Author: Poey, 1860
Caranx lugubris Poey, 1860
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Caranx lugubris Poey, 1860 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: well-developed adipose eyelid, more extensive posteriorly. Upper jaw with an irregular series of strong to moderate canines, flanked by an inner band; teeth in lower jaw essentially in a single row. Gillrakers (including rudiments) 6-8 upper, 18-21 lower on first gill arch. Shoulder girdle (cleithrum) margin smooth, without papillae. Dorsal fin VIII + I + 20-23; anal fin II + I + 17-20; terminal ray of dorsal and anal fins closely positioned to adjacent ray and completely attached by inter-radial membrane; height of spinous dorsal fin distinctly shorter than length of soft dorsal fin lobe; dorsal lobe longer than head length, contained about 3.2-5.1 times in fork length. Straight lateral line with 26-32 scutes; chest completely scaled. Colour: body and head almost uniformly greyish-brown to black. Size: reported to about 89 cm fork length, common to 70 cm.
Habitat: confined to clear, offshore waters at depths of 25-65 m.; early life history unknown. Food: primarily other fishes. Reproduction: see family.
Distribution: eastern Atlantic distribution not well established; definitely , known from the Azores, Madeira, Ascension I. and Gulf of Guinea. Elsewhere, worldwide in tropical, offshore waters.
Note. Caranx ascensionis Cuvier is the oldest available name for this species but C. Iugubris has had much greater usage in both fishery and taxonomic literature. In the interest of nomenclatural uniformity and stability, the junior name is retained for this species pending a petition to the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.