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Perciformes: Percoidei: Carangidae 1459

Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810) AMB Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Greater amberjack; Fr - Sériole couronnée; Sp - Medregal coronado.

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, moderately shallow, and slightly compressed, with upper profile slightly more convex than lower. Upper jaw broad posteriorly (with broad supramaxilla with posterodorsal angle usually rounded) and extending to below about middle of eye.Teeth minute, in a broad band in upper and lower jaws.Gill rakers decreasing in number with growth;at sizes less than 20 cm fork length, 5 or 6 up- per, 15 or 16 lower, 18 to 24 total, at sizes larger than 20 cm fork length, about 11 to 19 total. Dorsal fin with 7 spines (seventh spine reduced and covered in fish larger than 60 cm fork length), followed by 1 spine and 29 to 34 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines (these spines reduced or completely embedded in large fish), followed by 1 spine and 18 to 22 soft rays; second dorsal-fin lobe relatively short, contained 6.7 to 8.1 times in fork length;anal-fin base moderately short, contained 1.4 to 1.7 times in second dorsal-fin base;pel- vic fins longer than pectorals.Scales small and cycloid (smooth);no scutes.Caudal-peduncle grooves pres- ent. First pterygiophore of anal fin curved in specimens larger than about 10 cm fork length. Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal. Colour: bluish grey or olivaceous above, sides and belly silvery white, sometimes brownish or with a pinkish tinge; usually a dark nuchal band through eye to first dorsal-fin origin; often amber stripe from eye along middle of body;caudal fin dark or dusky with a lighter narrow posterior margin, ex- treme tip of lower caudal lobe sometimes light or white. Juveniles (2 to 17 cm fork length) with 5 dark body bands that become irregularly split vertically and a sixth band at the end of the caudal peduncle; body bands not extending onto dorsal and anal-fin membranes; the fins are generally clear. Size: Maximum to 80.6 kg and 188 cm total length (Bermuda); common from about 70 cm fork length at 2 kg to 110 cm fork length at 5 kg. All-tackle IGFA world angling record 70.64 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Epibenthic and pelagic. Smaller fish (less than 3 kg) may be taken in shallow water (less than 10 m). Larger fish usually in 18 to 72 m and have been taken as deep as 360 m; often found on reefs or at deep offshore holes or drop-offs, usually in small or moderate-sized schools, but may be solitary.Ju- veniles associate with Sargassum or flotsam in oceanic and offshore neritic waters. Feeds primarily on fish and also invertebrates, and also takes live, dead, and artificial bait. Locally abundant and exploited commer- cially, but separate statistics are not reported. Main fishing gear are hydraulic reels and hand- lines (bottom-fished) and rod-and-reels (trolled and bottom-fished); also taken in traps. Sold fresh in Florida and Mexico; moderately good taste. Large individuals have been indicted in ciguatera poisoning in some areas of the West Indies and the Pacific Ocean. Distribution: In Western Atlantic known from Bermuda and Nova Scotia to Brazil. In the east- ern Atlantic from England to West Africa and the Mediterranean, also found in South Africa, Aus- tralia, China, Japan, and the Hawaiian Islands. 1460 Bony Fishes

Seriola fasciata (Bloch, 1793) RLF Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Lesser amberjack; Fr - Sériole babiane; Sp - Medregal listado.

