Tunas, mackerels, Spanish mackerels, albacore, bonitos, seerfishes and wahoo are the common names for the members of the Scombridae family. The family members are distinguished by having finlets behind dorsal and anal fins, deeply forked caudal fin, and at least 2 small keels on each side of caudal peduncle. Many species have a larger keel in between the small keels.
Members of the Scombridae are found in the tropical and subtropical seas around the world. There are 15 genera and 54 species worldwide. All of them are excellent food fishes. Many are of commercial importance and good sports fishes. Scientifically the family is divided into 2 subfamilies. The subfamily Scombrinae consist of 53 species and Gasterochismatinae consist of only one species. However, in general they can be divided according to their shape into 3 groups; spanish mackerels, mackerels and tunas.
The mackerels are mainly from Rastrelliger (3 species) genus. They are the smaller scombrids where their length rarely exceeds 35 cm. They are mostly found near coastal waters. They frequently occur in large schools. They feed mainly on zooplankton. They often swims with their mouth open to strain plankton from the water using their gill rakers.
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Scientific Name: Rastrelliger brachysoma (Bleeker, 1851) English Name: Indo-pacific Mackerel, Short Mackerel, Short-bodied Mackerel Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 甘望魚 (Gān wàng yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Temenung, Rumahan, Kembung Pelaling Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Kembung Perempuan Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาทูสั้น (Plā thū s̄ận) Local Hokkien: Kambong Hu Main Identification Features: Body is deep and short. Size: Maximum fork length 34.5 cm, commonly 20 cm. Habitat and Ecology: Inshore pelagic. Forms schools of equally sized individuals, and feeds chiefly on microzooplankton with a high phytoplankton component.  Scientific Name: Rastrelliger faughni Matsui, 1967 English Name: Faughni Mackerel, Island Mackerel Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 甘望魚 (Gān wàng yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Temenung, Rumahan, Mabong, Kembung Lampai Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Kembung Pulau Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาทูปากจิ้งจก (Plā thū pākcîngck) Local Hokkien: Kambong Hu, Mabong Main Identification Features: Body is not deep. Dusky stripes running along sides of body. Size: Maximum fork length is more than 20 cm. Habitat and Ecology: Inshore pelagic. Forms schools of equally sized individuals, and feeds on the large zooplankton organisms.   Scientific Name: Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816) English Name: Indian Mackerel Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 甘望魚 (Gān wàng yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Temenung, Rumahan, Kembung Borek Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Kembung Lelaki Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาทูลัง (Plā thū lạng), ทูโม่ง (Thū mòng), โม่งลัง (Mòng lạng) Local Hokkien: Kambong Hu Main Identification Features: Black spot near lower margin of pectoral fins. Size: Maximum fork length 38 cm, commonly 25 cm. Habitat and Ecology: Inshore pelagic. Forms schools of equally sized individuals, and feeds on phytoplankton and small zooplankton. Adult individuals feed on small crustaceans such as copepods, as well as fish, shrimp and squid.  
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