- Classification
- ACTINOPTERYGII
- PERCIFORMES
- SCOMBRIDAE
- Sarda
- orientalis
Oriental Bonito, Sarda orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel 1844)
An Oriental Bonito, Sarda orientalis. Source: John E. Randall / Fishbase via EOL. License: CC by Attribution-Noncommercial
Like the Australian Bonito, its east coast cousin, this species is also a fast-moving, schooling predator.
Oriental Bonito, Sarda orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel 1844)
More Info
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Distribution |
Widespread in tropical and sub-tropical waters throughout Indo-West Pacific. In Australian waters, found in the west from the Recherche Archipelago (WA) to the Arafura Sea (NT). An epipelagic, neritic species found in water temperatures ranging from 13.5 to 23 deg. |
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Features |
D XVII-XIX, 0, 0, 13-18; A14-16; P 23-26; GR 8-13. Dorsal fins separated by a narrow space. Second dorsal and anal fins followed by eight and six finlets, respectively. Pectoral fins short. Body elongate and slightly compressed. Large, conical teeth forming a single series, 12-20 in upper jaw, 10-17 in lower jaw. Body with anterior corselet and covered in small scales, posterior to corselet. Lateral line curves gradually downwards from origin to caudal peduncle. Caudal peduncle with well-developed keel, flanked on each side by a smaller keel. Swim bladder absent. |
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Size |
To at least 100 cm, and 10 kg in weight. |
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Colour |
Dark blue to black dorsally, grey on sides, belly whitish. The dorsal stripes do not extend onto the belly. |
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Feeding |
Feeds on fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans. Thought to be cannibalistic. |
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Biology |
Unknown. |
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Fisheries |
Of little interest to fisheries in Australia. Recreational fishers take this species while trolling using lures. |
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Conservation |
None. |
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Remarks |
The Oriental Bonito is known to school with small tuna species. |
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Etymology |
The specific name orientalis is from Latin in reference to the "Oriental" distribution of this species. |
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Species Citation |
Pelamys orientalis Temminck & Schlegel 1844, Fauna Japonica Parts 5-6: 94, Japan. |
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Author |
Schultz, S. |
Oriental Bonito, Sarda orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel 1844)
References
Carpenter, K.E.; Niem, V.H. (eds). FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammals. