pompano

pompano pŏmˈpənō [key], common name for fishes of the genus Trachinotus, members of a large and important family (Carangidae) of mackerellike fishes, abundant in warm seas around the world. They have deeply forked tails set on thin stalks and swim swiftly, often with the dorsal fin above the water surface. Most of the 200 species are valuable food fishes. The Pacific pompano, Peprilus simillimus, belongs to a different family, Stromateidae (see harvestfish).

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Classification
• Pompanos and Their Relatives

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