Blue green above, silvery below, usually with many small
brassy spots on sides; large adults often with 3 black
blotches in a row on flanks mid-laterally. Attains 100 cm;
South African spearfishing record 18 kg. Inhabits rocky
coasts, reefs and offshore banks to 100 m. A favourite of
spearfishermen. Durban northward; a widespread IndoWest Pacific species.
Bludger
210.12 Carangoides gymnostethus
(Cuvier, 1833)
PLATE 80
Bludger
Caranx gymnostethus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1833: 73 (Seychelles);
Smith, 1967: PI. 31. Caranx gymnostethoides: Smith, SFSA No. 521*;
Smith & Smith, 1963: 20*. Carangoides gymnostethus: M.M. Smith, 1972:
232*; van der Elst, 1981: 118*.
o VIII+I,28-32; A II+I,24-26; GR (7-9)+(19-22). Straight LL with
14-25 scales + 20-31 scutes. Breast naked to behind V origin and laterally
to P base. Adults with mouth cleft at level of lower margin of eye.
Olive green above, silvery white below, a few brown or
golden spots sometimes present midlaterally; opercular
spot dusky and usually inconspicuous. Attains 90 cm; South
African spearfishing record 14.5 kg. Most common over
slightly deeper offshore reefs; larger individuals usually
solitary, juveniles form small schools. Algoa Bay northward; a widespread Indo-West Pacific species.
210.12 Carangoides gymnostethus: 52.5 em FL.
210.13 Carangoides hed/andensis
(Whitley, 1933)
PLATE 80
Bumpnose kingfish
Knopneus-koningvis
Olistus hedlandensis Whitley, 1934: 156, Fig. 2 (Port Hedland, Western
Australia). Atropus atropus (non Bloch): Smith, SFSA No. 505 (not
figure). Carangoides hedlandensis: Williams et aI., 1980: 17*.
o VIII+I,20-22; A II+I,16-18, adult males with 3-8 central 0 and A
rays filamentous; GR (6-11)+(14-17). Straight LL with 17-29 weak scutes.
Breast naked to behind V origin and laterally to P base. Soft 0 lobe longer
than head length. Adults with distinct bulge in interorbital region.
Greenish blue dorsally, silvery grey below; blackish
blotch on upper opercular margin; V blackish in young,
pale in adults; C yellowish. Attains 32 cm. A coastal,
210: CARANGIDAE (KINGFISHES)
demersal species. Durban northward in coastal waters and
Seychelles, and eastward to Japan, Australia and Samoa.
Literature records of Atropus atropos from South Africa
are based on misidentified juveniles of this species.
210.13 Carangoides hedlandensis: 20 em FL.
210.14 Carangoides ma/abaricus
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Malabar kingfish
Malabar-koningvis
Scomber malabaricus Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 31 (India). Caranx
malabaricus: Smith, SFSA No. 517*; 1967: 140*. Carangoides
malabaricus: Smith, 1967: 151*; M.M. Smith, 1972: 232*; Williams &
Venkataramani, 1978: 504*; van der Elst, 1981: 119*.
o VIII +I,20-23; A II + 1,17-19; GR (8-12)+(21-27). Breast naked to
behind V origin and laterally to P base, including small area anteriorly just
above fin. Straight LL with 19-36weak scutes. Soft 0 lobe only slightly falcate, shorter than head.
Generally silvery, bluish grey above; small, white spot
often at base of A rays; small, black opercular spot. Attains
28 cm. A benthic, schooling species. Durban northward in
tropical coastal waters of Indo-West Pacific.
210.14 Carangoides malabaricus: 24.5 em FL.
210.15 Carangoides ob/ongus
(Cuvier, 1833)
PLATE 80
Coachwhip kingfish
Sweepvin-koningvis
Caranx oblongus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1833: 128 (Vanikoro, Santa
Cruz Ids.); Smith, SFSA No. 525*; Smith & Smith, 1969: 22*.
