Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 20-27; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 14-18.

A long slender giant herring. Large eyes. Large mouth, jaw reaching well beyond eye posteriorly. teeth villiform. Very small scales. Single dorsal fin, without spines, originating a little 
behind mid-point of body. Anal fin short, originating well behind dorsal-fin base. Pelvic fins slightly in front of dorsal fin origin.

Colour. Bluish-grey back, silvery sides with a yellow tinge, and pale yellow fins.

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 118 cm FL; common length : 50.0 cm SL.
 

Inhabits coastal waters and also enters lagoons and estuaries. Benthopelagic. Feeds on fish and crustacea. Juveniles use warm turbid estuaries as nursery grounds.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. 
Recognised, internationally, as an excellent angling fish as it fights well and jumps repeatedly. It is apparently a rare component of the catch in Seychelles.

Photo. courtesy and (c) 2021 Jonathan Waye-Hive.
This specimen was caught in 40 meters depth water off Marianne island. 

Adams, A. et al. (2016). Elops machnata. The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T172363A58325231.en. (04/07/22).
Bray, D.J. (2022). Elops machnata in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1990 (05/07/22). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5512 (04/07/22).
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4  

Nevill, J.E.G. (2022). Elops machnata, Big-eye giant herring. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/elops-machnata-forsskal-1775/