Description:

Dorsal spines: 7-8; Dorsal rays: 18-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 15-20.

A deep bodied and laterally compressed fish, with broadly rounded dorsal head profile. Upper jaw reaches to below middle of eye. Body silvery-blue to silvery-grey lightening 
to silvery-white ventrally. Distinctive black blotch on front portion of dorsal fin. Changes shape considerably with growth. Juveniles are almost round in profile with 5 
chevron-shaped dark bands on the sides and extremely long filaments trailing from both dorsal and anal fins which gradually reduce and disappear as the fish grows. 
Adults become more elongate but retain the deep bodied front section.
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 150cm TL. Common length: 100cm FL.
 

Pelagic in neritic and oceanic waters, sometimes near the bottom (depth 0-100m). Adults are usually solitary and frequent shallow coastal waters; juveniles are pelagic 
and drift. Diets consists of slow-swimming or sedentary prey – crustacea, crabs, fishes etc…

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery, but is not common or abundant. Excellent eating fish.

Large specimens of this species are frequently confused with adult Alectis indica. At all stages of development the African pompano may be distinguished by its rounder and 
more smoothly curved head profile. Also upper jaw reaches to below middle of eye (not past vertical at front edge of eye in A. indicus).

Bray, D.J. (2018). Alectis ciliaris in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4253 (06/12/18). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/988 (05/12/18).
Heemstra P & Heemstra, E. (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC SAIAB. ISBN: 1-920033-01-7.
Herdson, D. et al. (2010). Alectis ciliaris. The IUCN Red List 2010: e.T155014A4696428. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T155014A4696428.en. (05/12/18).
Lin, P-L. & Shao, K-T (1999). A Review of the Carangid Fishes (Family Carangidae) from Taiwan with Descriptions of Four New Records. Zoological Studies 38(1): 33-68 (1999).
Van Der Elst, R. (2012). A Guide to the Common Sea Fishes of Southern Africa. Struik Nature, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN: 978 1 86825 394 4

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Alectis ciliaris, African pompano. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/alectis-ciliaris-bloch-1787/ (edited 21/06/22).