Bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus)

General data

Main name: Bluefin trevally
Local names: Bluefin jack, Bluefin kingfish, Bluefinned crevalle, Blue ulua, Omilu, Spotted trevally
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: Africa, Asia, North America, Australia & Oceania
Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean

Classification

Description

The bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus), 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 cm and a weight of 43.5 kg, however is rare above 80 cm. 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. The bluefin trevally is a strong predatory fish, with a diet dominated by fish and supplemented by cephalopods and crustaceans as an adult. Juveniles consume a higher amount of small crustaceans, but transfer to a more fish based diet as they grow. The species displays a wide array of hunting techniques ranging from aggressive midwater attacks, reef ambushes and foraging interactions with other larger species, snapping up any prey items missed by the larger animal. The bluefin trevally reproduces at different periods throughout its range, and reaches sexual maturity at 30–40 cm in length and around 2 years of age. It is a multiple spawner, capable of reproducing up to 8 times per year, releasing up to 6 million eggs per year in captivity. Growth is well studied, with the fish reaching 194 mm in its first year, 340 mm in the second and 456 mm in the third year. The bluefin trevally is a popular target for both commercial and recreational fishermen. Commercial fisheries record up to 50 tonnes of the species taken per year in the west Indian Ocean, and around 700 lbs per year in Hawaii. The rapid decimation of the Hawaiian population due to overfishing has led to increased research in the aquaculture potential of the species, with spawning achieved in captivity. Despite its popularity as a table fish, many cases of ciguatera poisoning have been reported from the species.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Coelacanthi - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
    
    Carangidae - Jacks->
    
    Seriola - Amberjacks->
    
    Trachurus - Horse mackerels->
    
    Trachinotus - Pompanos->
    
    Lichia - Leerfishes->
    
    Caranx - Trevally->
    
    Bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus)
    
    Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis)
    
    Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)
    
    Black jack (Caranx lugubris)
    
    Crevalle jack (Caranx hippos)
    
    Bar jack (Caranx ruber)
    
    Senegal jack (Caranx senegallus)
    
    False scad (Caranx rhonchus)
    
    Yellow jack (Caranx bartholomaei)
    
    Bluespotted trevally (Caranx bucculentus)
    
    Green jack (Caranx caballus)
    
    Pacific crevalle jack (Caranx caninus)
    
    Blue runner (Caranx crysos)
    
    Longfin crevalle jack (Caranx fischeri)
    
    Blacktip trevally (Caranx heberi)
    
    Horse-eye jack (Caranx latus)
    
    Brassy trevally (Caranx papuensis)
    
    Tille trevally (Caranx tille)
    
    Cocinero (Caranx vinctus)
    
    Gnathanodon - Golden trevally->
    
    Megalaspis - Torpedo scad->
    
    Carangoides - Carangoides->
    
    Selene - Selene->
    
    Elagatis - Rainbow runners->
    
    Chloroscombrus - Chloroscombrus->
    
    Oligoplites - Oligoplites->
    
    Alectis - Alectis->
    
    Alepes - Alepes->
    
    Atropus - Atropus->
    
    Atule - Atule->
    
    Campogramma - Campogramma->
    
    Decapterus - Decapterus->
    
    Ferdauia - Ferdauia->
    
    Hemicaranx - Hemicaranx->
    
    Naucrates - Naucrates->
    
    Pantolabus - Pantolabus->
    
    Parastromateus - Parastromateus->
    
    Parona - Parona->
    
    Pseudocaranx - Pseudocaranx->
    
    Scomberoides - Scomberoides->
    
    Selar - Selar->
    
    Selaroides - Selaroides->
    
    Seriolina - Seriolina->
    
    Ulua - Ulua->
    
    Uraspis - Uraspis->
    
    Coryphaenidae - Dolphinfishes->
    
    Xiphiidae - Swordfishes->
    
    Istiophoridae - Marlins->
    
    Nematistiidae - Roosterfish->
    
    Rachycentridae - Cobia->
    
    Echeneidae - Remoras->
    
    Menidae - Moonfish->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipneusti - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->