Blue fins and a metallic flash give away this fast-moving hunter at dawn and dusk.
- Local names
- Pā'aihere
- Habitat
- Lagoon and reef
- Other names
- Legacy source name: Caranx melampigus
About this species
The body shines silver-blue with yellowish reflections and small dark spots; the fins are blue. Individuals commonly measure about 60 cm, though they may reach 1 m. Across its range, it occurs from the surface to around 190 m.
Small groups hunt fish and crustaceans in passes and beside the outer reef slope, especially around sunrise and sunset. Young fish tend to remain in the shallow lagoon.
This is one of the reef predators associated with ciguatera poisoning in French Polynesia, where the risk limits its use as food.
P. Bacchet, T. Zysman, Y. Lefèvre, 2010. Guide des poissons de Tahiti et ses îles. Au vent des îles. 3e édition.
