| Family: |
Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Caranginae |
| Max. size: |
101 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 18 kg; max. reported age: 15 years |
| Environment: |
pelagic-oceanic; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 350 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Pacific: San Diego, California, USA to Peru, including the Gulf of California and the Galapagos Islands. Probably the same species as Caranx hippos in the Atlantic. |
| Diagnosis: |
Body deep, elongated and slightly compressed; eye with an adipose eyelid; posterior edge of lower jaw behind posterior edge of eye; chest mostly scaleless, just a small patch in front of pectoral fins; 35 to 42 strong scutes; back of body blue to blue black; belly white, silvery, or yellow; pectoral fins and operculum each with a black spot (Ref. 55763). |
| Biology: |
Adults occur in oceanic and coastal waters, commonly found in shallow water, with larger individuals up to 350 m depth (Ref. 9283). Also found in brackish water and occasionally ascend rivers (Ref. 9283). They form medium-sized to big schools, but large adults may be solitary (Ref. 9283). They feed mainly on fishes, but also takes shrimps and other invertebrates (Ref. 9283). Often makes a grunting sound when captured (Ref. 9283). Juveniles are often found in river estuaries (Ref. 9283). Marketed fresh, frozen, smoked and salted or dried; also utilized as fishmeal and a source of oil (Ref. 9283). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 April 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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