Family: CARANGIDAE
Local Name: Thumba handhi
Order: Perciformes
Size: Common to 40cm; max. 70cm
Specimen: MRS/P0157/87
Distinctive Characters: First dorsal fin with 8 spines, second dorsal fin with 1 spine and 28-31 rays. Anal fin with 2 detached spines, followed by I spine and 24-26 rays. Gill rakers on first gill arch including the rudiments, 28-32. Snout usually slightly angular. Lips in adults fleshy and pappilose. Breast naked ventrally to origin of pelvic fins, occasionally with a small patch of pelvic scales.
Colour: Rather dark silver-grey, tending to greenish above. Darkish yellow spots on sides, mostly below lateral line. Fine white margin to anal fin.
Habitat and Biology: Inhabits lagoons and seaward reefs to depths exceeding 50 m. Occurs singly, in pairs, or in schools. Feeds primarily on sand-dwelling crustaceans, worms and small fishes.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific.
Remarks: Carangoides orthogrammus has a nearlyubiquitous occurrence at oceanic islands and is virtually absent from inshore, neritic areas.