Bony fish · Perciformes · Carangidae

Leerfish

Lichia amia

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The leerfish is a large, silvery, laterally compressed jack, with a lateral line that runs in a strongly marked zigzag. It hunts in coastal waters, off beaches and at river mouths in the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic, chasing shoals of mullet and sardines right into the surf.

Weight

up to 50 kg

Size

60 cm – 2 m

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanCarnivore Solitary Fish Ocean

27countries 40parks4same family

Fun facts

GeneralA large inshore predator; it reaches 2 m and chases mullet through the surf.
Its lateral line runs in a strongly marked zigzag, a feature that identifies it instantly against other jacks.
The juveniles move into estuaries and brackish lagoons, where they grow before heading out to the open sea.
It hunts in small groups in the surf zone, chasing mullet and anchovies.
It is the only living representative of its genus.
In South Africa it breeds in estuaries and moves out to sea once mature; some individuals run up the lower reaches of rivers such as the Kunene and the Orange.