Bigeye scad
Selar crumenophthalmus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Bigeye scad
- Scientific
- Selar crumenophthalmus
- Dhivehi
- މުށި މަސްMushimas
- Group
- Jacks and trevallies
- Maximum size
- Up to about 70 cm (total length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 30 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 170 m (usually 2 to 10 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2013
Description
A slender scad with a very large eye, a metallic blue to green back, silvery-white sides and a black spot on the gill cover; a yellow stripe often runs along the side. It forms huge, dense schools in lagoons and around islands. At night the schools spread out to feed on small shrimps, zooplankton and fish larvae. It is an important bait and food fish worldwide.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name mushimas (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is widespread in Maldivian lagoons, mainly caught by day with pole and line, and a popular food fish.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Selar-crumenophthalmus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/މުށި_މަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Selar_crumenophthalmus_by_NPS.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Mushimas' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'މުށި މަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Murimas' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.