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Bluefin Trevally
Caranx melampygus Cuvier, 1833
A Bluefin Trevally at a depth of 12m, Bougainville Reef, Coral Sea, December 2000. View larger image.
The Bluefin Trevally can be recognised by the electric blue colour of the second dorsal, caudal and anal fins. The upper half of the body is grey to brassy in colour with scattered small blue-black spots.
This species grows to 1m in length. It is usually seen singly or occasionally in small schools.
The Bluefin Trevally is found widely in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it occurs from Margaret River, Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the central coast of New South Wales.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
View a low resolution movie clip (46k) of this species. Go to the movies page for high and low resolution versions.
Further reading
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
