Greater Amberjack - Seriola dumerili - Cruising above a Rocky Reef

A small group of Greater Amberjacks cruises above a rocky reef, their streamlined bodies and deeply forked tails clearly visible.

The Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) has a powerful, elongated and moderately compressed body with a well-developed head, narrow caudal peduncle and deeply forked tail. Its colour is generally bluish-grey or olive above and silvery-white below, often with an amber-coloured stripe along the side and a darker marking near the eye. A strong and fast-swimming predator, it occurs around rocky reefs, offshore structures, steep drop-offs and adjoining open water, where it feeds mainly on fishes as well as squid and crustaceans. Greater Amberjacks may occur alone or form small groups such as the fish seen cruising above the reef in this photograph. The species is widespread throughout the Mediterranean and other warm temperate and tropical seas, usually occurs around 18–72 metres depth, and can reach about 190 centimetres in total length.