©Andy Lewis: A pair of Turrum feeding close to the reef surface in the lagoon entrance channel, Lizard Island.
©Anne Hoggett: Small individuals (<30 cm) of Carangoides fulvoguttatus at Cobia Hole, Lizard Island.
Colours
Distinguishing features
A large, fast moving silvery fish with a speckling of gold spots over the back and flank, arranged loosley into 4 vertical groups. Usually seen in pairs or small schools along the edges of reefs and in passes.
Size
- Up to 120 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Areas of deep water close to reefs, favours locations with good water movement and plentiful schools of planktivores.
Found in most reef habitats around the island.
Behaviour
A fast moving predator on small fishes and invertebrates, this species will come close to reefs in order to hunt schools of fusiliers, damselfishes and hardyheads - the latter often jump out of the water in a spectacular shower as the trevallies attack from below. Carangids hunt most frequently at dawn and dusk when light levels are low and prey fishes are easier to surprise. This species is mature at about 4 years and lives to more than 12 years.
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Kimura, S., S. Takeuchi and T. Yadome (2022). Generic revision of the species formerly belonging to the genus Carangoides and its related genera (Carangiformes: Carangidae). Ichthyological Research, doi 10.1007-s10228-021-00850-1. LIRS catalog number 90425.
- Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1990). Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Other references
- Barton, D.P., C. Beaufrere, J.-L. Justine and I.D. Whittington (2009). Polyopisthocotylean monogeneans from carangid fishes off Queensland, Australia and New Caledonia, with a description of Heteromicrocotyloides megaspinosus, Acta Parasitlogica, 54: 205-217. LIRS catalog number 1255.
- View all references