Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 22-25; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 18-21.
Body elongate oval, moderately compressed, with dorsal and ventral profiles almost evenly convex. Snout pointed. Eye with adipose eyelid well developed and completely covering
eye except for a vertical slit centred on pupil. Upper jaw extends to below anterior third of eye. Both jaws with a single series of small conspicuous teeth. Large specimens
may have 2 to 3 anterior rows of canines on upper jaw. Two separate dorsal fins. Spinous dorsal fin moderately high. Lateral line gently arched anteriorly, with junction of
curved and straight parts below vertical from sixth to eighth soft rays of second dorsal fin. Terminal dorsal and anal fin rays finlet-like in adults, about twice length of
adjacent rays and a little more separated but joined by interadial membranes. Pectoral fins long and falcate extending to junction of curved and straight parts of lateral 
line.
Colour. Bright olive-green dorsally, yellowish-green laterally and whitish ventrally. 9 to 10 feint grey dorsolateral bars. A black spot, slightly smaller than eye, on upper
margin of opercle and adjacent area of shoulder. Pectoral and pelvic fins hyaline to whitish. Anal fin pale yellow. Dorsal and caudal fins dusky greenish-yellow.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range 17-?cm. Max Length: 30cm TL. Commonly to 26cm TL.

Occurs in coastal waters, including mangroves, singly or in schools (depth 1-80m). Feeds on crustaceans and cephalopods. Mainly diurnal. Swim fast in midwater in pursuit 
of zooplankton.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in net fisheries where it is an occasional and sometimes numerous component of the catch.

Anam, R. & Mostarda, E. (2012). FIELD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE TO THE LIVING MARINE RESOURCES OF KENYA. UNFAO Rome, 2012. ISBN 978-92-5-107239-4.
Fischer, W. & G. Bianchi (eds), (1984).  FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean; (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and printed with the 
support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, vols 1-6.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/1893 (26/08/19).
Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Williams, I. (2016). Atule mate (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T20256729A46664039.en. (26/08/19).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Atule mate, Yellowtail scad. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/atule-mate-cuvier-1833/ (edited 21/06/22).