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Carangidae
JACKS AND POMPANOS
Jacks; Moonfishes

Life   Vertebrata   Fish

Selar
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Selar
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Selar crumenophthalmus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Selar crumenophthalmus
Caranx caninus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Caranx caninus
Caranx caninus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Caranx caninus

Caranx sexfasciatus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Caranx sexfasciatus
Caranx vinctus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Caranx vinctus
Caranx vinctus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Caranx vinctus

Carangoides otrynter
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Carangoides otrynter
Carangoides caballus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Carangoides caballus
Carangoides otrynter
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Carangoides otrynter

Carangoides otrynter
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Carangoides otrynter
Trachinotus paitensis
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Trachinotus paitensis
Trachinotus rhodopus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Trachinotus rhodopus

Trachinotus stilbe
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Trachinotus stilbe
Trachinotus paitensis
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Trachinotus paitensis
Decapterus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Decapterus

Decapterus macarellus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Decapterus macarellus
Elagatis bipinnulata
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Elagatis bipinnulata
Seriola rivoliana
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Seriola rivoliana

Alectis ciliaris
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Alectis ciliaris
Uraspis helvola
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Uraspis helvola
Uraspis
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Uraspis

Uraspis helvola
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Uraspis helvola
Selene
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Selene
Selene brevoortii
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Selene brevoortii

Selene brevoortii
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Selene brevoortii
Selene orstedii
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Selene orstedii
Selene peruviana
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Selene peruviana

Chloroscombrus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Chloroscombrus
Chloroscombrus orqueta
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Chloroscombrus orqueta
Oligoplites
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Oligoplites

Oligoplites altus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Oligoplites altus
Oligoplites saurus inornatus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Oligoplites saurus inornatus
Oligoplites refulgens
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Oligoplites refulgens

Oligoplites saurus inornatus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Oligoplites saurus inornatus
Hemicaranx
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Hemicaranx
Hemicaranx leucurus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Hemicaranx leucurus

Carangoides bartholomaei
© John Soward, 2007 · 0
Carangoides bartholomaei
Trachinotus goodei
© Copyright Andy Arrison, 2006 · 0
Trachinotus goodei
Selar crumenophthalmus
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Selar crumenophthalmus

Caranx caninus
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Caranx caninus
Caranx
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Caranx
Caranx lugubris
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Caranx lugubris

Caranx melampygus
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Caranx melampygus
Caranx sexfasciatus
© Copyright Clay Bryce, 2006 · 0
Caranx sexfasciatus
Carangoides orthogrammus
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Carangoides orthogrammus

Carangoides
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Carangoides
Carangoides caballus
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Carangoides caballus
Carangoides orthogrammus
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Carangoides orthogrammus

Trachinotus
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Trachinotus
Trachinotus kennedyi
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Trachinotus kennedyi
Trachinotus paitensis
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Trachinotus paitensis

Trachinotus rhodopus
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Trachinotus rhodopus
Trachinotus rhodopus
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Trachinotus rhodopus
Decapterus muroadsi
© Copyright John Rangall, 2006 · 0
Decapterus muroadsi

Decapterus macrosoma
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Decapterus macrosoma
Decapterus macrosoma
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Decapterus macrosoma
Decapterus muroadsi
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Decapterus muroadsi

Elagatis
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Elagatis
Elagatis bipinnulata
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Elagatis bipinnulata
Seriola
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Seriola

Seriola lalandi
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Seriola lalandi
Seriola peruana
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Seriola peruana
Seriola rivoliana
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Seriola rivoliana

Seriola peruana
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Seriola peruana
Alectis ciliaris
© Copyright John Rangall, 2006 · 0
Alectis ciliaris
Alectis ciliaris
© Copyright John Rangall, 2006 · 0
Alectis ciliaris

Alectis
© Copyright John Rangall, 2006 · 0
Alectis
Alectis ciliaris
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Alectis ciliaris
Trachurus murphyi
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Trachurus murphyi

Trachurus symmetricus
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Trachurus symmetricus
Trachurus
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Trachurus
Trachurus symmetricus
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Trachurus symmetricus

Gnathanodon
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Gnathanodon
Gnathanodon speciosus
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Gnathanodon speciosus
Gnathanodon speciosus
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Gnathanodon speciosus

Naucrates ductor
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Naucrates ductor
Uraspis helvola
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Uraspis helvola
Selene brevoortii
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 · 0
Selene brevoortii

Selene brevoortii
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Selene brevoortii
Selene peruviana
www.fao.org Copyright Michel Lamboeuf · 0
Selene peruviana
Hemicaranx zelotes
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Hemicaranx zelotes

Carangidae
© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 · 0
Carangidae

See
IDnature guides
Kinds

Overview Main identification features FAMILY CARANGIDAE

JACKS, AMBERJACKS, CREVALLES, JACK-MACKERELS, LEATHERJACKETS, LOOKDOWNS, PILOT-FISHES, POMPANOS, SCADS, TREVALLIES

These fishes are generally silvery in color and exhibit a wide size range: from the scads that attain about 30 cm, to the Giant Trevally of the Indo-West Pacific (Caranx ignobilis) which grows to 170 cm and may weigh over 35 kg. Jacks are powerful midwater swimmers characterised by a streamlined shape, laterally compressed body, slender tail base, and a strongly forked tail fin. Most species have the posterior scales of the lateral line modified into spiny, plate-like structures known as scutes. The dorsal and anal fins are generally low, but often have elongated rays on their front portions. The first dorsal fin is composed of III-IX spines and the second of one spine and 18-37 soft rays. There are usually III anal spines with the first two detached from the rest of the anal fin, and usually 15-31 soft rays. One or more of the dorsal and anal spines are often tiny or embedded in some species.

Carangids are pelagic spawners that release large numbers of tiny, buoyant eggs. Judging from the widespread distribution of most species, the larvae may lead a pelagic existence for extended periods. The juveniles of several species, including the Bigeye Crevalle Jack (Caranx sexfasciatus) are sometimes encountered in brackish estuaries or in fresh water. Most of the jacks are highly esteemed as food fishes and are targeted by both sport anglers and commercial fishermen. They frequently occur in large schools that roam considerable distances. Although not strictly reef fishes, jacks are common along the edge of reefs, sometimes adjacent to steep slopes. They are voracious predators that feed on a variety of fishes. Some species such as the Golden Jack (Gnathanodon speciosus) also consume molluscs and crustaceans and the scads (genus Decapterus) eat mainly planktonic invertebrates.

The family Carangidae contains about 30 genera and approximately 140 species. Jacks are well represented in all tropical and subtropical seas. In our area there are 34 species from 16 genera, 10 are circumtropical, 4 are Indo-Pacific and one Pacific, and the remaining 19 are endemic.



References



Acknowledgements

I thank Ashley MacDonald and John Pickering, University of Georgia, for technical support in building this page.


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