African pompano

Alectis ciliaris

Fish
IUCN: Least concern

Usual depth5–62 m
Water temperature14–30 °C
Best monthsFebruary, June, and September
How commonOccasional

Photo credit: (c) Antonio Vukusich y Alejandra Cabellos, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist

About this species

The African pompano, also known as the pennant-fish or threadfin trevally, is a widely distributed species of tropical marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. The species is found in tropical waters worldwide, with adults often inhabiting coastlines, while juveniles are usually pelagic, floating with ocean currents. The adult African pompano is similar in appearance to the other members of the genus Alectis, with the concave shape of the head near the eyes; the clearest distinguishing feature. The juveniles are similar to other members of Alectis, having long, filamentous dorsal and anal fin tips which are thought to discourage predators. The species lives in depths less than 100 m, consuming a range of crustaceans and small fishes. The species is of minor economic importance, often taken amongst other tropical midwater fishes by hook and line, while juveniles are occasionally caught in beach seines. African pompano are also highly rated game fish, often considered one of the strongest of the jacks in larger sizes.

Text from the Wikipedia article “African pompano”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

Loading the map

Best months

Worldwide (open data)

January: 50 records
February: 77 records
March: 54 records
April: 56 records
May: 55 records
June: 80 records
July: 74 records
August: 75 records
September: 108 records
October: 69 records
November: 47 records
December: 30 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 5–62 m · Deepest record: 966 m

0–10 m: 63 records
10–20 m: 56 records
20–30 m: 73 records
30–40 m: 21 records
40–50 m: 12 records
50–60 m: 14 records
60–70 m: 12 records
70–80 m: 7 records
80–90 m: 5 records
90–100 m: 1 records
100–110 m: 1 records
110+ m: 6 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 14–30 °C

14–16 °C: 9 records
16–18 °C: 4 records
18–20 °C: 3 records
20–22 °C: 26 records
22–24 °C: 36 records
24–26 °C: 15 records
26–28 °C: 80 records
28–30 °C: 49 records

Photos

Names and classification

English: African pompano, African Pompano, Amberjack, Ciliated Thread-fish, Ciliated Threadfish, Cobblerfish, Cordonnier, Crevalle, Cuban Jack, Diamond Trevally, Fiddler, Hairfish, Indian Threadfin Trevally, Jack, Jacks, Pennantfish, Pennant Fish, Pennant Trevally, Pompano, Round-headed Pennantfish, Scad, Shoemaker, Sunfish, Threadfin, Threadfin Jack, Thread-fin Jackfish, Threadfin Mirrorfish, Thread-finned Trevally, Threadfinned Trevally, Threadfin Pompano, Threadfin Trevally, Threadfish, Thread Pompano, Trevalle, Trevally

Names in 3 more languages

Spanish: Caballa, Caballito, Chicuaca, Cojinoba, Corcoba de Plana, Corcobado de Pluma, Elechudo, flechudo, Jurel de Pluma, Paja blanco, Palometa, Pampanito, Pampano, Pampano Africano, Pámpano Africano, Pampano de Hebra, pámpano de hebra, Pampano de Pluma, Pampano Flechudo, Peje rey, Pompano, Sol, Zapatero
French: Aile ronde, Aile ronde, Cordonnier, Carangue, Carangue échevelée, Cordonnier, Cordonnier fil, Marguerite
Japanese: Itohikiaji, イトヒキアジ

Other scientific names: Alectes ciliaris, Alectis breviventralis, Alectis cilaris, Alectis cilliaris, Alectis crinitus, Alectis indica, Alectis temmincki, Blepharichthys crinitus, Blepharis ciliaris, Blepharis crinitus, Blepharis fasciatus, Blepharis indicus, Blepharis major, Blepharis sutor, Carangoides ajax, Caranx ajax, Gallus virescens, Hynnis cubensis, Hynnis hopkinsi, Scyris analis, Zeus ciliaris, Zeus crinitus, Zeus gallus

Similar species

Giant trevally
Caranx ignobilis
Bluefin trevally
Caranx melampygus
Bigeye trevally
Caranx sexfasciatus
Mackerel scad
Decapterus macarellus
Indian scad
Decapterus russelli
Rainbow runner
Elagatis bipinnulata

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
1,148 open-data records from 1787 to 2024.
Species data updated October 26, 2026.

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