Whitetongue Jack

Uraspis helvola

The whitetongue jack is a member of the Carangidae family, commonly found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. It is recognizable by its fusiform body shape, featuring 9 dorsal spines and 25 to 30 dorsal soft rays. The anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 19 to 22 soft rays. Typically, these fish grow to about 35 centimeters, although they can reach a maximum length of 58 centimeters. This species inhabits a variety of marine environments, primarily around sandy bottoms at the foot of outer reefs, continental coasts, and islands. The whitetongue jack is distributed across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, with notable populations near West Africa, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and around islands such as Hawaii and New Zealand. Whitetongue jacks are mainly nocturnal and can be encountered either solitary or in small schools. The species is considered of 'Least Concern' by the IUCN.