Pilot Fish

pilot fish: see pompano.

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pilot fish

Widely distributed species (Naucrates ductor, family Carangidae) of carnivorous fish that inhabits warm and tropical open seas. It is slender and has a forked tail, a lengthwise keel on each side of the tail base, and a few small spines in front of the dorsal and anal fins. It may grow to 2 ft (60 cm) but is usually about 14 in. (35 cm) long. Five to seven distinctive vertical dark bands mark the bluish body. Pilot fishes follow sharks and ships, apparently to feed on parasites and leftover scraps. It was formerly thought that they were leading, or “piloting,” the larger fishes to food.

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Pilot Fish 

(Naucrates ductor), a marine fish of the family Carangidae. Body length, up to 60 cm. There are ridges of thickened scales on the caudal peduncle, and the first dorsal fin consists of three short spines. The body is bluish white with five to seven dark blue, broad, vertical bands. The pilot fish is found in all tropical and subtropical seas; during the summer it sometimes travels to temperate waters. It migrates long distances in the company of sharks or alongside of ships, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and other animal life. Spawning occurs in the open sea.