Scientific Name
Alectis ciliaris

Common Name
African pompano

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 20. Body superficially naked, with minute and embedded scales. Body silvery with light metallic bluish tinge dorsally; a small diffuse dark spot on opercle. Weakly developed scutes, appearing naked. Only fish in the family that does not have dorsal fin spines throughout life (Ref. 26938). Juveniles with long trailing filaments (Ref. 48635).

Classification

Classified By

Bloch, 1787

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Jacks and pompanos (Carangidae)

Distribution

Region

Worldwide in tropical seas. Western Atlantic

Distribution

Worldwide in tropical seas. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda to Santos, Brazil; throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 9626). Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Congo. Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Algoa Bay, South Africa and to Sri Lanka (Ref. 3197, 3287). Eastern Pacific: Mexico to Peru.

Range

42°N - 24°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

60 m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 60 - 100 m (Ref. 37816)

Trophic Level

3.81 s.e. 0.65 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

150 cm

Common Length

100.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (67 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31174)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)