White Trevally - Pseudocaranx dentex - Schooling over Cirkewwa Reef

A school of White Trevally gathers above Cirkewwa Reef in Malta, their silvery bodies catching the underwater light against the dark blue water.

The White Trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) has a streamlined but relatively deep and laterally compressed body, with a moderately pointed head, large eye and strongly forked tail. Its upper body is generally greenish-blue to grey while the sides and underside are silvery-white, often with a yellowish stripe extending along the flank and a darker marking near the upper edge of the gill cover. The species is commonly associated with rocky reefs and coastal waters and often forms schools, particularly around underwater structures and areas offering abundant food. White Trevally occurs in the Mediterranean as well as parts of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, and is commonly encountered at depths of around 10–25 metres, although it has been recorded considerably deeper. It commonly reaches about 40 centimetres in length, while exceptionally large individuals can exceed one metre. This photograph captures a group swimming closely together above Cirkewwa Reef in Malta.