645
brassy spots on sides; large adults often with 3 black
blotches in a row on flanks mid-laterally. Attains 100 cm;
South African spearfishing record 18 kg. Inhabits rocky
coasts, reefs and offshore banks to 100 m. A favourite of
spearfishermen. Durban northward; a widespread IndoWest Pacific species.
Bludger
210.12 Carangoides gymnostethus
(Cuvier, 1833)
PLATE 80
Bludger
Caranx gymnostethus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1833: 73 (Seychelles);
Smith, 1967: PI. 31. Caranx gymnostethoides: Smith, SFSA No. 521*;
Smith & Smith, 1963: 20*. Carangoides gymnostethus: M.M. Smith, 1972:
232*; van der Elst, 1981: 118*.
o VIII+I,28-32; A II+I,24-26; GR (7-9)+(19-22). Straight LL with
14-25 scales + 20-31 scutes. Breast naked to behind V origin and laterally
to P base. Adults with mouth cleft at level of lower margin of eye.
Olive green above, silvery white below, a few brown or
golden spots sometimes present midlaterally; opercular
spot dusky and usually inconspicuous. Attains 90 cm; South
African spearfishing record 14.5 kg. Most common over
slightly deeper offshore reefs; larger individuals usually
solitary, juveniles form small schools. Algoa Bay northward; a widespread Indo-West Pacific species.
210.12 Carangoides gymnostethus: 52.5 em FL.
210.13 Carangoides hed/andensis
(Whitley, 1933)
PLATE 80
Bumpnose kingfish
Knopneus-koningvis
Olistus hedlandensis Whitley, 1934: 156, Fig. 2 (Port Hedland, Western
Australia). Atropus atropus (non Bloch): Smith, SFSA No. 505 (not
figure). Carangoides hedlandensis: Williams et aI., 1980: 17*.
o VIII+I,20-22; A II+I,16-18, adult males with 3-8 central 0 and A
rays filamentous; GR (6-11)+(14-17). Straight LL with 17-29 weak scutes.
Breast naked to behind V origin and laterally to P base. Soft 0 lobe longer
than head length. Adults with distinct bulge in interorbital region.
Greenish blue dorsally, silvery grey below; blackish
blotch on upper opercular margin; V blackish in young,
pale in adults; C yellowish. Attains 32 cm. A coastal,
210: CARANGIDAE (KINGFISHES)
demersal species. Durban northward in coastal waters and
Seychelles, and eastward to Japan, Australia and Samoa.
Literature records of Atropus atropos from South Africa
are based on misidentified juveniles of this species.
210.13 Carangoides hedlandensis: 20 em FL.
210.14 Carangoides ma/abaricus
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Malabar kingfish
Malabar-koningvis
Scomber malabaricus Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 31 (India). Caranx
malabaricus: Smith, SFSA No. 517*; 1967: 140*. Carangoides
malabaricus: Smith, 1967: 151*; M.M. Smith, 1972: 232*; Williams &
Venkataramani, 1978: 504*; van der Elst, 1981: 119*.
o VIII +I,20-23; A II + 1,17-19; GR (8-12)+(21-27). Breast naked to
behind V origin and laterally to P base, including small area anteriorly just
above fin. Straight LL with 19-36weak scutes. Soft 0 lobe only slightly falcate, shorter than head.
Generally silvery, bluish grey above; small, white spot
often at base of A rays; small, black opercular spot. Attains
28 cm. A benthic, schooling species. Durban northward in
tropical coastal waters of Indo-West Pacific.
210.14 Carangoides malabaricus: 24.5 em FL.
210.15 Carangoides ob/ongus
(Cuvier, 1833)
PLATE 80
Coachwhip kingfish
Sweepvin-koningvis
Caranx oblongus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1833: 128 (Vanikoro, Santa
Cruz Ids.); Smith, SFSA No. 525*; Smith & Smith, 1969: 22*.
645