Description

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 21; Vertebrae: 31. Dark brown to deep purple, fins dark (Ref. 4412). Preorbital snout naked or with a few predorsal scales distinctly smaller than those between eyes (Ref 9834).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Scombriformes

Family: Nomeidae

Genus: Cubiceps

Species: Cubiceps capensis (Smith, 1845)

Climate Zone

Location

• Probably circumglobal in tropical and temperate seas. Reported from the Mediterranean (Ref. 11228).

Biology

Oceanic, epipelagic or mesopelagic in tropical waters. Feeds mainly on salps (Ref. 33689). Occurs near the surface at night but depth at daytime is not known. Excellent food fish.

Habitat

oceanic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless