| Family: |
Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Caranginae |
| Max. size: |
150 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 23 kg |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 60 - 100 m |
| Distribution: |
Circumglobal in tropical, subtropical and temperate seas. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda to Santos, Brazil; throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 9626). Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Congo. Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Algoa Bay, South Africa and to Sri Lanka (Ref. 3197, 3287). Eastern Pacific: Mexico to Peru. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-22; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 15-20. Description: Body superficially naked, with minute and embedded scales. Body silvery with light metallic bluish tinge dorsally; a small diffuse dark spot on opercle (Ref. 26938); juveniles with five chevron -shaped bars (Ref. 90102). Scales minute and embedded; scutes 12-30 (Ref. 90102). Weakly developed scutes, appearing naked. Only fish in the family that does not have dorsal fin spines throughout life (Ref. 26938). Spines of first dorsal fin embedded and not apparent at fork length greater than about 17cm; spines of first anal fin embedded with growth (Ref. 90102). Anterior 4-5 dorsal and anal soft rays of juveniles extremely long and filamentous (Ref. 48635, Ref. 90102). Villiform teeth disappearing with growth. Body very deep in juveniles about 1.5 in FL, becoming more elongate with growth (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Pelagic in neritic and oceanic waters, sometimes near the bottom (Ref. 5217, 58302). Small juveniles may be found near the shore (Ref. 5217); adults near bottom to depths of 60 m (Ref. 26938). Feed on sedentary or slow moving crustaceans and occasionally feed on small crabs and fishes (Ref. 9283). Juveniles are attractive aquarium fish, but do not do well in captivity (Ref. 12484). Excellent food fish (Ref. 9626); marketed fresh or dried or salted (Ref. 9283). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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