Common Name: Rainbow Runner

Distribution: Common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Circumtropical species, common in subtropical seas but rare or absent in the Persian Gulf. In Australia recorded from around Perth in Western Australia, across the tropical north to Queensland and the Coral Sea, south to southern New South Wales and including Lord Howe Island.

Ecological Notes: Pelagic schooling species found in oceanic and coastal water frequenting current areas around islands and reefs. Depth to 150 m.

Additional Notes: Juveniles have brighter blue longitudinal lines and may be seen in sheltered offshore waters. Carnivorous, feeding on zooplankton when young and other fish species such as herring and pilchards when adult. Valued sportfish. Grows to 1.2 m and 20 kg.

References: R. Stuart-Smith, G. Edgar, A. Green, I. Shaw, Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland Publishers, 2015. p.141.
FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. https://fishbase.ca/summary/Elegatis-bipinnulata.html. Accessed 25/05/18.