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Whitemouth Trevally

Whitemouth Trevally

Uraspis Uraspis

Quick Facts

Scientific name Uraspis Uraspis

Other names Basset Hull's Trevally, Whitemouth Jack, White Tongue Jack

Size Up to 28 cm (11 in)

Weight Up to .5 kg (1.10 lb)

Distribution

Habitat & AU Distribution Coastal & oceanic waters, schooling fish often near reefs

Depth Range 20 -140 m (65 - 460 ft)

Interesting Info

The Whitemouth Trevally gets its name from its bright white tongue and mouth lining that stand out when it opens wide.
In Australia it’s found from northern Western Australia across the Top End to Queensland and sometimes New South Wales.
Globally it ranges across the Indo-West Pacific—from the Red Sea and East Africa through Japan and the Philippines to Hawaii.
It grows to about 28 cm (11 in), roughly the size of a school ruler.
Juveniles wear bold dark vertical stripes along their sides, which fade away as they grow into adults.
This trevally usually swims in small schools over the continental shelf at depths of 20–130 m (65–430 ft), but can be found as deep as 140 m (460 ft).
They like to form small schools over rocky seabeds and reef edges.
They feed on crustaceans and cephalopods such as crabs, shrimps, and small squid, using comb-like gill rakers to help capture prey.
Its silvery-blue oval body and white mouth make it easy to identify compared to other trevallies.
They grow quickly and are considered highly resilient, with populations able to double in less than 15 months.
Their lifespan is not well studied, but like many small trevallies they likely live around 5–7 years.

Species Interaction

Snorkelling & Diving, Recreational Fishing

Snorkellers and divers sometimes spot Whitemouth Trevallies schooling along the outer edges of reefs, where their silvery bodies flash in the light. They usually swim in small groups, cruising just above the seafloor. While they’re not a target for fishers, they are often caught as bycatch when anglers or commercial boats are chasing other reef species.

Species
Sustainability

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Carangiformes

Family: Carangidae

Genus: Uraspis

Species: Uraspis uraspis

Conservation Status

The Whitemouth Trevally is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. It’s widely distributed in deep reef areas and remains common, though it depends on healthy seas and reef systems.