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, moderately deep, and slightly compressed, with upper profile slightly more convex than lower.Upper jaw moderately broad posteriorly (with moderate supramaxilla), and extending to below about anterior margin of pupil.Teethminute, in a band in upper and lower jaws.Gill rakers remaining constant in number with growth; 6 to 8 upper, 16 to 18 lower, and 23 to 26 total. Dorsal fin usually with 8 spines (first or eighth may be minute in large fish), followed by 1 spine and 28 to 33 soft rays; anal fin with 2 de- tached spines, followed by 1 spine and 17 to 20 soft rays; second dorsal-fin lobe relatively short contained about 6.5 to 8.6 times in fork length; anal-fin base moderately short, contained about 1.6 to 1.9 times in sec- ond dorsal-fin base; pelvic fins longer than pectorals. Scales small and cycloid (smooth); no scutes. Cau- dal-peduncle grooves present. First pterygiophore of anal fin curved in specimens larger than about 10 cm fork length.Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal.Colour: fresh adults, dorsal surface dark (pinkish or violet), sides lighter, and belly white or silvery;a faint, dark nuchal band, and a faint narrow lateral amber stripe extend- ing backward from eye may be present. Dorsal fin dusky; second dorsal-fin lobe tip clear to whitish; anal-fin lobe with white, rest of fin dusky to dark; pectoral fins clear to dusky; pelvic fins white with most of dorsal sur- face dark; caudal fin dusky to dark with a lighter, narrow posterior margin. Juveniles (about 4 to 25 cm fork length) with dark nuchal bar from eye to nape (ending well anterior to first dorsal fin); 7 dark body bands, irregular and broken, third through seventh extending into second dorsal- and anal-fin soft ray membranes, eighth band small and dark, at end of caudal peduncle; dark, rounded spot on medial caudal-fin rays; caudal fin otherwise clear. Size:Maximum to 67.5 cm fork length at 4.6 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Found mostly near the bottom in 55 to 130 m.Mostly eats squid; will take dead bait. Caught with hook-and-line on the bottom. Caught incidentally; possibly rare. Distribution: In the western Atlantic from Mas- sachusetts into the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, and Bermuda. Presumably rare in the eastern Atlan- tic. Perciformes: Percoidei: Carangidae 1461

Seriola rivoliana Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1833 YTL Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Almaco jack; Fr - Sériole limon; Sp - Medregal limon.

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, moderately deep, and slightly compressed, with upper profile more convex than lower. Upper jaw very broad posteriorly (with broad supramaxilla with posterodorsal angle usually acute in adults) and extending to below about anterior margin of pupil. Teeth minute, in a broad band in both jaws.Gill rakers decreasing slightly in number with growth, 6 to 9 upper, 18 to 20 lower, and 24 to 29 total at sizes less than 10 cm fork length, at larger sizes total gill rakers 18 to 25. Dorsal fin with 7 spines (first minute or missing in large fish), followed by 1 spine and 27 to 33 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines (reduced or completely embedded in large fish), followed by 1 spine and 18 to 22 soft rays;second dor- sal-fin lobe long, contained 4.3 to 6.3 times in fork length; anal-fin base moderately long, contained 1.5 to 1.6 times in second dorsal-fin base; pelvic fins longer than pectorals. Scales small and cycloid (smooth); no scutes. Caudal peduncle grooves present. First pterygiophore of anal fin straight in specimens larger than about 10 cm fork length. Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal. Colour: brown or olivaceous to bluish green above, sides and belly lighter, sometimes with brassy or lavender reflections, nuchal band often per- sistent in adults and extending from eye to first dorsal-fin origin, and a faint amber lateral stripe extending backward from eye frequently present;anal fin mostly dark, usually with the lobe white, often with a narrow dis- tal white margin along fin, and sometimes with the anterior edge of lobe white; pelvic fins white ventrally and laterally with a dark dorsal surface, or sometimes entirely dark; caudal fin dark with a lighter narrow posterior margin. Juveniles (to about 2 to 18 cm fork length) with dark nuchal band extending to first dorsal-fin ori- gin and 6 dark body bands, each with a lighter narrow irregular area through their middle vertically, and a dark seventh band at the end of caudal peduncle; dorsal and anal fins dark (without the body bands passing through them) and anal-fin tip white; pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins becoming dusky. Size: Common from about 55 cm fork length and 2.5 kg to 80 cm fork length and 3.4 kg.All-tackle IGFA Atlantic world angling record 35.38 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Mostly pelagic and epibenthic in oceanic waters; rarely inshore. Feeds mainly on fish. Caught on handlines and with hook-and-line. Not selectively fished commercially; reputable sportfish in the Bahamas. Flesh regarded as good to very good;possible implications of cigua- tera in the Cayman and Virgin islands. Distribution: Circumtropical in marine waters, entering temperate waters in some areas. In the Western Atlantic, from Bermuda and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. In eastern Atlantic, from Portugal to West Africa and the Mediterranean, Madeira and Azores. Also from South Africa, through the Indian and Pacific Oceans to the eastern Pacific. 1462 Bony Fishes

Seriola zonata (Mitchill, 1815) RLZ Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810). FAO names: En - Banded rudderfish; Fr - Sériole guaimeque; Sp - Medregal guaimeque.

