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Species: Alectis ciliaris, African pompano

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body high, very compressed
forehead steep, rounded
D & A: high front lobes, no rear finlets
LL: spiny scales - tail base only
juvenile: front D & A = filaments, pelvics long
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This Species (9) This Genus (1) Similar Species (6)

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Alectis ciliaris (Bloch, 1787)

African pompano

Body deep, strongly compressed, elongating with age; upper head profile steeply rounded; 1st dorsal fin VII (all but 1 spine buried under skin in adult) + I, 18-22; front lobes of dorsal and anal fins elongate, extremely elongate in juveniles; anal rays II + I, 18-20, II free spines at front; no finlets after 2nd dorsal and anal fins; pectoral long, curved; pelvics moderate sized throughout life; tail base slender; tail strongly forked; body scales very small, imbedded in skin, body appears scaleless; lateral line with a pronounced, moderately long arch anteriorly, straight rear part of lateral line with 18-22 scutes (hard spiny scales).

Silvery with light metallic bluish tinge dorsally; a small dark diffuse spot on upper end of gill opening; juveniles with 5 chevron-shaped bars on body.

Maximum size to 150 cm; IGFA record 23 kg.

Habitat: adults solitary in coastal seas, young usually pelagic and drifting.

Depth: 0-100 m.

Worldwide in tropical seas; Massachusetts to Brazil.

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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom + water column
  • Bottom
  • Mid Water
  • Near Bottom
Habitat
  • Sand & gravel
  • Water column
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Bentho-Pelagic
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Planktivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Zooplankton
  • Data
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Bony fishes
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • Transisthmian (East Pacific + Atlantic of Central America)
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
  • All species.
Regional Endemism
  • All species..
  • Continent
  • GC non-endemic
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Extends North of GC
  • Extends N + S of GC
  • Extends South of GC
  • Also in Brazil
  • Island (s)
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Temperate (>35N)
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Depth Range Max
  • 100
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Length Max
  • 150