African pompano

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African pompano
African pompano Solomons 2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Family: Carangidae
Genus: Alectis
Species:
A. ciliaris
Binomial name
Alectis ciliaris
(Bloch, 1787)
Alectis ciliaris distribution.PNG
Approximate distribution of the African pompano throughout the tropical oceans. Note that only juveniles are pelagic, with adults inhabiting coastal areas.
Synonyms [2]
  • Zeus gallus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Zeus ciliarisBloch, 1787
  • Gallus virescens Lacépède, 1802
  • Alectis virescens Rafinesque, 1815
  • Zeus crinitus Mitchill, 1826
  • Alectis crinitus (Mitchill, 1826)
  • Blepharichthys crinitus(Mitchill, 1826)
  • Blepharis crinitus(Mitchill, 1826)
  • Blepharis fasciatus Rüppell, 1830
  • Blepharis sutor Cuvier, 1833
  • Blepharis majorCuvier, 1833
  • Blepharis indicusCuvier, 1833
  • Alectis indica(Cuvier, 1833)
  • Hynnis cubensis Poey, 1860
  • Scyris analisPoey, 1868
  • Hynnis hopkinsi D.S. Jordan & Starks, 1895
  • Carangoides ajax Snyder, 1904
  • Caranx ajax(Snyder, 1904)
  • Alectis temmincki Wakiya, 1924
  • Alectis breviventralisWakiya, 1924

The African pompano (Alectis ciliaris), also known as the pennant-fish or threadfin trevally, is a widely distributed species of tropical marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. The species is found in tropical waters worldwide, with adults often inhabiting coastlines, while juveniles are usually pelagic, floating with ocean currents. The adult African pompano is similar in appearance to the other members of the genus Alectis , with the concave shape of the head near the eyes; the clearest distinguishing feature. The juveniles are similar to other members of Alectis, having long, filamentous dorsal and anal fin tips which are thought to discourage predators. The species lives in depths less than 100 m, consuming a range of crustaceans and small fishes. The species is of minor economic importance, often taken amongst other tropical midwater fishes by hook and line, while juveniles are occasionally caught in beach seines. African pompano are also highly rated game fish, often considered one of the strongest of the jacks in larger sizes.

Contents

Taxonomy and naming

The Alectis ciliaris is one of three members of the diamond trevally genus Alectis , which itself is one of 33 genera in the jack and horse mackerel family Carangidae. The Carangidae are part of the order Carangiformes. [3] This species is the type species for the genus Alectis.

Juvenile Africanus pompanus swimming

The species may have been first scientifically described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758 as Zeus gallus, known at the time from the Atlantic Ocean. Linnaeus classified the fish as a type of dory, still known today under the genus name Zeus. The name is ambiguous, because with only a very summary description and without a type specimen, it is unclear if he is actually referring to this species. [2] In 1787 the German naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch described a new species under the name of Zeus ciliaris, described from a type specimen collected from Surat, India, which is a junior synonym of Linnaeus' name. [4] Following this description, a number of naturalists reclassified the species as the taxonomic literature of fishes grew in volume. [5] Bernard Germain de Lacépède was the first to do so, synonymising the two previous names under the new name Gallus virescens. Although he had intended Gallus to be a new genus, this name had been assigned to a group of birds previously. [6]

Rafinesque renamed Gallus virescens in 1815, creating a new genus, Alectis, for the taxon, and designating this species as the type species for his new genus. Throughout much of history the obscure and somewhat insane works of Rafinesque were generally ignored by the scientific community. For example, another junior synonym, Zeus crinitus, was named for US populations of this species by the American Samuel L. Mitchill in 1826. The celebrated scientist Georges Cuvier followed Eduard Rüppell (1830) in classifying this fish in the genus Blepharis (which is also a plant) in 1833, and this fish was known as belonging to this genus for most of history. Nonetheless, Rafinesque had been first to reclassifying the fish (correctly), and as such his generic name has priority, which is why this species is known as Alectis today. [2]

A number of other biologists also reclassified the taxon, or named completely new species, such as Scyris analis and Carangoides ajax. [2] All names except Alectis ciliaris are now considered defunct according to the ICZN rules. [6] The original genus name of Zeus has now also been applied to an ascomycete fungi [7] (this is permitted under the rules, because a fungus is not an animal).

