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Carangids (family Carangidae) are tropical and subtropical open water marine fishes found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are extremely variable in body shape, ranging from species belonging to the genera Decapterus and Elagatis, which have a shallow body, to species of the genus Selene whose body is extremely slender and deep. Generally the coloration is silvery.

The dorsal fins of the species of this family are divided into two regions, a first anterior region formed only by spiny rays (4-8) and then a second region that usually has a spine and between 17 and 44 soft rays. The anal fin is usually short, with two spines in most species (only one spine in the anal fin in species belonging to the genera Elagatis and Seriolina). In many carangid species the last rays of the dorsal and anal fins are independent of the fins themselves and form one to nine small accessory finlets. The pectoral fins tend to be elongated and falciform in shape. The base of the tail is thin and often the scales in this region are modified to form a kind of spines called scutes. The caudal fin of carangids is strongly forked, making them strong and very fast swimmers.

They are clearly predatory species, ranging in size from 30 cm for mackerels to over 170 cm in length for the giant horse mackerel (Caranx ignoilis). Carangids often form large schools and can travel very considerable distances. Very voracious predators, carangids feed mainly on other fish, although there are also species whose diet is based on plankton and, to a lesser extent, molluscs and crustaceans.

Within the carangid family there are 147 species classified into 4 subfamilies: Trachinotinae (with 2 genera and 21 species), Scomberoidinae (3 genera and 10 species), Naucratinae (5 genera and 13 species), Caranginae (20 genera and 103 species). Some of the carangid species are not only of great economic importance for humans due to their culinary interest, but also of great recreational interest as they are highly sought after species by fishermen due to their tenacious fight when biting on their hooks.

As a general rule, carangids do not show sexual dimorphism, and there are very few species in which a slight difference between male and female specimens has been described.

The reproduction of carangids is by external fertilization, with the release of the gametes into the water column, with some species laying their eggs pelagically and others in coastal waters. After fertilization, small (between 0.7 and 1.3 millimeters in diameter) translucent planktonic eggs are formed, which, thanks to currents, are spread over long distances. Approximately 24 to 48 hours after fertilization, the larvae hatch. The larvae and fry of this family of fish undergo an important transformation with growth, sometimes causing confusion when classifying species. It is common to find many carangid juveniles under the protection of seagrass beds or under the shelter of floating objects.



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