Bigeye Trevally, Caranx sexfasciatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)

Scientific name: Caranx sexfasciatus
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    23/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Bigeye Trevally, Caranx sexfasciatus Click to enlarge image
A Bigeye Trevally at a depth of 3 m, Barracuda Point, Sipadan, Sabah, 29 September 2011. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Caranx
    Species
    sexfasciatus
    Family
    Carangidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 85 cm in length.

Introduction

The Bigeye Trevally is blue-green in colour above and silvery below. It occurs in tropical and warm temperate marine waters of the Indo-Pacific.

Identification

The Bigeye Trevally is blue-green above and silvery below. The dorsal and anal fin tips are white. The caudal fin is yellowish to black.

There is a black spot on the upper operculum and dark scutes along the straight portion of the lateral line. The posterior portion of the eye is covered by a gelatinous eyelid.

Distribution

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

In Australia it is known from the south-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the central coast of 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.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  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. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.