Latin name

Seriolina nigrofasciata

Other name

Black-banded amberjack, black-banded kingfish, blackbanded trevally, butter amberfish.

Identification

The body of the black-banded trevally is elongated, moderately tall and slightly compressed at the sides. The upper profile of the head rises steeply from the end of the snout to the interorbital space, then becomes slightly convex to the beginning of the base of the first dorsal fin. The expanded and rounded end of the upper jaw reaches a vertical line through the posterior margin of the eye. Very small teeth are arranged in broad bands on both jaws. There are 4-10 rudimentary gill rays on the first gill arch. No bony lobes in the lateral line. There is a small fleshy keel on each side of the tail peduncle and there are 2 grooves. Vertebrae: 11 vertebrae in the trunk and 13 in the tail.

Features of fish fins

The first dorsal fin has 7-8 short, rigid rays. The barbs are weak, especially in the posterior part of the fin, the last barbs may be hidden under the skin. The second dorsal fin has 1 hard and 30-37 soft rays. The anal fin has 1 hard and 15-18 soft rays. There is a barb in front of the fin (usually hidden under the skin). The anterior soft rays of the dorsal fin are elongated, slightly longer than the pectoral fins. The pelvic fins are longer than the pectoral fins. The caudal fin is bifurcated. 

Fish colouring

The upper parts of the head and body are bluish gray to black, the lower parts are white to dark. Juveniles have 5-7 dark oblique stripes and spots along the upper part of the body, which gradually disappear with age. The spiny dorsal fin is black. The second dorsal and anal fins are dark brown, the tips of the anterior lobes are white (except in large adults). Caudal and pelvic fins are yellowish brown to black.

Distribution

Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region from southern Africa to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, including Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius and the Seychelles; along the coast of South and Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea; north to southern Japan and south to Queensland, Australia.

Habitat

Tropical pelagic marine fish. They live far from the coast near reefs above the continental shelf at depths of 20 to 150 m. 

Size

Maximum body length - 70 cm, usually up to 50 cm. Body weight - up to 5.2 kg.

Behavior

They live solitary lives. Juveniles hide under thickets of algae and adults are sometimes seen with large planktivores such as whale sharks.

Food and feeding habits

They feed on benthic fish, cephalopods and shrimp.

Reproduction

The biology of the black-banded trevally is poorly understood. Nothing is known about the reproduction of this species.

Fishing

It has little commercial importance in fishing.

Relationship with a person

Harmless. This fish is of excellent quality and is sold fresh and dried salted.