CARANGIDAE Jacks (scads, trevallies) By Seishi Kimura Alepes kleinii Atule mate Carangichthys oblongus Carangoides praeustus Caranx ignobilis Scomberoides commersonianus Scomberoides lysan Selar boops Selaroides leptolepis Medium to large sized marine fishes; maximum size about 2 m. Body shape extremely variable, ranging from elongate and fusiform to deep and strongly compressed. Two dorsal fins, the first with IV - VIII spines (obsolete or embedded in adult of some species) and the second with one spine and 17 - 44 soft rays; anal fin usually with III spines, the anterior two (rarely only one) detached from the rest of the fin (becoming embedded in adults of some species), and 15 - 39 soft rays; pelvic fin I, 5; caudal fin forked. Scales small cycloid in most species; scutes present and prominent on the lateral line in most species, but reduced in some species and absent in some genera. Vertebral counts 24 - 27. Color: body silvery, darker (brownish or greenish) dorsally, paler ventrally. Dark bars or spots on body, and/or yellowish fins in some species. Similar families occurring in the area. Carangidae is distinguished from the following similar families in having 2 detached anal fin spines (sometimes completely embedded in adults in several genera), and enlarged scutes along at least posterior lateral line in some genera. Centrolophidae and Lactariidae: no detached anal fin spine; no scutes in the lateral line. Scombridae: dorsal fin spines IX - XXVII; no detached anal fin spine; no scutes in the lateral line. Stromateid genus Pampus very similar to Parastromateus niger in body shape, but the former lacking a lateral keel of scutes at caudal peduncle. Remarks. Occurring in tropical to temperate marine, estuarine, and sometimes freshwater areas.