Local news
Meet the massive, local fish that can swim 80km/h
Southern Pompano can be spotted at uShaka Marine World aquarium in the Open Ocean exhibit.
THE Southern Pompano (Trachinotus Africanus) is under the spotlight this week. The South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) took to its Facebook page to share some fun facts about the fish species.
“This species can be found along our coastline – throughout the Indian Ocean from western Indonesia, Oman and the Gulf of Aden to the east coast of Africa,” said Saambr.
Despite their large size, these fish can reach impressive speeds.
“They are extremely fast swimmers that can reach speeds of up to 80km/h, which is an interesting fact since they are so large – reaching a maximum length of 92cm total length and an average weight of 14kg. These fish are known for their curious and fearless behaviour. They are not afraid to approach divers or boats and will often follow them around in the water,” said Saambr.
SAAMBR Senior Aquarist Matt Needham added, “The Southern Pompano in the Open Ocean [exhibit] are over 15 years old. When I dive and feed in the exhibit, I get to see how fast they are – it’s a feeding frenzy.”
To see these amazing specimens in the flesh, visit the uShaka Marine World aquarium where the Southern Pompano can be spotted at the Open Ocean exhibit.
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