Yellow jack or yellow trevally (Gnathoanodon speciosus) is a wide ranging species. In the Indian Ocean this is found from the Red Sea to Australia. In the Paciifc Ocean this is found in Hawaii and as far east as Panama. This large jack can grow to about 44 inches in length. This pale jack has a grey dorsal side and can also show some yellow on the belly. There are several black spots on the side below the second dorsal fin. (The young are yellow with vertical black bars and stripes.)

Jacks and trevallies are placed in the Carangidae family. This fmaily has about 140 species spread among 25 different genera. These fish are found from the open ocean to brackish water. Many species are known to migrate. Most are schooling and fast swimming fish. Furthermore, many species are important commercial fish. The genera Alectis, Carangoides, Caranx, Chloroscombus, Decapterus, Elagatis, Hemicaranx, Naucrates, Oligoplites, Pseudocaranx, Selar, Selene, Seriola, Trachurus, and Uraspis all belong here.

Perch-like Fish, Order Perciformes, are the largest order of fish in both freshwater and shallow saltwater. Most of the conventional fish belong to this order. The bass, bluegills, perch and crappies of freshwater plus the groupers and sea bass of salt water belong to this order. The fish all have spiny rays in their fins and the tail fin has seventeen rays. There are approximately 150 families. Herein, we have placed the families in alphabetical sequence within this order. (In some instances the typical taxonomic sequence of families is not much help. Consider, for example, that the barracudas are usually placed between the mullets and the threadfins.)

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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