African pompano
Alectis ciliaris
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- African pompano
- Scientific
- Alectis ciliaris
- Dhivehi
- ނަރުވާ ހަނދިNaruvaa handhi
- Group
- Jacks and trevallies
- Maximum size
- Up to about 1.5 m (total length); commonly 1 m; max. published weight 22.9 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 1.3 m
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 60 to 100 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2009
Description
A very deep-bodied, flattened, silvery jack with a steep blunt forehead and a metallic blue tinge on the back. Juveniles carry long, trailing threads from the dorsal and anal fins, which may mimic stinging jellyfish, and they drift near the surface offshore. Adults lose the threads and live near the bottom down to about 100 m, feeding on slow-moving crustaceans and small fish.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name naruvaa handhi (MRS 1997). MRS notes that the similar Indian threadfish also occurs in the Indian Ocean; it has a more angular forehead.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Alectis-ciliaris.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ނަރުވާ_ހަނދި
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:African_pompano_Solomons_2.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Naruvaa handhi' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ނަރުވާ ހަނދި' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form.