Leatherback
Scomberoides lysan
Not Kosher
Description
Scomberoides lysan, commonly known as the doublespotted queenfish or leatherback, is a species of jack in the family Carangidae. It is a coastal pelagic fish found across the Indo-Pacific.
This queenfish ranges from the Red Sea and eastern Africa to Hawaii, the Marquesas, and the Tuamotus, north to southern Japan and south to New South Wales. It lives in relatively clear water from the surface down to about 100 m. Juveniles use shallow coastal and brackish waters while adults associate with reefs and are mostly solitary.
Also known as
- Doublespotted queenfish
- Leatherskin
- Queenfish
- Lae
- Giant Dart
- Largemouthed Leatherskin
Leatherback in foreign languages
| Scientific | Scomberoides lysan |
| Arabic | بسار مزدوج التنقيط |
| Chinese | 長頜似鰺 |
| Japanese | イケカツオ |
| Thai | ปลาสีเสียด |
| Indonesian | Talang-talang |
Gallery
Warnings & Kosher Issues
- Not kosher when in doubt. Its scales are needle-like and embedded in tough skin, so the kosher status is contested. Ask a trusted rabbi.
- Kosher status needs a rabbinic ruling. The scales are needle-like and embedded in tough skin (the breast scales are sharply lanceolate and embedded), so whether they count toward kosher is a halachic question, not something to assume.
- Venomous. The venom sits on the spines of the dorsal and anal fins.
- Not the leatherback sea turtle, which is a completely different animal.