Scientific Name
Caranx melampygus

Common Name
Bluefin trevally

Biology
A coastal and oceanic species, associated with reefs (Ref. 9283, 58302). Juvenile occurs seasonally in shallow sandy inshore waters (Ref. 9710). Found in rivers (Ref. 12792). Pelagic (Ref. 58302). Occasionally in schools. Feeds mainly on other fishes (Ref. 9283), also crustaceans (Ref. 9710). Often toxic when it reaches a length of more than 50 cm (Ref. 4795). Mainly marketed fresh, but also dried or salted (Ref. 9283).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1833

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Jacks and pompanos (Carangidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Ducie Island, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia. Eastern Central Pacific: Mexico to Panama (Ref. 9283). Hybrid with Caranx sexfasciatus found in Hawaii (Ref. 58422).

Range

30°N - 35°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

190 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 190 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

4.49 s.e. 0.80 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

117 cm

Common Length

60.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (50 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.23; tm=2; Fec=49,700)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated