Description
The blue trevally is a moderately large fish, growing to a recorded maximum length of 70 cm and a weight of 8 kg. The species is similar in general morphology to a number of other trevallies in the genus Carangoides, having a compressed, oblong body, with the dorsal profile more convex than the ventral profile. Unlike most of the Carangoides however, the blue trevally’s snout is bluntly rounded, resembling the snouts of the pompanos of the genus Trachinotus and the lips of adults are notably fleshy. There are two separate dorsal fins, the first having 8 spines, while the second consists of 1 spine and 26 to 34 soft rays; more than any other species in Carangoides. In young adults, the lobe of the second dorsal fin is often falcate, but usually shorter than the head length. The anal fin has 2 anteriorly detached spines followed by a single spine attached to 21 to 26 soft rays, while the pelvic fin has 1 spine attached to 20 or 21 soft rays. The lateral line has a gentle anterior arch, with the with junction of the curved and straight sections vertically below the fifteenth to twentieth soft rays of the second dorsal fin. The curved section of the lateral line contains 82 to 90 scales, while the straight section has 12 to 17 scales and 26 to 31 scutes. The breast is naked ventrally to origin of the pelvic fins and the base of the pectoral fins, but is interrupted laterally by a moderate band of scales. The upper jaw is highly protractile, containing narrow bands of villiform teeth, which become obsolescent with age, as is the case in the lower jaw. There are a total of 24 to 29 gill rakers and 24 vertebrae.
The body is a blue green to yellow green colour above, becoming silvery below, with adults having 5 or 6 dusky vertical bands which usually persist after death. There are numerous, inconspicuous golden spots often present on the sides, mostly above the level of the pectoral fins. The soft dorsal and anal fins are pale yellowish green, and the anterior lobes of both often have white to blue tips. The caudal fin is yellow green, having a dark trailing edge and tips, while the pelvic fins are whitish to hyaline.
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