases its eggs into the water and the male Atlantic saury swims over them and releases its sperm, or egg-fertilizing substance.
The life span of the Atlantic saury is three to four years. The Atlantic saury conservation status is listed as, of least concern.
Bibliography
NOAA. “Atlantic Saury.” National Ocean Service Website, www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/Assets/ecosystems/climate/images/species-results/pdfs/Atlantic‗Saury.pdf. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.
“Scomberesox Saurus.” Animal Diversity Web, 2024, www.animaldiversity.org/accounts/Scomberesox‗saurus/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek‗fish/Beloniformes/Scomberesox‗saurus‗saurus/. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.
“Species: Scomberesox Saurus, Atlantic Saury.” Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, www.biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/species/3312. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.