Indo-Pacific and Southeast Atlantic: from Knysna to Natal, South Africa to Australia, including Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, and in the Central Pacific Islands from South Korea to Gulf of California to Peru, including Galapagos Islands (Ref. 9283). Distribution in south Western Australia, and South Australia is false.
Length at first maturity / Tamaño / Peso / Age
Maturity: Lm16.8 range ? - ? cm Max length : 35.0 cm TL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 3197); common length : 25.0 cm TL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 9137)
Espinas dorsales (total) : 9; Radios blandos dorsales (total) : 33 - 38; Espinas anales: 3; Radios blandos anales: 27 - 30. Body slender, elongate, and somewhat circular in cross section; posterior end of upper jaw concave dorsally and with a rounded protrusion ventrally; edge of shoulder girdle (cleithrum) with two small papillae, the lower one larger; dorsal and anal fin each followed by a separate finlet (Ref. 55763). Color metallic blue dorsally, silvery ventrally; fins hyaline; opercle with a small black spot (Ref. 2334). 24-40 scutes. Very slender compared to similar species (Ref. 48635).
A predominately pelagic schooling species (Ref. 9283, 48635, 58302). Occasionally seen in small groups along reef slopes adjacent to deep water in pursuit of zooplankton (Ref. 48635). Adults feed mainly on small invertebrates (Ref. 5213). Marketed fresh and salted or dried (Ref. 9283).
Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen and J.E. Hanley, 1989. Pisces. Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Vol. 7. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 665 p. (Ref. 7300)
