Caranx caballus, a New Immigrant Carangid Fish to the Hawaiian Islands from the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Abstract

Caranx caballus Gunther, a wide-ranging tropical eastern Pacific carangid fish, was reported from the Hawaiian Islands as C. kuhlii (later as C. kalla) from only two specimens collected in 1922. Because no further specimens had been collected, these two fish were regarded as strays from the eastern Pacific; however, beginning in the summer of 1998, this small jack was found in such numbers in the Hawaiian Islands that it seems to have established a breeding population. It is distinguished by having 22-24 dorsal soft rays, 1920 anal soft rays, 43-52 scutes, chest fully scaled, 42-46 gill rakers, no large teeth in jaws, a relatively slender body (depth 3.5-3.75 in fork length), a black spot on edge of opercle, and no dark bars on the body. Because it is a valuable food fish, it is expected to be commercially exploited in Hawai'i.