Distribution:

Eastern Atlantic: Iceland to Senegal, including the Mediterranean and Marmara Seas, and the Black Sea. Also western Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific.

Diagnosis:

Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal softrays (total): 30-36; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft-rays: 24-32. Bluish green, grey or black above, silvery white below; opercle with black spot. Lateral scales tall and keeled. Gill cover with a distinct black spot. Fisrst dorsal fin tall.

Biology:

Forms large schools in coastal areas with sandy substrate. Feeds on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Utilized fresh, smoked, canned and frozen; can be fried, broiled and baked. Divided into two stocks: West stock and North Sea stock. West stock spawns in a belt from the Biscay to Ireland in early spring, migrates north and eastwards to southern Norway and northern North Sea. North Sea stock spawns in the southern North Sea in summer, migrates to central North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat. Females lays 140,000 eggs, hatch into 5mm long larvae.

Max. size: 70.0 cm

Max.weight: 2,000.0 g

Environment: pelagic; depth range - 600 m

Climate: subtropical; 66°N - 28°S

Canary Islands country information: Name: Chicharro