Species: Gnathanodon speciosus, Golden Trevally, Golden Jack

Gnathanodon speciosus (Forsskål, 1775)

Golden Trevally, Golden Jack

Body deep, moderately compressed; adults without teeth (juveniles with a few weak teeth on lower jaw); lips notably fat and fleshy; gill rakers (including rudiments) 19-22 + 27-30; dorsal rays VII+I, 18-20; anal rays II+I, 15-17; no finlets after 2nd dorsal and anal fins; pectoral fins longer than head; tail base slender; tail strongly forked; lateral line moderately arched, straight part with 17-24 scales followed by 17-26 scutes; body and breast covered with scales.

Silver grey, yellowish on belly, often with scattered black patches or spots on sides; all fins yellow; tips of tail black; juveniles and young adults with 7-11 black bars on body.

Size: to 120 cm.

Habitat: demersal on soft bottoms. Young act as "pilots" for sharks and other large fishes.

Depth: 0-80 m.

Tropical Indo-Pacific from east Africa to the Americas; has been collected in the locks at the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal, and one caught at Cuba.

Note: The Cuban record likely is due to an aquarium release at Florida.