Greater Amberjack - Seriola dumerili - Silver Flash in Deep Blue Water

A Greater Amberjack passes close to the camera at Cirkewwa Reef, Malta, its silvery flank catching the underwater light against the deep blue background.

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 an amber or yellowish stripe running along the middle of the body. A strong and fast-swimming predator, it inhabits open water as well as rocky reefs, offshore structures and steep coastal drop-offs. Greater Amberjacks feed mainly on fishes together with squid and other marine invertebrates 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. This photograph captures an individual at Cirkewwa Reef in Malta, with the underwater light producing a bright metallic reflection across its silvery flank.