Description:

Dorsal spines: 10-15; Dorsal rays: 11-15; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 11-15.

Body robust, elongate and fusiform. Medium sized fish. Small, conical teeth in single row on both jaws. First and second dorsal fins close together. Second dorsal and anal fins followed by 8-10 and 6-8 finlets, respectively. Pectoral fins short. Slender caudal peduncle with a prominent lateral keel between 2 small keels at base of caudal fin. Body largely scaleless.

Colour. Dark blue dorsally. Silvery white laterally and ventrally. Complicated pattern of oblique stripes above lateral line, from below first dorsal fin to caudal peduncle. Usually with dark spots in area between pelvic and pectoral fins.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range 50-65cm FL. Max Length: 100cm FL. Common to 60cm TL.

Occurs in open waters, but it always remains close to the shoreline (depth 0-200m, usually 0-50m). The young may enter bays and harbours. Feeds on small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. Forms multi-species schools by size with other scombrid species comprising from 100 to over 5,000 individuals.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line, gill net and trolling fisheries, it is a common and often abundant component of the artisanal catch.

Collette, B.B. & Nauen, C.E. (1983). FAO Species catalogue. Vol. 2 Scombrids of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated catalogue of Tunas, Mackerels, Bonitos and Related Species Known to Date. FAO 1983. ISBN 92-5-101381-0

Collette, B. et al 2011. Euthynnus affinis. The IUCN Red List 2011: e.T170336A6753804. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170336A6753804.en. (31/05/19).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2019. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=96&AT=Ikan+ayer (31/05/19).

Schultz, S.  Euthynnus affinis in Fishes of Australia, (31/05/19), http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/720