English Name: Bigeye scad
Family: CARANGIDAE
Local Name: Mushimas
Order: Perciformes
Size: Max. 30 cm
Specimen: MRS/001 1/86
Distinctive Characters: First dorsal fin with 8 spines, second dorsal with 1 spine and 24-27 rays. Anal finwith 2 detached spines followed by I spine and 2 1-23 rays. Body elongate and moderately compressed.Dorsal and anal fins without a detached terminal finlet. Eye very large, shorter than snout. Adipose eyelidcovering eye, except for broad oval slit central on pupil. Pectoral fin shorter than head.
Colour: Metallic blue to bluish green above, shading to white below; yellow stripe sometimes present from opercle margin to upper part of caudal peduncle. A black opercular spot distinct.
Habitat and Biology: Forms small to large schools in inshore waters and shallow reefs to depths of 170 m. Feeds on plankton, benthic invertebrates and small fish.
Distribution: World-wide in tropical and sub-tropical waters.
Remarks: Selar cruinenophthalmus is a wide-spread species in shallow lagoons of the reefs and islands. In the Maldives it is mainly caught during day time using pole and line. A popular food fish.