Golden Trevally

Gnathanodon speciosus

Habitat & Distribution : Reef-associated, lagoons, depths of 0 - 80 m, Indo-Pacific

Diet: Small fish, crustaceans and molluscs

Size: Up to 150 cm; 18 kg

Lifespan: Up to 20 years

Description

The Golden Trevally is a relatively large fish with an oblong, laterally compressed body and a slightly convex forehead. Its key characteristic is its coloration and pattern. It is bright yellow with 7 - 10 black vertical stripes as a juvenile. The yellow body turns silver or silvery gold and the black stripes fade as it reaches adulthood. The fins remain yellow, though with a greenish tint. It has a protrusible, fleshy mouth.

Behavior

This fish is solitary as an adult, and forms small loose schools as juveniles. Diurnal and carnivorous, it actively forages for food during the day, protruding its mouth to form a tube that can suck its prey from small crevices and even filter it out of sand, like a vacuum cleaner.

Reproduction

This fish lays eggs from the evening and well into the night. In the waters of Hawaiʻi, spawning occurs between late February to early October, with peaks between late April to early September. Meanwhile in the Indian Ocean, spawning occurs on April and May.

Communication & Perception

Relies on sight and smell to navigate and find prey. It communicates with its fellow trevallies with sound.

Predator(s)

Larger predatory fish

Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List; 2016)