| Family: |
Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Caranginae |
| Max. size: |
100 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 26 kg |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 6 - 25 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea and Ascension Island. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-24; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 17-19; Vertebrae: 24-24. This species is a member of the Caranx hippos complex, and is distinguished by the following characters: segmented dorsal-fin rays 21-23 (exceptionally 24); segmented anal-fin rays 17-19, usually 18; posttemporal bones are hyperossified in specimens larger than 20 cm FL; cleithrum, first pterygiophore of dorsal and anal fins, and neural spines of vertebrae are relatively slender and never hyperossified; in specimens >20 cm FL, heights of longest dorsal-and anal-fin rays are both 0.7-1.3 in head length; in adults, anal-fin lobe white anteriorly and remainder of fin is gray to brown (Ref. 58464).
Description: ground colour greenish to bluish, black-bluish dorsally, white-silvery to yellowish or golden ventrally; opercle with a distinct black spot; pectoral fin with a characteristic black blotch in adults; distal part of soft dorsal fin lobe dark to pale; adults with anal fin lobe mostly white (vs anal fin lobe entirely yellow in C. hippos); juveniles with 5 dark bars on body (Ref. 81654). |
| Biology: |
This species is reported to occur in moderate to large schools in coastal areas, estuaries and lagoons that are essential habitat for juveniles and young. Reports that it descends far up coastal rivers to spawn are unconfirmed and true freshwater occurrence is doubtful, but there are verified collections of juveniles from three separate coastal river drainages. Feeds mainly on fish, shrimp and other invertebrates. It has been a focus of commercial interest and may be utilized fresh, frozen, smoked, dried-salted and for oil and fishmeal, with edibility reported as poor to good, and taste improves when bleeding upon landing is done (Ref. 109259). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 May 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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