
Fig 1

Fig 2
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Order : Carangiformes
Family : CARANGIDAE
Species : 19 species in the genus Caranx (as of 2024)
Maximum Length : 170 cm in Caranx ignobilis
Caranx comprises a group of 18 recognised species
of trevally in the family Carangidae
(Fishbase, 2024). This diverse family includes more than 30 other genera, such as Trachurus (jack mackerels) and
Trachinotus (pompanos).
Caranx are medium to large fishes with laterally-compressed
bodies, deeply forked tail fins, and backward pointing dorsal and anal fins.
They are fast swimming predators which inhabit offshore reefs, near-shore
shallow embayments and open water. They prey upon cephalopods and crustaceans.
The largest member of the Caranx genus is the Giant Trevally (Caranx
ignobilis) which can attain lengths of up to 170 cm and a weights of up
to 80 kg.
The commonest species, featured here (Fig 1), is the Bluefin Trevally (Caranx
melampygus), which commonly reaches lengths of around 60 cm, but
sometimes over one metre. Adults of this species occur in coastal and
offshore water, whilst juveniles inhabit sheltered inshore waters and rivers
(Fishbase, 2024). This species occurs in tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, Southeast
Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
Figs 1 and 2 : Bluefin Trevally Caranx melampygus in
shallow coastal water at Bora Bora, French Polynesia.
Links and references :
Fishbase - Carangidae
Fishbase - Carynx melampygus
Wikipedia - Carynx melampygus
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