Bar jack (Caranx ruber)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Caranx ruber
- Common name
- Bar jack
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Carangidae
- Genus
- Caranx
- Size
- 30–70 cm
- Depth
- 0–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, open-water
- Behaviours
- schooling, fast-moving
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Caranx ruber reaches 70 cm and 30 kg. Slender silver jack with distinctive longitudinal blue-black band starting from eyes and characteristic red-orange spot on lower caudal lobe (hence ruber). Lives in schools from 0 to 50 m on coral reefs and Caribbean open water. Fast pelagic predator hunting small schooling fish. Often follower of morays or octopus to grab dislodged prey. Iconic encounter of Caribbean dives in open water.
Photo of Bar jack
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Bar jack?
- Bar jack (Caranx ruber) reaches 30–70 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Bar jack?
- Bar jack is found between 0–50 m deep.
- Is the Bar jack dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Bar jack?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Bar jack?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Caranx
- Caranx latus - Horse-eye jack
- Caranx crysos - Blue runner
- Caranx caninus - Pacific crevalle jack
- Caranx sexfasciatus - Bigeye trevally
- Caranx senegallus - Senegal jack
- Caranx hippos - Crevalle jack
Other species in the family Carangidae
- Seriola rivoliana - Almaco jack
- Seriola dumerili - Greater amberjack
- Pseudocaranx dentex - White trevally
- Lichia amia - Leerfish
- Trachurus mediterraneus - Mediterranean horse mackerel
- Seriola lalandi - Yellowtail amberjack
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 302432)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2390989)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia