# 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! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Florida pompano](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pompano_common.jpg&width=800) Photo: H. L. Todd, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pompano_common.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Carangidae - **Genus:** Trachinotus ## 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 - **Sand Sentinel:** Florida pompano can rapidly bury themselves in sand because of their streamlined body, which helps them hide from predators. - **Swift Swimmer:** Florida pompano has a powerful, deeply forked tail that helps them achieve bursts of speed for hunting prey and escaping danger. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bull-shark) (*Carcharhinus leucas*) — A top predator in coastal waters. - **Eaten by:** [Bottlenose dolphin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be careful near the water and ask an adult before going swimming. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Florida pompano? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [McKee Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mckee-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Florida pompano: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/florida-pompano)