Araara, Pseudocaranx georgianus (Cuvier, 1833)

Scientific name: Pseudocaranx georgianus
Alternative name/s:
Blue Trevally, Blurter
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    21/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes
I.44836-001 - Pseudocaranx dentex Click to enlarge image
Araara, Pseudocaranx georgianus Image: Sally Reader
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pseudocaranx
    Species
    georgianus
    Family
    Carangidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Large individuals (over 350 mm FL) develop a prominent hump on the forehead.
Trevally, Pseudocaranx georgianus

Araara, Pseudocaranx georgianus

Image: Malcolm Francis
© Malcolm Francsi

Introduction

The Araara is greenish-grey dorsally and silver-white ventrally. It is a schooling species that occurs in New Zealand and temperate Australian marine waters.

Identification

The Araara is greenish-grey dorsally and silver-white ventrally. There is usually an obvious dark spot on the operculum. Juveniles have a yellow stripe along the sides of the body.

Distribution

The species occurs in New Zealand and temperate Australian marine waters.

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

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Other behaviours and adaptations

It is a schooling species. Anglers report that this fish often makes a grunting sound when caught on hook and line.

References

  1. Gomon, M.F in Gomon, M.F, J.C.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. 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.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  6. Smith-Vaniz, W.F & H.L. Jelks. 2006. Australian trevallies of the genus Pseudocaranx (Teleostei: Carangidae), with description of a new species from Western Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 63(1): 97–106.