Alepes apercna Grant, 1987
Smallmouth scad
Alepes apercna
photo by Yau, B.

Family:  Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Caranginae
Max. size:  29.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 80 m
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: endemic to northern Australia, from Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia to Wide Bay, Queensland.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 20-22; Vertebrae: 24-24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: adipose eyelid well developed on posterior half of the eye only; upper jaw narrowly rounded posteriorly, with supramaxilla relatively small without an anterior spine-like extension; gill rakers (including rudiments) 8-10 + 18-21 = 27-30. Colour in life green to bluish green above, silvery to white below, a diffuse dusky blotch on margin of opercle, not bordered above by a white spot; interradial membranes of spinous dorsal fin hyaline to dusky; spinous and second dorsal, anal, and caudal fins dusky yellow, with anterior rays of second dorsal and anal fins often with white tips; caudal-fin lobes often with dark tips; pelvic fins white and pectoral fins hyaline; juveniles with 7 dark bands on body (Ref. 9894).
Biology:  Adults occur in inshore waters of the continental shelf (Ref. 75154). Feeds primarily on small invertebrates, primarily microscopic crustaceans and molluscs. Caught mainly on hook-and-line (Ref. 9894).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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