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EveryFish
Fleshy tabs of the bigeye scad ( Selar crumenophthalmus ). Gulf of Mexico.

Bigeye scad

Tropical marine fish with large eyes and metallic blue skin

Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEF, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The bigeye scad is a tropical marine fish found in oceans worldwide. It forms large shoals and feeds at night on plankton and small crustaceans. Fishers catch it for food in Asia and as bait in the Caribbean.

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  • Global commercial catches reach 200,000 tonnes per year
  • Adults grow up to 70 cm in total length
  • Feeds mainly at night on zooplankton and small crustaceans
  • Found in tropical oceans worldwide down to 170 m depth
  • Large eyes resemble an 18th century leather money purse

What it is

This ray-finned fish has a fusiform body with a compressed cross section. Its upper body is metallic blue or bluish green, fading to white below. A yellow stripe may run from the gill cover to the tail base. The dorsal fin has nine spines and up to 27 soft rays. The anal fin contains three spines and up to 23 soft rays. Adults reach a maximum length of 70 cm. The species belongs to the family Carangidae, which includes trevallies and kingfishes.

Where it lives

The fish lives in tropical regions across the globe. In the Atlantic, it ranges from Nova Scotia to Rio de Janeiro. Eastern Atlantic populations extend from Cape Verde to Angola. It inhabits the Indian Ocean and Pacific, reaching southern Japan and Hawaii in the north. Southern limits include New Caledonia and Australia. In the Eastern Pacific, it occurs from Baja California to Peru. Adults prefer clear oceanic waters near islands but may enter turbid areas. They dwell at depths up to 170 metres.

How it lives

Bigeye scads form large shoals in shallow inshore waters and over reefs. They sometimes associate with whale sharks. These fish are mostly nocturnal feeders. Adults consume large zooplankton, fish larvae and early juveniles. Juveniles eat smaller crustaceans like krill and shrimp. Their large eyes likely help them hunt in low light conditions. This adaptation supports their night-time feeding behaviour in open ocean and coastal environments.

Bigeye scad
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Fishers catch this species commercially, with global catches reaching 200,000 tonnes annually. It is highly valued as food in Asian and Pacific cultures. In the Maldives, it is called mushimas and served fried or in garudhiya. In Florida and the Caribbean, anglers use it as bait. It also supports tuna fisheries in Tokelau. The fish is known by many local names, including akule in Hawaii and chicharro in Spanish-speaking regions.

Questions people ask about Bigeye scad

What does the bigeye scad eat?

Adults feed on large zooplankton, fish larvae and early juveniles. Juveniles primarily consume smaller crustaceans such as krill and shrimp. They are mostly nocturnal feeders, using their large eyes to hunt in low light.

Where is the bigeye scad found?

It has a circumtropical distribution in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. It ranges from Nova Scotia to Rio de Janeiro in the Atlantic and from Japan to Australia in the Pacific. It prefers clear oceanic waters near islands.

Is the bigeye scad used for food?

Yes, it is highly valued as food in Asian and Pacific cultures. In the Maldives, it is eaten fried or in garudhiya. Global commercial catches amount to approximately 200,000 tonnes per year.

Why is it called bigeye scad?

The name refers to its large eyes, which are almost completely covered by an adipose eyelid. This leaves only a narrow slit over the pupil, resembling an 18th century leather money purse, hence the scientific name crumenophthalmus.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bigeye scad", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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