Fish · GBIF taxon 9819074
Permit
Trachinotus falcatusAlso known as Round Pompano
Permit patrol shallow tropical flats and coral reefs, frequently tipping head-down to root out buried crabs while their sickle-shaped tail fins break the surface. They possess specialized crushing plates in their throats that easily grind through thick-shelled crustaceans and mollusks. Revered by anglers for their exceptional speed and wary nature, they play a vital predatory role in maintaining balanced benthic invertebrate communities.
MarinePredatoryCoastal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Blue crab
- Mantis shrimp
- Mole crab
Predators
- Bull shark
- Great barracuda
- Bottlenose dolphin
ThreatsHabitat loss from coastal development, boat strikes in shallows, and degraded water quality
HabitatsShallow sand flats, seagrass meadows, mangrove channels, and seaward coral reefs
Life spanUp to 23 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPerciformes
- FamilyCarangidae
- GenusTrachinotus
- SpeciesTrachinotus falcatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Tails: Look for dark, sickle-shaped tail tips poking above the surface as they feed in the shallows.
- Approach Quietly: Move stealthily by paddle or pole, as vibrations easily spook flats-dwelling schools.
- Responsible Handling: Support the body horizontally with wet hands if caught, releasing immediately to avoid exhaustion.
Frequent Companion (c) James-LaFontaine, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by James-LaFontaine · cc-by
Predator Hectonichus / CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Close Relative (c) Leah Fulton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
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