Orange spotted trevally (Carangoides bajad)

Description

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Orange spotted trevally fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Orange spotted trevally description

With a deep, flattened, streamlined body, the orange spotted trevally (Carangoides bajad) is a powerful, fast-swimming predatory fish of the jack family (Carangidae) ^{(2) (3)}. This carnivorous fish is also recognised by its deeply-forked tail fin, low dorsal fin with elongated rays, and naked patch on the middle of the belly ^{(2) (3)}. This beautiful fish is typically silvery-grey in colour with a scattering of conspicuous, bright orange-yellow spots along the sides ^{(2) (4) (5)}. It does, however, display the remarkable ability to change its colour to become almost entirely orange, although the spotting still shows through ⁽⁴⁾.  

Also known as

orangespotted jack, orangespotted trevally, scaly-breasted trevally.

Size

Maximum length: 55 cm ⁽²⁾

Orange spotted trevally biology

A strong, fast-swimming, pursuit predator, the orange spotted trevally is a dominant carnivore in its reef habitat, yet very little is known about its biology ⁽⁶⁾. It spawns in deep water, most probably in summer months ⁽⁷⁾, when large numbers of small, buoyant eggs and sperm are released for external fertilisation ⁽³⁾. Hatching occurs around 24 to 48 hours after spawning, with the developing fish likely remaining in the water column as part of the zooplankton community for an extended period of time ⁽³⁾. As the young, solitary fish develop they eventually move inshore and start exhibiting more gregarious behaviours ⁽⁶⁾.

Orange spotted trevally range

The orange spotted trevally is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from Madagascar, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, across the northern Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Japan ^{(2) (4)}.

Orange spotted trevally habitat

The orange spotted trevally is commonly found around reef slopes and stands of corals in lagoons, between depths of 2 and 50 metres. It also occurs in muddy bays, whilst juveniles are typically found in sheltered coastal bays ⁽²⁾. 

Orange spotted trevally status

The orange spotted trevally has yet to be classified by the IUCN.

Orange spotted trevally threats

While the extent of the threats to the orange spotted trevally is currently unclear, the species is a highly-regarded food fish and is captured in artisanal and sport fisheries across its range ^{(3) (4) (7)}. In the western Indian Ocean, commercial fish stocks are thought to have been in decline since the late 1970s, due to overfishing and habitat degradation from destructive activities such as dredging ⁽⁸⁾. However, exploitation does not appear to be threatening the species at present ⁽⁷⁾.

Orange spotted trevally conservation

The orange spotted trevally has not been the target of any known conservation measures.

Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi is a principal sponsor of ARKive. EAD is working to protect and conserve the environment as well as promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For more information on fish conservation, see:

• World Fisheries Trust:
  http://www.worldfish.org/

To learn more about conservation in the United Arab Emirates visit:

• The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi:
  www.ead.ae/en

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Glossary

Carnivorous

Feeding on flesh.

Dorsal fin

The unpaired fin found on the back of the body of fish, or the raised structure on the back of most cetaceans.

Fertilisation

The fusion of gametes (male and female reproductive cells) to produce an embryo, which grows into a new individual.

Spawning

The production or depositing of large quantities of eggs in water.

Zooplankton

Tiny aquatic animals that drift with currents or swim weakly in water.

References

1. UNEP-WCMC (November, 2010)
   http://www.unep-wcmc.org/
2. FishBase – Orange spotted trevally (November, 2010)
   http://www.fishbase.org.cn/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=1923&AT=Talakitilyo
3. Allen, G.R. and Robertson, D.R. (1994) Fishes of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
4. Carpenter, K.E. and Niem, V.H. (1999) FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4: Bony Fishes, Part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
5. Vine, P. (1996) Natural Emirates: Wildlife and Environment of the United Arab Emirates. Trident Press, London.
6. Honebrink, R.R. (2000) A Review of the Biology of the Family Carangidae, with Emphasis on Species Found in Hawaiian Waters. Division of Aquatic Resources Techinal Report 20-01. Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu, Hawaii.
7. Grandcourt, E.M., Al Abdessalaam, T.Z., Francis, F. and Al Shamsi, A. (2004) Population biology and assessment of representatives of the family Carangidae Carangoides bajad and Gnathanodon speciiosus (Forsskål, 1775), in the Southern Arabian Gulf. Fisheries Research, 69: 331-341.
8. Hellyer, P. and Aspinall, S. (2005) The Emirates: A Natural History. Trident Press Limited, London.