# Atlantic mackerel (*Scomber scombrus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/atlantic-mackerel  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) is a bony fish in the family Scombridae, subfamily Scombrinae, within the order Scombriformes. Its main foods are copepod and plankton. The IUCN Red List assesses the Atlantic mackerel globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category. The species was named by Linnaeus, 1758, and is also called Joey, Split, Mackeral or Mackerel.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | up to 3.4 kg |
| Length | 30 cm |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | copepod, plankton |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Age at maturity | 2 years |
| Reproduction | Eggs |
| Migration | Migratory |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Scombriformes
- family: Scombridae
- genus: Scomber
- species: *Scomber scombrus* Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: *Scomber glauciscus*, *Scomber punctatus*, *Scomber scomber*, *Scomber scriptus*, *Scomber scrombrus*, *Scomber vernalis*, *Scomber vulgaris*, *Scomber vulgaris*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the Atlantic mackerel?

The Atlantic mackerel is a bony fish in the family Scombridae and the order Scombriformes.

### What does the Atlantic mackerel eat?

Its main foods are copepod and plankton.

### Is the Atlantic mackerel endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses it globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

### What is the scientific name of the Atlantic mackerel?

The scientific name of the Atlantic mackerel is Scomber scombrus, in the genus Scomber.

### Who named the Atlantic mackerel and when?

The Atlantic mackerel was named by Linnaeus, 1758.

### What are other names for the Atlantic mackerel?

Other English names for the Atlantic mackerel are Joey, Split, Mackeral and Mackerel.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/atlantic-mackerel