Snubnose Dart (species: Trachinotus blochii) in taxonomy (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Trachinotus blochii
Snubnose Dart


©Anne Hoggett: Trachinotus blochii at Cobia Hole, Lizard Island

©Vanessa Messmer: Trachinotus blochii at Watson's Bay, Lizard Island.

©Rick Stuart-Smith: Trachinotus blochii, Lizard Island area.
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Carangidae
Genus Trachinotus
Species Trachinotus blochii

Colours

              

Distinguishing features

A large, fast moving silver fish with a rounded snout and yellow dorsal and anal fins. Usually seen in in pairs or small schools along the edges of reefs and in passes.

Size

  • Up to 110 cm (Standard length)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Generally areas of deep water close to reef edges, but will move into lagoonal areas to feed.

Can be found in most reef habitats around the island, although prefers reef margins near deep water.

Behaviour

This species feeds mainly on sand-dwelling molluscs and invertebrates, and is usually seen in schools along the reef front at Lizard Island or near the lagoon entrance channel. This species is mature at about 2 years and lives to more than 12 years.

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • 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

  • Bray, R., A. Waeschenbach, T.H. Cribb, G.D. Weedall, P. Dyal and D.T.J. Littlewood (2009). The phylogeny of the Lepocreadioidea (Platyhelminthes, Digenea) inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial genes: implications for their systematics and evolution, Acta Parasitologica, 54: 310-329. LIRS catalog number 1280.
  • Graham, R.T. and D.W. Castellanos (2005). Courtship and spawning behaviors of carangid species in Belize, Fishery Bulletin, 103: 426-432. LIRS catalog number 90033.