Leerfish

Lichia amia

Leerfish — Lichia amia
  • Saltwater
  • Least Concern
Max length
200 cm
Classification
Class
Teleostei
Order
Carangiformes
Family
Carangidae
Genus
Lichia
Distribution
  • Atlantic, Eastern Central
  • Atlantic, Southeast
  • Indian Ocean, Western
  • Mediterranean and Black Sea

About the leerfish

The leerfish or garrick (Lichia amia) is a species of marine fish in the family Carangidae. It is the only extant member of the genus Lichia. It is native to much of the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from the Mediterranean and western Black Sea, north to France, and south along the coastal waters of western Africa, reaching as far south as eastern South Africa. They are an important species in coastal recreational fisheries, especially in Africa.

These fish can reach 1.5 m in length and more than 30 kg in weight. They inhabit the coastal wave zone where they form small shoals to hunt other smaller fish, favouring mullets. In South Africa, they primarily breed in estuaries and move to marine environments after maturation.

Description from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Where the leerfish lives

Distribution data from GBIF (DOI: 10.15468/dl.8rzs8d).

Also known as

Where to catch leerfish

Related species