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, moderately deep, and slightly compressed, with upper profile slightly more convex than lower.Upper jaw moderately broad posteriorly (with moderate supramaxilla), and extending to below about posterior margin of eye.Teethminute in a band in both jaws.Gill rakers decreasing in number with growth: in fish larger than 20 cm fork length, 2 to 4 upper, 11 to 13 lower, 12 to 17 total, and in fish smaller than 10 cm fork length, 20 to 25 total.Dorsal fin with 8 spines (eighth and occasionally first spine re- duced and covered at about 60 cm fork length), followed by 1 spine and 33 to 39 soft rays; anal fin with 2 de- tached spines (first embedded and the second reduced into a groove at about 40 cm fork length), followed by 1 spine and 19 to 21 soft rays; second dorsal-fin lobe contained about 7.3 to 8.0 times in fork length; anal-fin base short, contained 1.6 to 2.1 times in second dorsal-fin base; pelvic fins longer than pectoral fins.Scales small and cycloid (smooth);no scutes.Caudal-peduncle grooves present.First pterygiophore of anal fin curved in specimens larger than about 10 cm fork length. Vertebrae 11 precaudal and 13 caudal. Col- our: fresh adults dark dorsally (bluish green) and light laterally to ventrally (silver to white); dark nuchal band from eye to first dorsal-fin origin may be present; faint narrow lateral amber stripe from eye to caudal fin.Dorsal fin dusky, with faint, distal white margin on second lobe; lobe, anterior base, and distal margin of anal fin white, with rest of fin dusky; pelvic fins white with amber olive blackish areas distally; caudal fin dark with narrow light distal margin.Juveniles (about 2 to 30 cm fork length) with dark nuchal band through eye to first dorsal-fin origin; 6 dark solid bands on body, the third to fifth extending into soft fin membranes; tips of caudal fin white. Size: Maximum to about 80 cm fork length (unrecorded);69 cm fork length (documented) at 5.2 kg;common to 47 cm fork length at 17 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Pelagic and epibenthic in coastal waters over the continental shelf. Juveniles associated with jellyfish and drifting weeds, or following larger pelagic fish. Feeds on fish and shrimp. Caught in trawls, on handlines, and with hook-and-line. Caught inci- dentally; no separate statistics reported. Edibility reported as very good. Distribution: Western Atlantic only, from Maine (possibly Nova Scotia) to Santos, Brazil. Some- times confused with Seriola lalandi Valenci- ennes from the South Atlantic and with Seriola dumerili and Seriola fasciata elsewhere in its range. Perciformes: Percoidei: Carangidae 1463

Trachinotus carolinus (Linnaeus, 1766) POM Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Florida pompano; Fr - Pompaneau sole; Sp - Pámpano amarillo.

Diagnostic characters: Body short, deep, and compressed, with upper and lower profiles similar and head profile sloping to a blunt snout. Eye small (diameter contained 3.2 to 5.1 times in head length). Upper jaw very narrow at end and extending to below mideye; lower jaw included. Teeth in jaws small, conical, and recurved, disappearing completely by about 20 cm fork length; no teeth on tongue. Gill rakers 5 to 7 upper, 8 to 14 lower. Dorsal fin with 6 spines (first partially or totally resorbed in fish larger than 30 cm fork length), followed by 1 spine and 22 to 27 soft rays (usually 23 to 25); anal fin with 2 short spines separated from rest of fin, fol- lowed by 1 spine and 20 to 24 soft rays (usually 21 or 22); anal-fin base shorter than second dorsal-fin base; pectoral fins short, contained 1.1 to 1.3 times in head length.Lateral line slightly arched to below middle of sec- ond dorsal fin and then straight;scales small, cycloid (smooth), and partially embedded;no scutes.Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal. No hyperostosis or caudal-peduncle grooves. Colour: no distinctive mark- ings; dark on upper part of head and body (silvery and metallic greenish to bluish green), white below. Size: Maximum uncertain due to past confusion with the larger T. falcatus; unconfirmed report of 5.02 kg; 2.9 kg probable; common to 35 cm fork length at 1.1 kg. All-tackle IGFA world angling record 3.67 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Found in small to large schools along sandy beaches, in inlets, and brackish bays. Probably spawns in oceanic waters; juveniles form immense schools along the beaches of eastern Florida from April to July. Feeds on molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish. Caught commer- cially with trammel nets and gill nets; also with haul seines and shrimp trawls; caught with light tackle in the surf and on shallow flats. Mostly sold fresh, some frozen; flavour rated as excellent Distribution: From Massachusetts to Brazil; ir- regularly occurring in the West Indies (Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Tobago, Trinidad); erroneously re- ported from Bermuda. A geminate species, Trachinotus paitensis Cuvier, occurs in the east- ern Pacific. 1464 Bony Fishes

