Animal Species:Blue Trevally, Carangoides ferdau (Forsskål, 1775)

The Blue Trevally inhabits coastal waters and offshore reefs. They frequently travel in large schools that are known to roam for considerably long distances. The species are highly sort after by both commercial and sport angler fishermen.

A Blue Trevally at Osprey Reef

A Blue Trevally at Osprey Reef
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

The Blue Trevally is a compressed fish with long curved pectoral fins and a forked tail. The snout is bluntly rounded. The dorsal profile of the head is more convex above than below.

The species is silver in colour, often with a tinge of blue-green above. There are five to six dusky bars on the side of the body and often indistinct golden spots on the upper sides.

Size range

It grows to 70 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific.

In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to southern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Carangoides ferdau

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Blue Trevally specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is a pelagic species that occurs to depths of around 60 m.

Feeding and Diet

The Blue Trevally feeds mainly on prawns, crabs and small fishes.

Classification

Species:
ferdau
Genus:
Carangoides
Family:
Carangidae
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  4. Smith-Vaniz, W.F. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. 1999. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO. Rome Pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


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Tags fish, ichthyology, blue trevally, Carangoides ferdau, pelagic, compressed body, forked tail, blunt snout, silver, blue-green, stripes or bands, dots/spots, golden spots, 30 cm - 1 m, tropical water, marine,