The Africanus pompanus is not a true pompano of the genus Trachinotus, but is more closely allied with the fish commonly called jacks and trevallies. The various common names used for the species generally reflect the juvenile filamentous fins, with a number of variations on 'threadfin trevally' often used. [6]

Description

A juvenile exhibiting filamentous anal and dorsal fin rays Alectis ciliaris.jpg
A juvenile exhibiting filamentous anal and dorsal fin rays

Like many of the Carangidae, the African pompano is a deep and laterally compressed fish, with the deepest point of the body located between the origin of the dorsal and anal fins and having the head and tail tapering either side. The dorsal and ventral profiles are equally convex, with a major distinguishing feature of the adult being its more curved head compared to Alectis indicus more angular head profile. [5] The species has four to seven visible spines in the first dorsal fin followed by a single spine and 18 to 20 soft rays in the second dorsal. The anal fin has two spines followed by 15 or 16 soft rays, while the pectoral fin is long and curved. The skin of the fish appears scaleless, but has minute, embedded scales scattered on the body. [6] The lateral line has a strong and moderately long arch dorsally, with its posterior section having 12 to 30 scutes. [5] The juveniles are distinctive due to their 'threadfin' appearance of having trailing anal and dorsal fin filaments which recede with age. During maturation, the species also becomes more elongate and more like that of other genera of jacks. [5] The body is a silvery-metallic blue to blue-green colour above, being darkest on the head and upper shoulders while the underside is more silvery. The juveniles have five chevron-shaped dark bars on their bodies, with a black blotch at the base of the third to sixth soft dorsal fin rays. The base of the filaments is a dark blue to black, with all other fins pale to hyaline in appearance. [6]

The African pompano is known to definitely reach a length of 130 cm, [5] although larger specimens to 150 cm have been reported, [8] but are not considered reliable. The maximum published weight of the species is 22.9 kg. [2]

Distribution and habitat

African Pompano (Alectis ciliaris) African Pompano (Alectis ciliaris) (8456219427).jpg
African Pompano (Alectis ciliaris)

The African pompano is distributed throughout the tropical oceans and seas of the world in a temperature range of 65 to 80 °F (18 to 27 °C), although is more often found in coastal waters. The species has been recorded from both the east and west coasts of the US, South America and Africa, throughout the Indian Ocean and along Asia and Australia, as well as many islands in the Pacific. [5] The African pompano range into more temperate waters, with juveniles in particular captured off southeastern and western Australia, presumably carried by ocean currents. [9]

The adults of the species prefer coastal waters to depths of 100 m, inhabiting reefs and wrecks throughout the water column. Juveniles are pelagic by nature, inhabiting coastal areas, as well as open ocean. Their reliance on water currents has seen them appear in estuarine waters in lower Australia, although due to cold winter temperatures, they do not survive the winters. [6] In one unusual case, the abundance in the species off North Carolina was found to dramatically increase after a hurricane had passed through. [10]

Ecology

The African pompano is a schooling predatory fish which takes predominantly a variety of crustaceans, including decapods, carids and copepods, [11] as well as cephalopods and small fish. They are preyed upon by larger fish, including mackerel and tunas, as well as sharks. [2] The small pelagic juveniles' filamentous dorsal and anal fins resemble jellyfish medusae, and this mimicry may gain them some protection from predators. [5] Little is known of their reproductive habits and maturation lengths, although a study in India determined a peak in the abundance of A. ciliaris larvae in April. The eggs were also found to be spherical, pelagic with a yolk and oil globule present, with the larvae also extensively described in the report. [12] It is thought that in Mexico spawning occurs over sandy substrates in spring. [13]

Relationship to humans

A subadult African pompano taken off Ghana African pompano Ghana.jpg
A subadult African pompano taken off Ghana
African pompano caught off of Guadalcanal African pompano Solomons.jpg
African pompano caught off of Guadalcanal
Alectis ciliaris in an aquarium in Abu Dhabi Alectis ciliaris Abu Dhabi.jpg
Alectis ciliaris in an aquarium in Abu Dhabi

