Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
(Cuvier, 1832)
Description:
Long, cigar shaped body, with a sharply pointed snout. Snout as long as the rest of the head. Mouth large with strong, triangular, compressed and finely serrate teeth. The back is iridescent bluish green, the sides silvery with 24 to 30 cobalt blue vertical bars that extend below the lateral line. Nine dorsal finlets present and a forked tail.
Size up to 2.5 m.
Habitat:
An oceanic, epipelagic species. Frequently solitary or forming small loose aggregations rather than compact schools. Feeds on fish and squids.
Depth range from 0 - 12 m.
Distribution:
Occasional Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.
Remarks:
Two other mackerels can be encountered in the area.
The Cero (Scomberomorus regalis) has a series of yellow-gold streaks along the midline from the pectoral fin to the tail, while by the King mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla), the lateral line abruptly drops below the second dorsal fin.