Swallowtail Dart, Trachinotus coppingeri (Günther, 1884)
Dart, Southern Dart, Southern Swallowtail, Surf Bream, Surf Trevally
Click to enlarge image
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Trachinotus
- Species
- coppingeri
- Family
- Carangidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 60 cm in length.
Introduction
The Swallowtail Dartbody has a slivery body with dark blotches on the sides. It is endemic to Australia, occurring in tropical and warm temperate marine waters.
Identification
The Swallowtail Dart has a deeply forked caudal fin and elongate leading rays in the soft dorsal finand anal fins. The body is slivery with dark blotches on the sides. There are two blotches above the pectoral fins.
Habitat
The Swallowtail Dart is a pelagic species that is found in coastal waters, often off sandy beaches.
Distribution
It is endemic to Australia, occurring in tropical and warm temperate marine waters from northern Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales, plus Lord Howe Island.
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
- 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.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Smith-Vaniz, W.F. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. 1999. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO. Rome Pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
