Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pompano
Trachinotus ovatus
photo by Freitas, R.

 Family:  Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Trachinotinae
 Max. size:  70 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,800.0 g
 Environment:  pelagic-neritic; depth range 50 - 200 m,
 Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay, British and Scandinavian waters (rare vagrant) to Angola, including the Mediterranean Sea and offshore islands.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-27; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 22-25. Diagnosis: body moderately long (its depth 2.6-3.5 times in fork length) and compressed; upper jaw very narrow at posterior end and extending only to below anterior third of eye; 22-32 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch; 2 dorsal fins, 1st with 6 spines, 2nd with 1 spine and 23-27 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines followed by 1 spine and 22-25 soft rays; lobes of soft dorsal and anal fins small (Ref. 57392). Length of second dorsal fin base equal to length of anal fin base (Ref. 35388). 2nd dorsal-fin lobe and pectoral fins shorter than head; scales small, cycloid, partially embedded in skin; lateral line very slightly arched over pectoral fins, straight thereafter, and without scutes (Ref. 57392). 3-5 black spots along anterior half of lateral line(Ref. 35388, 57392). Coloration: back greenish-grey, sides silvery with 3-5 vertically elongate black spots on anterior half of lateral line; dorsal-, anal- and caudal-fin lobes black-tipped (Ref. 57392).
 Biology:  Adults are moderately common in shallow water in areas of surge. Found in clear waters (Ref. 27584), over sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 27000, 57392). Occasionally enters lagoons and river estuaries (Ref. 57392). Form schools (Ref. 27584, 57392). Small specimens are regularly caught at night from steep rocky shores. Adults feed on small crustaceans, mollusks and fishes (Ref. 4233). Eggs are pelagic (Ref. 4233).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Papasissi, Christine - 24.10.90
 Modified by: Musschoot, Tobias - 23.03.15
 Checked by: Agustin, Liza Q. - 05.09.94

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