Common Dart

Pompanos ( POM-pə-noh) are marine fish in the genus Trachinotus in the subfamily Trachinotinae in the family Trachinotidae. Pompano may also refer to various other, similarly shaped members of Carangidae, or the order Perciformes. They are found worldwide in warmer seas, sometimes also entering brackish waters.

Description

Their appearance is of deep-bodied fishes, exhibiting strong lateral compression, with a rounded face and pronounced curve to the anterior portion of their dorsal profile. Their ventral profile is noticeably less curved by comparison, while their anterior profile is straight-edged, tapering sharply to a narrow caudal peduncle. Their dorsal and anal fins are typically sickle shaped, with very long anterior rays and a succession of much shorter rays behind, with a similarly long and curved, deeply forked tail which has a narrow base. They are typically overall silvery in color, sometimes with dark or yellowish fins, and one or a few black markings on the side of their body.

They are toothless and are relatively large fish, up to about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) long, although most species reach no more than half or two-thirds of that size.

Species

The 21 currently recognized species in this genus are:

Human interactions

Of the 21 recognized species, most are valued as food and some are considered game fish, including the permit (T. falcatus). Two United States Navy submarines have been named after this genus: USS Pompano and USS Permit.