White Trevally - Pseudocaranx dentex - Dark Profile in Open Blue Water

A solitary White Trevally crosses the open blue water at Cirkewwa Reef, Malta, its deep body and strongly forked tail forming a distinctive dark profile.

The White Trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) has a streamlined yet relatively deep body that is strongly compressed from side to side, with a moderately rounded head, prominent eye and deeply forked tail. Its upper surface is generally greenish-blue to grey, while the flanks and underside are silvery-white, often with a yellowish stripe running along the middle of the body and a darker marking near the upper part of the gill cover. White Trevally are reef-associated fish that may occur individually or form schools around rocky reefs, coastal structures and adjoining open water. They feed on a variety of small fishes, crustaceans and other marine invertebrates. The species occurs in the Mediterranean as well as other warm-temperate and subtropical waters, is commonly found around 10–25 metres depth and has been recorded down to approximately 238 metres. Individuals commonly reach around 40 centimetres in length, although exceptionally large specimens may exceed one metre. This photograph captures a solitary individual swimming through open blue water at Cirkewwa Reef in Malta.