Alectis ciliaris (Bloch, 1788)
Young specimens of this unusual jack have long dorsal and anal fins trailing from their diamond shaped bodies. Bright and silvery (some fishermen call them "mirror fish") they swim or drift near the surface, sometimes in harbors, and are believed to mimic jellyfish. As the fish grow, their filaments shorten. Mature individuals entirely lack the long filaments and inhabit deep water, often below 200 ft. Divers and snorkelers seldom encounter these jacks in Hawai`i. The scientific name means "hairlike." The Hawaiian word kihikihi means "angular," or "zigzag." Also called African Pompano. To about 4 ft. All warm seas. Photo: sub-adult. Waikiki Aquarium.