soft dorsal fin is falcate, being about the same length as the head. The pelvic fin consists of one spine and 18 or 19 soft rays. The lateral line is moderately curved anteriorly, with the curve having 62 to 72 scales present on it, while the straight section contains three to eight scales and 24 to 32 scutes. The breast of the duskyshoulder trevally is scaleless, extending up to behind the pelvic fin origin and laterally to the pectoral fin base. It has six to 10 gill rakers on the first arch and 16 to 20 on the second arch, and the species has 24 vertebrae. The duskyshoulder trevally is a dusky green colour above, fading to silver below, with adults and juveniles often having five or six dark broad crossbars running vertically down their bodies. A large black spot is usually present on the shoulder, with smaller dark spots on the operculum and pectoral fin axil. The soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are dusky, with the spinous dorsal fin black. The pectoral and pelvic fins are hyaline to white in colour. Distribution and habitat The duskyshoulder trevally inhabits the tropical and subtropical regions of the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean, recorded only from the coastlines of India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, and possibly Taiwan. The species probably inhabits offshore areas of more islands in the region, but due to inadequate sampling, has not been recorded. The species lives in waters shallower than 50 m, generally inhabiting the sandy substrates and reefs of the continental shelf, also venturing into bays and inhabiting beaches and mangrove-lined creeks. Biology and fishery The duskyshoulder trevally is poorly studied in most aspects of its biology with the exception of its diet. It is a benthic predator, with studies in the Gulf of Carpentaria indicating it preys mostly on various species of small teleost fishes and crustaceans, with particular preference for brachyurans. Other less commonly taken prey include penaeid prawns, other crustaceans, molluscs, and cephalopods. Nothing is known of the movements or reproduction in the species. The duskyshoulder trevally is of little importance to either commercial fisheries or anglers, but is commonly taken as bycatch in other trawl fisheries, especially the northern Australian prawn fishery. It is mostly discarded when taken, rarely sold at market. References External links Duskyshoulder trevally at Fishbase Encyclopedia of Life page duskyshoulder trevally Marine fish