page_title: Razorbelly scad
section_title: Biology and fishery
hierarchical_section_title: Razorbelly scad / Biology and fishery
caption_attribution_description: Hand drawn and coloured picture of Alepes kleinii, the banded or razorbelly scad. Based on Carpenter et al (eds) 2002 and colour photos at fishbase
context_page_description: The razorbelly scad is a small species of tropical marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. The species inhabits coastal waters in the Indo-Pacific, from Pakistan in the west to Japan and Australia in the east, often found over reefs. The razorbelly scad has a complex taxonomic history, and even recently has had its position in the genus Alepes challenged, but appears to be stable after a molecular phylogeny study supported its placement in Alepes. It is very similar to other scads in the same genus, but is readily identified by its unique teeth. Razorbelly scad are predatory fish, taking a variety of crustaceans and shrimps, and show a change in feeding intensity over the year. Reproduction and development has been extensively studied in India, where spawning occurs in a single event from January to September. The species is commonly taken in tropical fisheries, where it is marketed fresh or dried.
context_section_description: The razorbelly scad is a predatory fish, whose feeding activity changes, at least in some regions, over the course of a year. A 1988 study in Indian waters found that the species is an active feeder during February and March, showing only moderate activity for the rest of the year. Their main prey items were small crustaceans, particularly copepods and small or larval fish, with smaller amounts of Lucifer, prawns, amphipods and fish eggs taken.
  Reproduction and spawning in the species has been studied only in Indian waters, where razorbelly scad spawn in a single event from January to September, with peaks in February and in June to August. The eggs are pelagic, spherical and transparent, measuring 0.58 to 0.61 mm in diameter. Newly hatched larvae are 1.13 mm in diameter, and the developmental biology of the larvae has been well studied. The fecundity of the species has been shown to be correlated with total length and body weight.
  The growth of razorbelly scad was also studied off the Indian coast near Mangalore. It was found the species grows to 83–84 mm in its first year, 131 mm in the second and 143 mm in the third year of its life. From the data collected, the growth curve predicts a maximum size of 17.1 cm, although it would require a long lifespan. Each sex reaches sexual maturity at a different size, in males it is 128.5 mm and 126.5 mm in females.
  The species is commonly taken as part of a number of fisheries, although catch data is not available. It is taken by methods including hook and line, gill nets as well as other subsistence fishing gear. Razorbelly scad is marketed fresh and dried salted.
caption: Illustration of the razorbelly scad
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