The large size and good table fare offered by the African pompano have made the species popular with both recreational and commercial fishermen, although different sources rate the flesh quality differently. The species has been implicated in a number of ciguatera cases, suggesting larger fish should probably not be consumed. [14] The attractive appearance of juveniles make them possible aquarium fish, but they do not survive well in captivity. [2]

Adult African pompano are most often taken by hook-and-line methods, such as trolling [15] although they do not often make up a high percentage of catches. Juveniles are occasionally taken by beach seines. The species is marketed fresh and as dried and salted.

The fighting prowess and good table fare attract anglers to the species in many parts of the world, with regions such as Florida, Thailand and a number of Pacific and Indian Ocean islands having a strong recreational fishery for the species, [15] [16] Tackle for larger fish is more robust, with 50-lb line on a large overhead or threadline type reel used to prevent the fish from taking cover in underwater structures on their first run, especially on reefs and wrecks. Smaller fish are often taken on light tackle, often requiring a skilled angler to be able to land the fish in these situations. They can be caught on both bait and lures, with small live baitfish or large prawns the choice of baits rigged on strong gauge hooks. Lures are often jigs or streamers worked on deep reefs and wrecks, although they have been known to take a trolled lure or rigged bait. [17] In rare cases, they have even been known to take saltwater flies on sinking lines and poppers at the surface. [16]

The IGFA maintains a set of line and tippet class records from the United States for the African pompano. Their all tackle record for the species stands at 22.90 kg (50 lb 8 oz) taken off of Daytona Beach, Florida in 1990. [18] An earlier (1986) recognized record for a recreationally caught fish in Australia was 18.8 kg. [9] In Florida, the species has a minimum size limit of 24 inches and only two fish are allowed per vessel per day. [19]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluefin trevally</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bludger (fish)</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian threadfish</span> Species of fish

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<i>Alectis</i> Genus of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">African threadfish</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleftbelly trevally</span> Species of fish

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<i>Caranx</i> Genus of fishes

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The blue trevally, also known as the banded trevally, barred trevally, Ferdau's trevally or Forskaal's jackfish, is a common, widespread species of pelagic marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae. The blue trevally is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and central Pacific regions, ranging from South Africa in the west to Hawaii in the east. It is a moderately large fish, growing to a recorded maximum length of 70 cm, with the number of rays in the second dorsal fin and the colouring serving as diagnostic features of the species. The species inhabits waters to depths of 60 m, generally inhabiting reefs, beaches, lagoons, and areas with sandy substrates. It is a predatory fish, taking other fish, prawns, crabs, and molluscs, and very little is known of the species' reproductive biology. The blue trevally is of varying importance to fisheries throughout its range, with some regions having high catches of the fish. It is considered to be a gamefish, and is sought after for its excellent eating qualities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowspotted trevally</span> Species of fish

The yellowspotted trevally, also known as the yellowspotted kingfish, goldspotted trevally, tarrum, or yellowspot, is a widespread species of large inshore marine fish in the jack family Carangidae. The yellowspotted trevally inhabits the tropical and subtropical waters of the western Indo-Pacific region, from South Africa in the west to Japan and Australia in the east. The species is known to grow to a maximum length of at least 1.2 m, and is distinguished by gill raker and fin morphology, as well as the distinctive golden spots which give the fish its name. The yellowspotted trevally generally prefers inshore rocky and coral reefs, but is occasionally found over deep offshore sand banks to a depth of 100 m. It is a predatory fish, taking fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, and shows diet partitioning with other trevallies in studies conducted in Australian waters. Reproduction is poorly studied, although observational evidence suggests spawning occurs in aggregations, probably during summer in South Africa. It is generally of minor importance to commercial fisheries throughout its range, but is considered an excellent sportfish by anglers and spearfishermen, and a good table fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bumpnose trevally</span> Species of fish

