Greater Amberjack - Seriola dumerili - Cruising above Cirkewwa Reef

A solitary Greater Amberjack cruises above the rocky Cirkewwa Reef in Malta, surrounded by small fish in the open blue water.

The Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) has a powerful, elongated and streamlined body that is moderately compressed from side to side, 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 a yellowish or amber stripe running along the middle of the body. A strong and fast-swimming predator, it inhabits open water and areas around rocky reefs, offshore structures and steep coastal drop-offs. Greater Amberjacks feed mainly on fishes as well as squid and crustaceans and may occur alone or in small groups. The species is widespread throughout the Mediterranean and other tropical and warm-temperate seas, commonly occurs at depths of about 18–72 metres and can reach approximately 190 centimetres in total length, although around one metre is more typical. This photograph shows a solitary individual cruising above the rocky seabed of Cirkewwa Reef in Malta.