Plate 95B. The Striped or Oceanic Bonito. Euthynnus pelamys (L.), Lutken.

Image ID: figb0356, Historic NMFS Collection

Photo Source:
The NOAA Photo Library - http://www.photolib.noaa.gov
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Comments
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The skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), also kwown as arctic bonito, mushmouth, oceanic bonito, striped tuna or victor fish, is a medium-sized perciform fish in the tuna family, Scombridae, and is the only member of the genus Katsuwonus. The skipjack tunas grow up to 1 m in length. It is a cosmopolitan pelagic fish found in tropical and warm-temperate waters. It is a very important species for fisheries.

Order: Scombriformes
Family: Scombridae
Subfamily: Scombrinae
Tribe: Thunnini
Genus: Katsuwonus Kishinouye, 1915
Species: Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
- Euthynnus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Katsuwonus vagans (Lesson, 1829)
- Scomber pelamys Linnaeus, 1758
- Scomber pelamis Linnaeus, 1758
- Thynnus vagans Lesson, 1829


Comments
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Katsuwonus pelamis, commonly known as skipjack tuna, is a medium-sized fish belonging to the tuna family, Scombridae. The skipjack tuna is streamlined and fast-swimming, inhabiting surface waters in large shoals. It is found in tropical and warm-temperate waters worldwide and feeds on fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and mollusks. The skipjack tuna is an important prey species for sharks and large pelagic fishes and is often used as live bait when fishing for marlin. The skipjack tuna has no scales, except on the lateral line and the corselet. The fish can grow up to 1 m in length and reach a mass of 8–10 kg. It is an important commercial and game fish, usually caught using purse seine nets, and is sold fresh, frozen, canned, dried, salted, and smoked.