ExploreFish

Florida pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

The Florida pompano is a shiny, silver fish that loves to swim in warm ocean waters. It has a flat body and is known for being delicious to eat!

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Florida pompano has a shimmering silver body with a distinct gold-yellow belly and a deeply forked, bright yellow tail. Its body is flattened and oval-shaped, making it appear sleek and fast as it glides through the water, looking different from rounder reef fish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderPerciformesFamilyCarangidaeGenusTrachinotus
Florida pompano
social trait badgecamouflaged trait badgecolorful trait badgepiscivorous trait badge
Florida pompano

Category

Fish

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Pompano eggs float freely in the open ocean until they hatch into new fish.

Pompano scales are so tiny, their skin feels incredibly smooth to the touch!

Their scientific name, Trachinotus carolinus, means 'rough back' in Greek!

They sometimes leap right out of the waves, like tiny silver rockets!

Special abilities

Ability

Sand Sentinel

Florida pompano can rapidly bury themselves in sand because of their streamlined body, which helps them hide from predators.

Ability

Swift Swimmer

Florida pompano has a powerful, deeply forked tail that helps them achieve bursts of speed for hunting prey and escaping danger.

Ability

Water Spitter

Florida pompano can spit jets of water at the sandy bottom to dislodge and uncover hidden prey, an amazing hunting trick!

Measurements & details

Length
30-64 cm
Weight
0.5-3.6 kg
Lifespan
3-7 years
Swim Speed
40 km/h
Maximum Depth
30 m
Water Type
Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

Florida pompano mainly eat tiny crabs, small mollusks, and other small invertebrates from the ocean floor.

Age differences: Young pompano eat smaller plankton and tiny crustaceans, while adults switch to larger crabs and mollusks.

Primary Foods

  • Sand fleas (Emerita talpoida)
  • Coquina clams (Donax variabilis)
  • Small crustaceans
  • Marine worms

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Bull shark

Carcharhinus leucas

A top predator in coastal waters.

eaten by

Bottlenose dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Fast marine mammal hunting fish.

eaten by

Spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Predatory fish in open water.

eats

Mole crab

Emerita talpoida

Digs in sand, a favorite food.

eats

Coquina clam

Donax variabilis

Small bivalves living in surf.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always be careful near the water and ask an adult before going swimming.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Florida pompano?

30-64 cm

How much does Florida pompano weigh?

0.5-3.6 kg

How long does Florida pompano live?

3-7 years

What does Florida pompano eat?

Florida pompano mainly eat tiny crabs, small mollusks, and other small invertebrates from the ocean floor.

How fast can Florida pompano swim?

40 km/h

Where is Florida pompano usually found?

Coastal areas

How does Florida pompano hunt?

Foraging

How deep can Florida pompano go?

30 m

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Fish