Trachinotus cayennensis Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1832 TCN Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Cayenne pompano; Fr - Pompaneau cordonnier; Sp - Pámpano zapatero.

Diagnostic characters: Body slightly elongate and compressed, with upper and lower profiles similar and head profile sloping to a blunt snout. Eye small (diameter contained 3.2 to 4.4 times in head length). Upper jaw very narrow at end and extending to below anterior half of eye, lower jaw included. Teeth in jaws small, conical and recurved, decreasing in number with growth but always present; no teeth on tongue. Gill rakers 6 to 8 up- per,14to17lower.Dorsal fin with 5 spines, short and separated from each other in large fish (first spine very small and rudimentary in some fish), followed by 1 spine and 26 to 29 soft rays (usually 27 or 28); anal fin with 2 short spines separated from rest of fin, followed by 1 spine and 23 to 27 soft rays (usually 26 or 27); bases of anal and second dorsal fins about equal in length; pectoral fins short, contained 1.1 to 1.2 times in head length. Lateral line slightly arched to below middle of second dorsal fin and then straight; scales small, cycloid (smooth) and partially embedded; no scutes. Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal. No hyperostosis or caudal-peduncle grooves. Colour: back dark blue or grey, sides and belly silvery. Snout and maxilla dark; large adults with dorsal fin yellowish grey, tip of fin lobe and first fin ray black; anal fin also yellowish grey with the fin lobe darker; pectoral fins very dark, inner side and axil almost black; caudal fin yel- lowish with a dark or grey margin. Small adults have fins generally pale with yellowish areas. Size: Maximum to about 46.2 cm fork length; common to 35 cm fork length. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Adults found in water depths of 16 to 63 m; young found inshore. Caught with bottom trawls; not fished selectively. Probably marketed fresh;edibility rated as good. Distribution: From Venezuela to Paraiba, Brazil; also in Trinidad. Perciformes: Percoidei: Carangidae 1465

Trachinotus falcatus (Linnaeus, 1758) TNF Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / Trachinotus goodei Jordan and Evermann, 1896. FAO names: En - Permit; Fr - Pompaneau plume; Sp - Pámpano palometa.

