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Barcheek trevally (Carangoides plagiotaenia) — Carangidae

Barcheek trevally

Carangoides plagiotaenia
Family: Carangidae

The Barcheek trevally (Carangoides plagiotaenia) is a fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Depth
1–200 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The barcheek trevally is a predatory jack (Carangidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body and owes its name to a narrow dark stripe across the cheek and gill cover. As an open-water predator it hunts in schools along steep outer reefs and in clear water for small fish and crustaceans. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barcheek trevally?

The Barcheek trevally is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Dark stripe across the cheek and operculum; schooling reef mackerel

Where does the Barcheek trevally live?

The Barcheek trevally is mostly found around open water. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Barcheek trevally get?

The Barcheek trevally grows to a maximum of about 50 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Barcheek trevally dangerous to humans?

No, the Barcheek trevally is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Barcheek trevally edible?

Yes, the Barcheek trevally is commonly eaten.

More photos

Barcheek trevally (Carangoides plagiotaenia) — Carangidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Barcheek trevally (Carangoides plagiotaenia) — Carangidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Barcheek trevally (Carangoides plagiotaenia) — Carangidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jens Sommer-Knudsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Barcheek trevally (Carangoides plagiotaenia) — Carangidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Graham McMartin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Barcheek trevally sourced
Scientific name
Carangoides plagiotaenia
Family
Carangidae
Other names
Oblique-banded trevally; Barcheek kingfish; Bar-cheek trevally; Oblique-banded; Shortridge trevally

Appearance

Size class
Large
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Average length (cm)
30.0 sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
1 sourced
Max depth (m)
200 sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes and crustaceans inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling outer-reef mackerel; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Dark stripe across the cheek and operculum; schooling reef mackerel sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Carangoides

More from the family Carangidae

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