The bumpnose trevally, also known as the bumpnose kingfish or onion kingfish, is a species of relatively small inshore marine fish classified in the jack family Carangidae. The bumpnose trevally is fairly common in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-west Pacific region, ranging from South Africa in the west to Japan and Samoa in the east. It is a small species by carangid standards, reaching a maximum known length of 32 cm, and can be distinguished from the similarly shaped Carangoides armatus by a distinct 'bump' on the snout, which gives the fish its common name. The species inhabits coastal waters, often living along bays and beaches, where it takes shrimp, small crabs, and juvenile fish as prey. The bumpnose trevally is of minor importance to fisheries throughout its range, taken by hook and line, trawls, and seine nets. It is also of minor importance to anglers, taken by baits from beaches and piers, and is considered a modest table fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blacktip trevally</span> Species of fish

The blacktip trevally, also known as the blacktip kingfish or yellowtail kingfish, is a species of large marine fish classified in the jack family Carangidae. The blacktip trevally is distributed throughout the tropical to subtropical Indian and West Pacific Oceans, ranging from South Africa in the west to Fiji, Japan and northern Australia in the east. It inhabits coastal waters throughout its range, preferring moderately deep clear waters over rocky and coral reefs. The blacktip trevally is easily distinguished by its yellow fins and a dark upper caudal fin lobe which gives the species its common name, as well as a host of other anatomical features. The species is known to reach a maximum size of 1 m. It is a benthopelagic predator, commonly forming small shoals where it takes a variety of fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans as prey. Little is known of reproduction in the species, and spawning is assumed to take place in more tropical regions of its range, with juveniles known to inhabit bays and large estuaries. Blacktip trevally are often caught using hook and line and various nets in commercial fisheries although don't make up a large part of the market. They are also popular with anglers due to their fighting ability and decent table qualities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brassy trevally</span> Species of fish

The brassy trevally, Caranx papuensis is a species of large marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">False scad</span> Species of fish

The false scad, also known as the spotfin scad, ten-finned horse mackerel and yellow horse mackerel, is a species of medium-sized marine fish classified in the jack family Carangidae. The false scad is distributed throughout the tropical and temperate waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Namibia in the south to Spain and throughout most of the Mediterranean in the north. The species has an atypical body form compared to other species of Caranx, and can be distinguished from these on its elongate 'scad-like' body shape alone. Distinguishing the species from members of Decapterus and Trachurus is more difficult, requiring detailed anatomical analysis. The false scad is known to grow to a length of 60 cm and a weight of 1 kg. The species lives both pelagically and demersally in continental shelf waters, ranging from depths of 15 to 200 m. It is a predatory fish, taking small fishes, crustaceans including euphausiids and shrimps, and cephalopods as its main prey, with significant dietary shifts as it ages. The false scad reaches sexual maturity at 2 years of age, with spawning occurring between April and July in shallow inshore waters, where the juveniles remain. The species is of major importance to fisheries throughout its range, but particularly from Morocco to Senegal, with annual catches ranging from 500 to 19000 t. The species is caught using trawls, seine nets and gill nets and sold fresh, frozen or salted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senegal jack</span> Species of fish

The Senegal jack, also known as the African jack, is a species of large marine fish classified in the jack family Carangidae. The species is distributed through the tropical waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean, ranging along the west African coast from Angola in the south to Mauritania in the north. It can be distinguished from co-occurring relatives by its longer dorsal fin lobe, as well as a host of other anatomical features. The Senegal jack grows to a known maximum length of 1 m. It is a coastal species, known to live semi-pelagically, inhabiting both the sea floor and surface waters to depths of around 200 m. The Senegal jack is a predatory species, taking fish, crabs and shrimps as its main prey items. The species reaches sexual maturity at 21 cm in females and 24 cm in males, with spawning occurring in two periods; February to April and September to November. The species is of minor importance to fisheries, and is not discriminated from other jacks in catch statistics. It is taken by trawls, seines and hook and line, and sold fresh or preserved.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Alectis ciliaris" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
  3. J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 380–387. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  4. Hosese, D.F.; Bray, D.J.; Paxton, J.R.; Alen, G.R. (2007). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 35 (2) Fishes. Sydney: CSIRO. p. 1150. ISBN   978-0-643-09334-8.
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