African Pompano

The African Pompano has a smooth, silver compressed body with a steep, rounded forehead. Juveniles have long, thin filaments trailing from their dorsal and anal fins, which shorten as they mature. They also have a dark blotch by the dorsal fin and dark chevron-shaped bars on the side that fade with age.

The African Pompano is mainly solitary and lives in open water but sometimes swims close to the reef to find food. It is attracted to bait balls, which it preys on, and it also eats small crustaceans. Juveniles look similar to venomous jellyfish, which likely helps protect them from predators. Its name is a bit misleading, as it is not a true Pompano and is found worldwide, not just in Africa.