| Family: |
Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Scomberoidinae |
| Max. size: |
35 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 287.0 g |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Maine, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Uruguay; throughout most of the West Indies (Ref. 3277). Absent from the Bahamas (Ref. 26938). Eastern Pacific: Baja California, Mexico to Ecuador (Ref. 9283). Two subspecies exists (Ref. 3277): Oligoplites saurus saurus (western Atlantic population) and Oligoplites saurus inornatus (eastern Pacific population). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 5-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-21; Anal spines: 2-3; Anal soft rays: 18-21. Body elongate and strongly compressed (depth from 3.5 to 4.4 times in standard length); posterior end of upper jaw reaching posterior rim of eye; upper jaw teeth small and villiform; lower branch of first gill arch with 14 to 18 gill rakers; scales small but visible, needle-shaped, embedded in the skin; back blue green; flanks and belly silvery to white, sometimes with yellow or golden highlights; pectoral and caudal fins yellowish (Ref. 55763); Dorsal fin has 5 nearly separate spines. |
| Biology: |
Adults are found inshore, usually along sandy beaches, in bays and inlets. They enter estuaries and fresh water, preferring turbid water. They occur in schools, usually large and fast moving, often leaping out of the water. Juveniles may float at the surface with tail bent and head down. Adults feed on fishes and crustaceans. The dorsal and anal spines are connected to venomous glands that can inflict painful wounds (Ref. 9283). Venom glands were not visible however, and cannot be confirmed in the specimen according to Smith and Wheeler, 2006 (Ref. 57406). Current information for this species as being dangerous need verification. Juveniles have incisor-like outer teeth and serve as cleaners for other fish; as fish grow, their teeth become conical and their diet changes (Ref. 26938). Marketed fresh and salted or dried but the flesh is not highly esteemed (Ref. 9283). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 September 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
