CARANGIDAE Alepes melanoptera, 14.7 cm SL (photo by Seishi Kimura) Alepes melanoptera (Swainson 1839) Blackfin Scad D VIII + I, 23-25; A II + I, 18-21; GR 10-14 + 27-33 = 38-47. Body oblong, compressed; dorsal and ventral profiles almost equally convex. Snout pointed; adipose eyelid well developed on posterior half of eye; a single row of small slender curved teeth on both jaws. Straight part of lateral line entirely with scutes (39-51), longer than curved part. Color: body silvery blue or green dorsally, silvery white ventrally; a large black spot on upper margin of opercle; upper lobe of caudal fin dusky or blackish; longitudinal dark bands on second dorsal and anal fins. Size: maximum length about 25 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa, Red Sea to Hawaii, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Remarks: occurring in inshore waters. Feeds mainly on shrimps and copepods. Marketed fresh, dried, or salted.