Black jack
Caranx lugubris
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Black jack
- Scientific
- Caranx lugubris
- Dhivehi
- ކަޅަ ހަނދިKalha handhi
- Group
- Jacks and trevallies
- Maximum size
- Up to about 1 m (total length); commonly 70 cm; max. published weight 17.9 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 85 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Near the bottom and in the water column above it, recorded from 12 to 354 m (usually 24 to 65 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2012
Description
A large, dark grey to almost black jack with a steep, angular head profile and a row of black scutes along the rear lateral line. It is a fish of clear oceanic waters, usually found along deep drop-offs at 25 to 65 m. It hunts other fish, mostly at night.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name kalha handhi (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is most likely to be confused with the giant trevally, from which it differs in its darker colour, head profile and fully scaled breast.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Caranx-lugubris.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ކަޅަ_ހަނދި
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Black_trevally.JPG
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Kalha handhi' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ކަޅަ ހަނދި' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Kalufanihandi' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.