Diagnostic characters: Body short, deep, and compressed, with upper and lower profiles similar and head profile sloping to a blunt snout. Eye small (diameter contained 4.3 to 5.7 times in head length). Upper jaw very narrow at end and reaching to below mideye; lower jaw included. Teeth in jaws small, conical and slightly re- curved, disappearing completely by about 20 cm fork length;tongue with irregular patch of teeth in fish smaller than about 9 cm total length, becoming resorbed at larger sizes and absent at about 22 cm fork length.Gill rak- ers 5 to 8 upper, 11 to 14 lower. Dorsal fin with 5 spines (first very small or completely resorbed in fish larger than about 40 cm fork length), followed by 1 spine and 17 to 21 soft rays (usually 18 to 20); anal fin with 2 short spines separated from rest of fin, followed by 1 spine and 16 to 19 soft rays (usually 17 or 18); bases of anal fin and second dorsal fin about equal in length; pectoral fins short, contained 1.2 to 1.6 times in head length. Lateral line slightly arched to below middle of second dorsal fin and then straight; scales small, cycloid (smooth), and partially embedded; no scutes. Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal. Hyperostosis of sec- ond, third, and fourth ribs (ribs expanded 2 to 5 times the diameter of other ribs at sizes larger than 29 cm fork length, expansion beginning at about 20 cm fork length). No caudal-peduncle grooves. Col- our: no distinctive markings; dark upper third of head and body (bluish grey through iridescent blue to blue-green) and silvery below; dusky ovoid spot on sides near pectoral fin in some live fish. Juveniles capable of rapid colour changes, entirely black to mostly silver, with a dark red tinge (concentrated on anal fin). Size: Maximum to 105.5 cm fork length reported; rod-and-reel record 94.9 cm fork length at 22.9 kg; common to 94 cm fork length and about 17 kg. All-tackle IGFA world angling record 24.45 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Occurs pelagically or epibenthically in small schools or alone usually in shallow water, often in channels or holes, on flats or reefs, or mud bottoms. Juve- niles occur in large schools in the summer. Spawning occurs offshore. Adults feed on molluscs, crustaceans, and fish; juveniles eat benthic invertebrates. Caught in seines, gill nets, hook-and-line, and fly rods; also taken with spear guns. Sold fresh in the USA. Edibility considered excellent. Distribution: Western Atlantic only from Ber- muda, Massachusetts to southern Brazil, and throughout the West Indies. 1466 Bony Fishes

Trachinotus goodei Jordan and Evermann, 1896 PPL Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Palometa pompano (AFS: Palometa); Fr - Pompaneau guatie; Sp - Pámpano listado.

Diagnostic characters: Body short and deep (depth increasing with growth, at sizes less than 12 cm fork length contained 2.4 to 3.9 times in fork length, at sizes longer than 13 cm fork length contained 2 to 2.5 times in fork length) and compressed, with upper and lower profiles slightly asymmetrical and head profile sloping to a blunt snout.Eye small (diameter contained 3 to 4.1 times in fork length).Upper jaw very narrow at end and ex- tending to below mideye; lower jaw included. Teeth in jaws small, conical, and recurved, decreasing in number with growth but always present; no teeth on tongue. Gill rakers 4 to 9 upper, 8 to 14 lower. Dorsal fin with 6 spines, followed by 1 spine and 19 or 20 soft rays; anal fin with 2 short spines separated from rest of fin, fol- lowed by 1 spine and 16 to 18 soft rays; bases of anal and second dorsal fins about equal in length; pectoral fins short, contained 1.2 to 1.6 times in head length. Lateral line slightly arched to below middle of second dor- sal fin, then straight;scales small, cycloid, and partially embedded; no scutes.Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal.No hyperostosis or caudal peduncle grooves.Colour: prominent narrow bands on upper body, and spots along lateral line to caudal-peduncle; usually 4 bands and 2 spots (varies from 2 to 5 bands forming at about 5.5 to 8 cm fork length); bands and spots black in fresh or preserved fish, but usually iridescent or sil- very in life. Size: Maximum of 50.6 cm total length not documented; 49.3 cm total length recorded from Brazil; common to 31 cm fork length. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Usually in large schools in the surf zone along sandy beaches; also around reefs and rocky areas; usually asso- ciated with high water salinity.Feeds on small in- vertebrates and fishes. Caught with seines and by sport fishers with hook-and-line. Not fished selectively; found in Central and South American markets. Edibility rated from fair to excellent. Distribution: Confined to the western Atlantic, from Bermuda, Massachusetts to Argentina, and throughout the West Indies. A geminate species, Trachinotus rhodopus (Gill), occurs in the east- ern Pacific. Perciformes: Percoidei: Carangidae 1467

Trachurus lathami Nichols, 1920 RSC Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Rough scad; Fr - Chinchard frappeur; Sp - Chicharro garretón.

