DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ZOOGEOGRAPHY

ECOLOGY

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

VALUE OF FISH RESOURCES

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

DANGEROUS MARINE FISHES

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SPECIES INDEX

CHAMORRO NAMES

CARANGIDAE (JACKS)

Caranx ignobilis (Forsskål)
(Giant Trevally; Tarakito)
FL: to 146 cm (possibly to 190 cm); Wt: to 53 kg (possibly to 80 kg) (photo: 25 cm FL, Waikiki Aquarium)

This, the largest species of Caranx, has a steeper head profile than other members of its genus and is uniformly silvery to black.  It may be distinguished from all other species of Caranx known from Guam by the presence of a large, scaleless patch on its breast in front of its pelvic fins.  Juveniles occur in schools over sand bottoms; adults are usually solitary.  Large individuals are seldom encountered around Guam, but in unexploited areas they may enter shallow lagoon waters.  Giant Trevally feed on fishes and crustaceans by night and day. In Palau this species aggregates to spawn in shallow, outer reef areas.

INDO-PACIFIC: Red Sea to the Pitcairn group, the Marquesas, and Hawaii, n. to s. Japan, s. to New Caledonia.