Animal Species:Swallowtail Dart, Trachinotus coppingeri (Günther, 1884)

The Swallowtail Dartbody has a slivery body with dark blotches on the sides. It is endemic to Australia, occurring in tropical and warm temperate marine waters.

Swallowtail Dart caught at North Solitary Island

Swallowtail Dart caught at North Solitary Island
P. Murphy © P. Murphy

Alternative Name/s

Dart, Southern Dart, Southern Swallowtail, Surf Bream, Surf Trevally

Identification

The Swallowtail Dart has a deeply forked caudal fin and elongate leading rays in the soft dorsal fin and anal fins. The body is slivery with dark blotches on the sides. There are two blotches above the pectoral fins.

Size range

The species grows to 60 cm in length.

Distribution

It is endemic to Australia, occurring in tropical and warm temperate marine waters from northern Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales, plus Lord Howe Island.

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

Trachinotus coppingeri

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Swallowtail Dart specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The Swallowtail Dart is a pelagic species that is found in coastal waters, often off sandy beaches.

Classification

Species:
coppingeri
Genus:
Trachinotus
Family:
Carangidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. 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.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Swallowtail Dart, Trachinotus coppingeri, Carangidae, silver, blotches/mottled, endemic to Australia, tropical water, temperate water, marine, Dart, Southern Dart, Southern Swallowtail, Surf Bream, Surf Trevally, forked caudal fin, elongate, 30 cm - 1 m, pelagic, coastal water, sandy beaches,