[2] Trachurus delagoa has an elongate body which is slightly compressed and has the upper and lower profiles roughly the same.

It has a reasonably wide upper jaw which extends to underneath the forward anterior edge of the eye.

[1] Trachurus delagoa is largely demersal and occurs in areas of the continental shelf where there is a sandy substrate.

It spends the day in the depths and undertakes a vertical migration at night to feed near the surface.

[1] African scads are largely fished for with bottown trawls and with hook and line.