blackfin scad
Alepes melanoptera
- Usual depth5–34 m
- Water temperature25–30 °C
- Best monthsJune
- How commonRare
About this species
The blackfin scad is a species of tropical marine fish of the jack family Carangidae. The species inhabits inshore waters throughout the Indo-Pacific region, although is rare in the western Indian Ocean. It is not a large species, with the largest reported capture being 25 cm, and it is distinguished readily from similar species by the prominent black dorsal fin. It is a predator which feeds on planktonic crustaceans, but little else is known of its biology. The blackfin scad is a minor food fish throughout its range, and is highly valued in Cambodia and Thailand.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Blackfin scad”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
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Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 0 records
- February: 1 records
- March: 0 records
- April: 2 records
- May: 2 records
- June: 22 records
- July: 2 records
- August: 5 records
- September: 4 records
- October: 3 records
- November: 4 records
- December: 8 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 5–34 m · Deepest record: 119 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 25–30 °C
Names and classification
- English
- blackfin scad, shortfinned trevally
Names in 2 more languages
- Spanish
- Jurel Alinegro
- French
- Sélar aile noire
Other scientific names: Alepes malam, Alepes melanopterus, Atule malam, Atule pectoralis, Caranx malam, Caranx nigripinnis, Caranx pectoralis, Selar malam, Trachinus melanoptera
Similar species
Shrimp scadAlepes djedaba
banded scadAlepes kleinii
Herring scadAlepes vari
- Banded Scad
Alepes apercna
Giant trevallyCaranx ignobilis
Bluefin trevallyCaranx melampygus
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).
- 107 open-data records from 1839 to 2018.
- Species data updated October 26, 2026.
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