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate and slightly compressed, with upper and lower profiles about equal. Eye large (diameter contained 3.3 to 3.9 times in head length) with well-developed adipose eyelid. Upper jaw moderately broad and extending to below anterior margin of eye. Teeth small, in a single row in both jaws. Gill rakers 12 to 16 upper, 33 to 41 lower, and 46 to 54 total.Shoulder girdle (cleithrum) margin with a small fur- row at upper end, but no papillae present.Dorsal fin with 8 spines, followed by 1 spine and 28 to 34 soft rays; anal fin with 2 spines separated from rest of fin, followed by 1 spine and 24 to 30 soft rays; terminal dorsal and anal rays connected by a membrane to rest of fin, but spaced about 50% further apart than other rays; pectoral fins shorter than head. Scales in curved part of lateral line enlarged and scute-like (caution: in large Trachurus these scales may be obscured by an overgrowth of smaller scales); scutes in straight portion 33 to 39; total scales and scutes in lateral line 61 to 77; scales moderately small and cycloid (smooth) covering body except for a small area behind pectoral fins. Dorsal accessory lateral line extending backward below dorsal fin to between eighth spine and fourth ray. Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal. Colour: in fresh fish, upper part of body and top of head dusky, light or dark bluish, or bluish green; snout dusky; small narrow black area above eye; lower 2/3 of body and head silvery to whitish, or yellowish to golden; a small, oval, black opercular spot usually present on edge near upper angle.First dorsal fin with dusky anterior margin and dusky tips on anterior six spines, rest of fin clear;second dorsal fin with end of lobe whitish, anterior margin and distal half of rest of fin dusky, and proximal part clear;caudal fin clear to opaque with distal margin dusky;anal, pecto- ral, and pelvic fins clear. Size: Maximum to 33 cm standard length at 0.5 kg; common to 20 cm standard length. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Primarily a schooling species, usually near the bottom at depths of 50 to 90 m; also found near the surface. Spawning probably occurs offshore from April to June. Feeds on small invertebrates. Caught mainly in trawls, but not selectively fished. Edibil- ity not determined. Distribution: In continental waters from the Gulf of Maine to northern Argentina; apparently ab- sent in the West Indies. 1468 Bony Fishes

Uraspis secunda (Poey, 1860) USE Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Cottonmouth jack; Fr - Carangue-coton; Sp - Jurel volantín.

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate-ovoid, deep, and moderately compressed; snout short and bluntly pointed. Eye relatively small (diameter contained 4.4 to 4.7 times in head length), with weak adipose eyelid. Upper jaw extending to below anterior margin or to middle of eye.Teethin jaws in 2 to 4 irregular rows in smaller fish, becoming a single row at about 28 cm fork length.Gill rakers 3 to 8 upper, 13 to 16 lower.Dorsal fin with 8 spines followed by 1 spine and 27 to 32 soft rays; anal fin with 2 spines (resorbed or absent above 15 cm fork length) followed by 1 spine and 19 to 23 soft rays; dorsal- and anal-fin lobes scarcely produced in larger fish; pectoral fins falcate (longer than head) in larger fish; pelvic fins elongate in individuals to about 25 cm fork length and relatively short in larger fish. Lateral line with moderate arch, posterior (straight) part with 26 to 40 scutes some usually antrorse (recurved forward); scales small and cycloid (smooth to touch); chest without scales halfway up to pectoral-fin bases. Bilateral paired caudal keels only moderately developed at larger sizes. Vertebrae 10 precaudal and 14 caudal. No hyperostosis. Colour: body and head very dark (leaden, blue-black, or dusky) in fish of 30 cm fork length and larger; juveniles to about 30 cm fork length with 6 or 7 dark bands; tongue, roof, and floor of mouth white or cream-coloured, the rest blue-black. Size: Maximum to 43.5 cm fork length; common to 35 cm fork length. All-tackle IGFA world angling record 2.04 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Throughout water column in oceanic waters; solitary or in small schools; may grunt when caught. Caught in trawls, purse seines, dip nets, and hook-and-line. Taken incidentally. Edibility rated as good, but has been implicated in ciguatera poisoning in Cuba. Distribution: Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.Possi- bly a junior synonym of Uraspis helvola (Forster), in which case the species has a circumglobal distribution. In the Western Atlantic known from scattered localities off New Jersey to São Paulo, Brazil; Bermuda, Florida, northern Gulf of Mexico, Santo Domingo, Suriname, and Brazil.

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