They are moderate- to large-sized, deep-bodied fishes which are distinguished from other carangid genera by specific gill raker, fin ray and dentition characteristics.

[2] The species has long been placed in the subfamily Caranginae (or tribe Carangini), with modern molecular and genetic studies indicating this subdivision is acceptable, and Caranx is well defined as a genus.

[6] The early days of carangid taxonomy had over 100 'species' designated as members of the genus, most of which were synonyms, and a number of genera were created which were later synonymised with Caranx.

Caranx took authority over these other genera names due to its prior description, rendering the rest as invalid junior synonyms.

[7] The 18 currently recognized extant species in this genus are:[8] The first representative of Caranx found in the fossil record dates back to the mid-Eocene, a period when many modern Perciform lineages appeared.

[7] Species from the genus Caranx are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the world, inhabiting the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

They inhabit a range of environments including sand flats, bays, lagoons, reefs, sea mounts and estuaries.

Most species are demersal, or bottom dwelling, in nature, while others are pelagic, moving long distances in the upper water column.