Snubnose Dart, Trachinotus blochii (Lacépède, 1801)
Buck-nosed Trevally, Dart, Oyster Cracker, Oyster Eater, Snub-nosed Swallowtail, Snubnosed Pompano
Click to enlarge image
© Erik Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Trachinotus
- Species
- blochii
- Family
- Carangidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to about 65 cm in length.
Introduction
The Snubnose Dart has a steep, blunt snout. The species occurs in coral reef, inshore and rocky reef habitats in tropical waters from the Indo-west Pacific to the Central Pacific.
Identification
The Snubnose Dart is a compressed fish with a steep, blunt snout and very long leading fin rays in the dorsal and anal fins. It is silver coloured, often paler below. The anal fin is dusky orange, the lobe often with a brownish anterior margin.
Habitat
The Snubnose Dart is a pelagic species that occurs in coral reef, inshore and rocky reef habitats in tropical waters from the Indo-west Pacific to the Central Pacific.
Distribution
In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south on the east coast to southern 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
- 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.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
