Amberjack
Amberjacks are the common name for the nine extant species of large, ray-finned fish in the genus Seriola (Cuvier, 1816), belonging to the family Carangidae (jacks and pompanos), subfamily Naucratinae.[1] These pelagic and reef-dwelling species are characterized by an elongated, laterally compressed body that is typically olive to bluish-gray on the upper half, fading to silvery-white below, often with a prominent dark oblique stripe extending from the eye to the origin of the first dorsal fin and sometimes an amber lateral band along the flank.[2][3] Native to tropical and warm temperate marine waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, amberjacks exhibit a near-global distribution, inhabiting depths from surface waters to over 100 meters, particularly around deep reefs, wrecks, and oceanic drop-offs.[1][4] As active, opportunistic predators, they primarily feed on smaller schooling fishes (such as scads and herrings) and cephalopods like squids, using their strong, streamlined bodies and forked caudal fins to pursue prey at high speeds.[5][6] Juveniles often form schools in open water, while adults tend to be solitary or in small groups, occasionally entering coastal bays or estuaries.[4][7] Amberjacks are highly valued in both commercial and recreational fisheries worldwide, with species capable of reaching lengths of up to 250 cm and weights over 97 kg, though most commonly harvested individuals are under 100 cm.[6][3] Notable species include the greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), found in the Atlantic and reaching up to 190 cm; the yellowtail amberjack (Seriola lalandi), widespread in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific; the almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana), with a more tropical range; and the Japanese amberjack (Seriola quinqueradiata), a key aquaculture species in East Asia.[8][9] Their firm, white flesh makes them popular for consumption, but overfishing has led to management measures in regions like the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.[4] Additionally, their adaptability to captivity has spurred growth in offshore aquaculture, particularly for S. quinqueradiata and S. lalandi, contributing to sustainable production amid wild stock declines.[10][11]Taxonomy and Etymology
Scientific Classification
Amberjacks belong to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes), order Carangiformes, family Carangidae (jacks and pompanos), and genus Seriola.[12][13] Within the Carangidae, which comprises approximately 148 species across 30 genera, amberjacks are characterized by their streamlined, fusiform bodies adapted for pelagic lifestyles, distinguishing them from related genera such as Trachinotus (pompanos), which exhibit deeper, more compressed bodies and prominent spotting patterns along the sides.[13][14] The genus Seriola currently includes nine recognized extant species, primarily circumtropical marine fishes known for their carnivorous habits and association with reefs or open waters.[15] The genus Seriola was established by Georges Cuvier in 1816, with the greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) designated as the type species, originally described by Antoine Risso in 1810 under the junior synonym Caranx dumerili.[15][3] Subsequent 19th-century descriptions expanded the genus, including Seriola lalandi by Achille Valenciennes in 1833 and other species by naturalists such as Bloch and Temminck & Schlegel, reflecting early taxonomic efforts to classify these widespread pelagic forms based on morphological traits like fin ray counts and body elongation.[16][17] Phylogenetically, Seriola species form a monophyletic clade closely related to other pelagic members of the Carangidae, such as those in the genera Caranx and Decapterus, with divergence events linked to geological events like the closure of the Tethys Sea (12–20 million years ago) and the formation of the Isthmus of Panama (approximately 3 million years ago).[18] Molecular studies utilizing mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) DNA sequences, alongside nuclear markers like recombination-activating gene 1 (RAG1) and rhodopsin (Rhod), have confirmed the monophyly of the genus, resolving interspecific relationships and supporting its evolutionary coherence within the family.[18] These analyses highlight Seriola's adaptation to warm-temperate and tropical marine environments, with no evidence of paraphyly despite some historical synonymies.[18]| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Carangiformes |
| Family | Carangidae |
| Genus | Seriola |