The widespread species Selar crumenophthalmus is commonly found in shallow lagoons of reefs and islands, and is typically caught in the Maldives during the day using pole and line fishing methods; it is a popular food fish.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 30 cm
color
Metallic blue to bluish green above, shading to white-below; yellow stripe sometimes present from opercle margin to upper part of caudal peduncle. A black opercular spot distinct.
This species forms schools of varying sizes in shallow reefs and inshore waters, reaching depths of up to 170 m. Its diet consists of plankton, benthic invertebrates, and small fish.
distinctive characters
The first dorsal fin has 8 spines, the second dorsal fin has 1 spine and 24-27 rays, the anal fin has 2 detached spines followed by 1 spine and 21-23 rays, the body is elongated, shallow and moderately compressed, the dorsal and anal fins do not have a detached terminal finlet, the eye is very large and shorter than the snout, there is an adipose eyelid covering the eye except for a broad oval slit central on the pupil, and the pectoral fin is shorter than the head.