Leerfish

Phylogenetic evidence suggests that a deep genetic divergence exists between leerfish populations in South Africa and Angola, likely divided by the Benguela Current. It has thus been recommended that these populations be managed as two independent stocks. == Fossil record ==

'' An extinct relative, Lichia veronensis Bannikov, 1990, is known from the Early Eocene-aged Monte Bolca site of Italy, suggesting that the genus has inhabited its present range for nearly 50 million years. Another extinct species, Lichia alta Gorjanovic-Kramberger, 1891, is known from the Oligocene of Slovenia. Fossil Lichia remains tentatively assigned to the extant L. amia are known from the late Miocene (Messinian) of Italy, in the midst of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. This suggests that the extant L. amia must have diverged from its extinct relatives prior to this point, and that pockets of ocean likely persisted in the Mediterranean during this period of time. == Gallery ==

File:Leccia Amia 26 kg .jpg|Showing size File:Carangidae Lichia amia 1.1.jpg|At UShaka Marine World File:Lichia amia Natural History Museum University of Pisa P 170.jpg|Skeleton File:Lichia amia juvenile (rotated).jpg|Juvenile ==References==