Meristic formula D, VIII + I + 23-24; A, II + I + 18-20; P, 11-14; V, I + 5; GR, 38-43

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body deep and very compressed. Dorsal spines isolated, some are partly embedded in large specimens. In young specimens (less than 6 cm fork length) the first four spines are elongated. Ray portion of dorsal fin preceded by a single spine, the first 1-3 rays are the longest, gradually decreasing in length. Anal fin with two separate spines (not visible in specimens larger than 13 cm fork length), opposite the ray portion of dorsal fin and similar in shape. Caudal fin deeply forked. Pectoral fin long and falcate, its length greater than head length. Pelvic fin small, its length shorter than upper jaw. Upper head profile convex while its front very steep, almost vertical and slightly concave in front of the eye. Terminal mouth, lower jaw slightly protruding. Upper jaw reaches back to the vertical of anterior eye margin. Anterior part of lateral line curved, becoming straight under the 9-12 dorsal rays. Series of small scutes on the posterior (straight) part of lateral line. Small cycloid scales covering the posterior-lower part of the body and absent anteriorly to the area between pelvic fin base to the beginning of the straight part of the lateral line. Color : upper part of body silvery bluish-gray becoming silvery-white on the belly. Common size : 10-30 cm (max. 36 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Alectis alexandrinus – Pelvic fin longer than upper jaw; two lateral keels present at the caudal fin base. Other carangids: body not deep, their depth more than 2.4 times in fork length.   BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Schooling species, young specimens are found near the surface occasionally entering estuaries. Feeds on invertebrates, mainly crustaceans, and small fish. Habitat : usually near the bottom in coastal waters to depth of 100 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Malta, 2008 [2007]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Eastern Atlantic from Portugal to South Africa. Mediterranean : Malta (Vella and Deidun, 2008). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare, only a single specimen was recorded from the Mediterranean. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via Gibraltar. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS Caught throughout its range by pelagic and bottom trawl.

KEY REFERENCES Smith-Vaniz W.F., 1984. Carangidae. In: FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishery Area 51). Fischer W. and Bianchi G. (eds). FAO United Nations, Rome. Smith-Vaniz W.F. and Berry F.H., 1981. Carangidae. pag. var In: FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic ; fishing area 34, 74 (in part). Fischer W., Bianchi G., Scott W.B. (eds) Canada Funds-in- Trust. Ottawa, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and FAO of the United Nations. Vol 1, pag. var. Vella P. and Deidum A., 2008. First record of Selene dorsalis (Osteichthyes: Carangidae) in the Mediterranean Sea from coastal waters off the Maltese Islands. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. JMBA2 Biodiversity Records. Published online: http://www.mba.ac.uk/jmba/ jmba2biodiversityrecords.php   FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: January 2009 ©ciesm 2002