FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The more we get to know about the marine world, the more interesting it becomes. One of the largest and strongest fish, the giant trevally, Caranx Ignobilis, or the lowly trevally is truly unique, and different from the bluefin trevally. It can be easily distinguished in the oceans due to its steep head profile. These are highly prized game fish, particularly with anglers, that have been a part of our world since pre-historic times, roaming the ocean near the Hawaiian islands, and were used in ceremonial fishing in Hawaii a long time ago. This fish inhabits a wide range of marine environments and can be seen inhabiting coral reefs and lagoons. One of the most unique characteristics of the giant trevally is its ability to lose its dark color and become more silvery-gray when it feels threatened or stressed. Keep reading these interesting facts to know more about this large fish.
For more relatable content, check out swai fish and rainbow trout.
The giant trevally is a type of fish that is usually silvery-grayin color, not to be confused with the bluefin trevally.
The Caranx ignobilis belongs to the class Actinopterygii.
The exact population of giant trevallies in this world is unknown.
The lowly trevally species can be found swimming their way in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Bay of Bengal and the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific oceans. They can be found worldwide stretching from Hawaii in the east and South Africa in the west to Japan in the north and Australia in the south, especially in Northern Australia.
These creatures can be found in shallow coastal waters, traveling through the different reef patches. Their habitat consists of places that are abundant with coral reefs, rocky reefs, and shoreface like the Indo pacific region.
After reaching sexual maturity, the giant trevally prefers to lead a solitary life. They only come in contact with other giant trevallies during mating.
The lifespan of giant trevally is approximately 24 years.
The giant trevally species reach sexual maturity between the ages of three and five. During spawning, the male giant trevally's body appears to be darker than its female counterpart. Their spawning sites include reef passages and the outer edge of fringing reefs and they are more likely to spawn during the summer months. Their spawning cycle at times may also be related to the cycle of the moon. They travel long distances to breed. Thousands of eggs are released by the female on the reef and these eggs are later fertilized by the males.
The giant trevally is of Least Concern as assessed by the IUCN. However, the population of this species, which is very rarely seen, has been in decline in recent years. A biomass study conducted in Hawaii indicated that the islands have had a decrease in the numbers of Ulua.
The giant trevally species, with its steep head profile is the largest member of the genus Caranx. They are about 5.5-6 ft (1.7-1.8 m) in length. It has robust scutes along the posterior portion of the lateral line. The giant trevally's upper jaw consists of strong canines with an inner band of smaller teeth. The lower jaw consists of a single row of conical giant trevally teeth. This fish is found in silvery-gray color but the males can be jet black after reaching sexual maturity. Their dorsal fin is divided into two parts, the former consisting of eight spines, and the latter consisting of one spine and 18-21 soft rays.
Owing to their large size and length, giant trevally species look intimidating and scary, and cannot be considered cute.
Fish generally communicate by various silent mechanisms like gesture and motion. Travellies are known to communicate in the same way.
Owing to its large body and strength, this fish has little reason to fear any predators other than sharks and humans. They grow up to 5.5-6 ft (1.7-1.8 m), which is almost twice the size of an average fish.
This fish's capacity to swim at a high speed is one of its most distinctive qualities. Giant trevally fish hunt in groups or alone, reaching speeds of up to 37.3 mph (60 kph) at their peak.
The giant trevally weighs about 132.3 lb (60 kg).
There are no unique names given to the male and female giant trevallies.
A baby giant trevally is called a fry.
The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is considered to be a powerful apex predator which hunts individually or in schools. Their prey includes cephalopods, crustaceans, and mollusks. The young giant trevally, found in the shallow coastal waters, feeds on juvenile anchovies, sardines, and other fish. Giant trevallies are one of the fastest predators in the world. One of the distinguishing features of this fish is its novel hunting strategies. This strong fish uses sharks to intimidate and ambush its prey and also shadow monk seals to prevent them from taking their prey. When they hunt in schools, it leads to an increase in their capture efficiency. Together they are able to attack and stun the schools of prey.
While the giant trevally is usually not dangerous to humans, it is important to keep an eye out for it when venturing out to the reefs. It is inadvisable to feed these large game fish anything as they can hurt you or inflict pain.
It is not advisable to keep these large fish as pets. Their length and size make it very difficult to domesticate this species.
Known to the people of Hawaii as Ulua, the large fish was likened to a strong warrior and a fine man. Ulua was considered to be a God and commoners were not allowed to hunt them.
Ulua was also used in Hawaiian religious rites and also took the place of humans during human sacrifice when no one else was available. The special relationship between the people of the Hawaiian islands and the Ulua can also be seen in various Hawaiian islands proverbs which mention the Ulua as having warrior-like strength and qualities.
When it comes to eating, the smaller giant trevallies are the preferred choice for humans. They make dense, meaty,and pink steaks with subtle flavors. The flavors and taste of this fish are largely dependent on the different locations in which it is found. You can catch this fish in New Horizon. When preparing this fish for a dish, the skin and oily bloodline are taken out to give a better flavor. The giant trevally tends to get overcooked super quickly so it is better to keep an eye on it and not leave it on the heat for too long.
The giant trevally usually does not attack humans, but one should be careful around them. When they are caught, they put up a good fight and try to break the fishing equipment. There have been several known cases of fishermen being hurt while trying to catch these fish.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish including salmon and fluke fish.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our giant trevally coloring pages.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_trevally
https://www.fishbase.se/summary/caranx-ignobilis
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/giant-trevally-caranx-ignobilis-forsskal-1775/
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.