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Abrolhos kingfish (Seriola hippos) — Carangidae

Abrolhos kingfish

Seriola hippos
Family: Carangidae
LC · Least Concern

The Abrolhos kingfish (Seriola hippos) is a brackish-water fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 150 cm.

Length
150 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Temperate coastal waters of Australia; near reefs and man-made structures.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The samson fish is a large jack (Carangidae) from the temperate coastal waters of Australia. The species has a robust, streamlined, silvery body with a powerful, forked tail and grows to over a metre. Adults live in coastal seas, often near reefs, jetties and pylons, and sometimes enter estuaries. As a fast, powerful predator it hunts fishes and squid. It is a popular, hard-fighting sport fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Abrolhos kingfish?

The Abrolhos kingfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Large, powerful jack (>1 m); popular, hard-fighting sport fish.

Where does the Abrolhos kingfish live?

The Abrolhos kingfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water. Temperate coastal waters of Australia; near reefs and man-made structures.

How big does the Abrolhos kingfish get?

The Abrolhos kingfish grows to a maximum of about 150 cm.

Is the Abrolhos kingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Abrolhos kingfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Abrolhos kingfish edible?

Yes, the Abrolhos kingfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Abrolhos kingfish (Seriola hippos) — Carangidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Kare Kare (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Abrolhos kingfish (Seriola hippos) — Carangidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) John Sear, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Abrolhos kingfish (Seriola hippos) — Carangidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Pete - symbo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Abrolhos kingfish (Seriola hippos) — Carangidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) John Sear, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Abrolhos kingfish verified
Scientific name
Seriola hippos
Family
Carangidae
Other names
Kingfish; Kingy; Sambo; Samson; Samson fish; Samsonfish; Sea kingfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
150.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Temperate coastal waters of Australia; near reefs and man-made structures. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Fishes and squid sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Large, powerful jack (>1 m); popular, hard-fighting sport fish. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Angling with lures or (dead/live) baitfish by trolling, casting or drift fishing in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Seriola

More from the family Carangidae

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