Onion Trevally, Carangoides caeruleopinnatus (Ruppell, 1830)

Scientific name: Carangoides caeruleopinnatus
Alternative name/s:
Blue-spined Trevally, Coastal Trevally, Diverse Trevally, Japanese Trevally, Onion-ring Trevally.
  • Updated
    07/04/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
<i>Carangoides caeruleopinnatus </i> Click to enlarge image
An Onion Trevally caught at Entrance Island, Liverpool River, Maningrida, Northern Territory, July 2005. Image: Mark Mikkelsen
© Mark Mikkelsen

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Carangoides
    Species
    caeruleopinnatus
    Family
    Carangidae
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 25 cm in length.

Introduction

The Onion Trevally is a relatively deep body species that has a long filament at the front of the second dorsal fin. It occurs in inshore and continental shelf waters of the tropical Indo-West Pacific.

Identification

The Onion Trevally can be recognised by its relatively deep body and the long filament at the front of the second dorsal fin. The fish is bluish-grey above and silver below. There is usually an indistinct dark blotch on the operculum.

It has been called Carangoides uii in many publications.

Distribution

The Onion Trevally is a pelagic species that occurs in inshore and continental shelf waters of the tropical Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is known from the north-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.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.