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Green jack (Caranx caballus) — Carangidae

Green jack

Caranx caballus
Family: Carangidae
LC · Least Concern

The Green jack (Caranx caballus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 55 cm.

Length
55 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
3.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The green jack is a jack of the family Carangidae from the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 55 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with a greenish-blue back and a row of hardened scales (scutes) along the rear lateral line. Adults live on the continental shelf, usually near the coast but also in deeper water, and form schools. As a fast predator it hunts small fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans. The green jack is an important commercial and sport fish. It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Green jack?

The Green jack has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Green jack live?

The Green jack lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Green jack get?

The Green jack grows to a maximum of about 55 cm. On average the species is around 40 cm.

Is the Green jack dangerous to humans?

No, the Green jack is harmless to humans.

Is the Green jack edible?

Yes, the Green jack is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Groene horsmakreel sourced
English name
Green jack verified
Scientific name
Caranx caballus
Family
Carangidae
Other names
Green jack; Jack verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
55.0 verified
Average length (cm)
40.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
8.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Caranx

More from the family Carangidae

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