‹ Fish Finder· #088
Bluefin Trevally
Caranx melampygus
Bislamakarong— names this kind of animal, not this species alone
- Habitat
- Open water
- Max size
- 1.3 m
- Depth
- 0-183 m
- Family
- Carangidae
The bluefin trevally, also known as the bluefin jack, bluefin kingfish, bluefinned crevalle, blue ulua, omilu, and spotted trevally, is a species of large, widely distributed marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae. The bluefin trevally is distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from Eastern Africa in the west to Central America in the east, including Japan in the north and Australia in the south. The species grows to a maximum known length of 117 centimetres (46 in) and a weight of 43.5 kilograms (96 lb), however is rare above 80 centimetres (31 in). Bluefin trevally are easily recognised by their electric blue fins, tapered snout and numerous blue and black spots on their sides. Juveniles lack these obvious colours, and must be identified by more detailed anatomical features such as fin ray and scute counts. The bluefin trevally inhabits both inshore environments such as bays, lagoons and shallow reefs, as well as deeper offshore reefs, atolls and bomboras. Juveniles prefer shallower, protected waters, even entering estuaries for short periods in some locations.
Adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Side by side, with what tells them apart.
Bluefin Trevally has electric-blue fins, blue-black spots scattered over the upper flanks once past about 16 cm, and a more pointed snout. Giant Trevally has grey to black fins and a steep, blunt forehead, and grows far larger -- up to 170 cm -- with big males turning dusky to jet black.
See the Giant Trevally →
Brassy Trevally is often taken for a Bluefin Trevally: both are sprinkled with small dark spots above. Bluefin Trevally has electric-blue second dorsal, anal and tail fins, and blue-black spots. Brassy Trevally has no blue on its fins, which are yellow to dusky; its back is brassy to yellow-green, it has a pale, black-edged spot at the top of the gill cover, and a thin white border runs along the lower lobe of its tail.
See the Brassy Trevally →
Bigeye Trevally has a large eye, a white tip on its second dorsal fin and a small dark spot on the upper edge of the gill cover, and by day it gathers in large, slowly milling schools. Bluefin Trevally has electric-blue fins, blue-black spots on the upper flanks and no dark gill spot.
See the Bigeye Trevally →