Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833)
Herring scad
Alepes vari
photo by Greenfield, J.

Family:  Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Caranginae
Max. size:  61 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: tropical waters.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-27; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 20-23. Description: Silvery with dusky spot posteriorly on opercle and dusky caudal fin (Ref. 90102). The opercular blotch is either absent or indistinct (Ref. 559). Body oblong, compressed, with dorsal and ventral profiles almost evenly convex (Ref. 90102). Lateral line becomes straight below the third ray of the soft dorsal fin (Ref. 559). LL scutes 48-69 (Ref. 90102). This species attains 40 cm in SL. (Ref. 559)
Biology:  Adults are common in shallow coastal waters where it often swims near the surface. They form dense schools on clear inner reefs, swimming high above substrate (Ref. 48635). They feed chiefly on shrimps, copepods, decapods and small fishes (Ref. 30573, 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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