Caranx rhonchus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817
False scad
Caranx rhonchus
photo by Luyben, J.

Family:  Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Caranginae
Max. size:  60 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,000.0 g
Environment:  benthopelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 30 - 200 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to Angola (Ref. 4225, 57392), including the Mediterranean along the African coast. Range reported to extend south to Namibia (Ref. 27121).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28-32; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 25-28. Diagnosis: body elongate and slightly compressed, its depth comprised from 3.8 to 4.4 times in fork length; eye posteriorly with a well developed adipose eyelid; 2 well separated dorsal fins, 1st with 8 spines, 2nd with 1 spine and 28-32 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines, followed by 1 spine and 25-28 soft rays; last dorsal and anal ray transformed into a partially separate finlet, connected to the preceding ray by a low interradial membrane; pectoral fins short (comprised from 1.0 to 1.2 times in head length); scales small and cycloid; curved part of lateral line with 45-55 scales and 0-3 scutes, straight part with 0-8 scales and 24-32 scutes (Ref. 57392). Coloration: back brownish to olivaceous, sides light olivaceous to whitish; a narrow yellowish band sometimes extending from head to caudal-fin base; a black spot on upper margin of gill cover; a black blotch with a narrow light distal margin present on second dorsal-fin lobe (Ref. 57392).
Biology:  Form schools. They occur frequently near the bottom, mostly in depths of 30 to 50 m. Also pelagic and found near the surface at times. Entering brackish-water lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 57392). Feed on small fish and invertebrates (Ref. 3195). Spawning grounds are located in shallow waters (Ref. 57055). Eggs are pelagic (Ref. 4233).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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