Yellowspotted Trevally

Photo: J. Martin Crossley · CC BY-NC-SA

Dense schools of this large-bodied trevally orbit the reef wall in loose formation, their yellow spots flashing as they wheel in response to the same predator cues that send reef fish streaming for cover. They are cooperative hunters that team up to drive baitfish against the reef face or surface before attacking from multiple directions simultaneously. The Um Al Naasan population benefits from low spearfishing pressure due to the island's restricted access, and the trevally here are noticeably less wary of divers than on more frequently visited sites.