Trachinotus

Trachinotus is a genus of marine fishes in the family Carangidae, commonly called pompano. It includes several species distributed in warm temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, notably Trachinotus carolinus (northern pompano) in the western Atlantic and Trachinotus falcatus (African pompano) in the Indian and western Pacific regions.

These fishes inhabit shallow coastal waters, reef fronts, sandy and seagrass bottoms, and estuaries, from nearshore bays to outer shelf zones. Juveniles often use sheltered habitats as nurseries.

Description: The body is deep and laterally compressed, with a silvery or pale body and a strongly forked caudal fin. They typically have two dorsal fins and a small mouth. Size varies by species, with individuals commonly reaching several tens of centimeters in length.

Ecology: Trachinotus species are fast-swimming predators that feed on small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. They are often schooling in certain habitats but may occur in smaller groups or alone in others.

Reproduction: They spawn in pelagic waters, releasing eggs that disperse with currents; larvae are planktonic.

Fisheries and conservation: Trachinotus species are important for commercial and recreational fisheries in many regions. Some populations are affected by overfishing and habitat degradation; management strategies are region- and species-specific.

Taxonomy: Trachinotus is a genus in the family Carangidae (order Carangiformes, class Actinopterygii).