Sealife guideThe bluefin trevallyCaranx melampygus
Last updated on 08/27/2024 at 11:43 PM
Taxonomy
- Common name: Bluefin trevally
- French name: Carangue bleue, carangue étoilée
- Spanish name: Jurel de aleta azul
- Scientific name: Caranx melampygus (Cuvier, 1833)
- Family name: Carangidae
- Order name: Carangiformes
- Class name: Actinopterygii
Description
The bluefin trevally is distinguished by its bright metallic blue color. Its body is elongated and laterally compressed.

The bluefin trevally is distinguished by its bright metallic blue color © Marco Lijoi | Dreamstime.com
The bluefin trevally is an impressive-sized fish, generally ranging between 12 and 24 inches in length, with some specimens easily reaching up to 35 inches.
Geographic range
The bluefin trevally inhabits the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
In the Indian ocean, the bluefin trevally is found along the coasts of East Africa, the Red sea, the western Indian ocean and the islands of the Indian ocean like the Seychelles, Madagascar and the Maldives.
In the Pacific ocean, the bluefin trevally is present across a vast area extending from the South Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand to the Hawaiian islands.
Habitat
The bluefin trevally frequents coastal waters, coral reefs, and rocky areas. It often swims in small groups or schools.
Diet
The bluefin trevally is carnivorous, feeding primarily on small fish, crustaceans and cephalopods.
Did you know ?
Due to its impressive size and fighting spirit when hooked, the bluefin trevally is highly prized by sport fishing enthusiasts.

The bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus) © Andamanse | Dreamstime.com
The bluefin trevally is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The bluefin trevally appears in the IUCN Red List since 2016 within the category Least Concern !
Within the same genus

Bar jack
(Caranx ruber)
(Caranx ruber)

Bigeye trevally
(Caranx sexfasciatus)
(Caranx sexfasciatus)

Blue runner
(Caranx crysos)
(Caranx crysos)

Crevalle jack
(Caranx hippos)
(Caranx hippos)

Giant trevally
(Caranx ignobilis)
(Caranx ignobilis)

Horse-eye jack
(Caranx latus)
(Caranx latus)
Within the same family

Black tail permit fish
(Trachinotus falcatus)
(Trachinotus falcatus)

Golden trevally
(Gnathanodon speciosus)
(Gnathanodon speciosus)

Greater amberjack
(Seriola dumerili)
(Seriola dumerili)

Indian threadfish
(Alectis indica)
(Alectis indica)

Rainbow runner
(Elagatis bipinnulata)
(Elagatis bipinnulata)

Snubnose pompano
(Trachinotus blochii)
(Trachinotus blochii)

Steel pompano
(Trachinotus stilbe)
(Trachinotus stilbe)

Yellowspotted trevally
(Carangoides fulvoguttatus)
(Carangoides fulvoguttatus)
Discover also

Black-spot surgeonfish
(Acanthurus bariene)
(Acanthurus bariene)

Blackeye goby
(Rhinogobiops nicholsii)
(Rhinogobiops nicholsii)

Indian anchovy
(Stolephorus indicus)
(Stolephorus indicus)

Queen angelfish
(Holacanthus ciliaris)
(Holacanthus ciliaris)

Saddled seabream
(Oblada melanurus)
(Oblada melanurus)

Spangled emperor
(Lethrinus nebulosus)
(Lethrinus nebulosus)

White eyed moray
(Gymnothorax thyrsoideus)
(Gymnothorax thyrsoideus)

Zebra angelfish
(Genicanthus caudovittatus)
(Genicanthus caudovittatus)
Our latestUpdates

Saturday, November 15th 2025
Batz island
Located in the English Channel off the northern coast of Brittany, just a few kilometers from the town of Roscoff, Batz island is a true little haven of peace where you can enjoy its wild landscapes, unspoiled beaches and historical heritage.

Friday, November 7th 2025
The common sea fan
The common sea fan, is a type of soft coral found in the warm, shallow waters of the Caribbean and the western Atlantic ocean. It grows in wide, fan-shaped forms that sway gently with the ocean currents, helping it catch tiny food particles drifting by. Its beautiful purple branches are covered by a thin living tissue that hosts tiny algae, which provide much of the coral's energy through sunlight.

Thursday, October 30th 2025
The leopard blenny
The leopard blenny is a small reef fish from the Indo-Pacific ocean. It is easily recognized by its spotted coloration, which resembles that of a leopard. It lives on shallow coral reefs, feeds mainly on algae and polyps and skillfully camouflages among the corals to avoid predators.
Photo of the Day

Manchot d'Adélie
(Pygoscelis adeliae)
(Pygoscelis adeliae)


