page_title: Blue trevally
section_title: Distribution and habitat
hierarchical_section_title: Blue trevally / Distribution and habitat
caption_attribution_description: English: reef0553, NOAA's Coral Kingdom Collection. A blue trevally, Carangoides ferdau swimming midwater
context_page_description: The blue trevally, also known as the banded trevally, barred trevally, Ferdau's trevally or Forskaal's jackfish, is a common, widespread species of pelagic marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae. The blue trevally is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and central Pacific regions, ranging from South Africa in the west to Hawaii in the east. It is a moderately large fish, growing to a recorded maximum length of 70 cm, with the number of rays in the second dorsal fin and the colouring serving as diagnostic features of the species. The species inhabits waters to depths of 60 m, generally inhabiting reefs, beaches, lagoons, and areas with sandy substrates. It is a predatory fish, taking other fish, prawns, crabs, and molluscs, and very little is known of the species' reproductive biology. The blue trevally is of varying importance to fisheries throughout its range, with some regions having high catches of the fish. It is considered to be a gamefish, and is sought after for its excellent eating qualities.
context_section_description: The blue trevally has a wide distribution, inhabiting the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian, West Pacific and Central Pacific Oceans. It ranges from South Africa in the west, north along the East African coast to the Red Sea and across to India and Southeast Asia. The species ranges south to Australia and Indonesia, and as far as Japan, Hawaii, and a number of Pacific islands, including Micronesia, New Caledonia, and Tonga.
  The blue trevally inhabits coastal waters to a depth of 60 m, over reefs, beaches, lagoons, and areas with sandy substrates.  The species lives pelagically, allowing movement between islands and atolls. It is rarely found in estuaries, suggesting a poor tolerance to low salinities.
caption: A blue trevally patrolling a Micronesian reef
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