Ray-finned Fishes of Zihuatanejo

CLASS ACTINOPTERYGII

-Jacks, Flounders, Barracudas, and Allies (Order Carangiformes)

-Jacks, Remoras, and Allies (Suborder Carangoidei)

-Jacks (Family Carangidae)

-Subfamily Caranginae

-Kingfishes (Genus Caranx)

-Green Jack (Caranx caballus)

The Green Jack, Caranx caballus, is a member of the Jack or Carangidae Family, and is known in Mexico as cocinero and jurel bonito. Occasionally be seen on the surface traveling in large schools and bait balls. They reach a maximum of 70 cm (2 feet 4 inches) in length. The Green Jack is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Diet

Caranx caballus is a carnivorous predator that feeds on small fishes, shrimps, crabs and other mobile benthic crustaceans.

Range

The Green Jack is endemic to the tropical eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California and Pacific coast of Mexico southward to Peru.
It occurs along the Pacific coast of Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

It is a pelagic and nearshore jack that occurs in the water column over coastal and reef-associated habitats. It has been recorded from the surface to about 100 m and may occur over sandy or other soft bottoms as well as around reef areas.

Description

The Green Jack has a moderately compressed, relatively slender body and a deeply forked tail. The pectoral fins are longer than the head, and the straight portion of the lateral line bears numerous strong scutes.
Adults are light olive to dark bluish-green on the back, becoming silvery grey to golden below. The fins are generally pale, with a distinctive black spot on the edge of the gill cover. Juveniles have about seven dark vertical bars on the body.
It can reach approximately 70 cm in length.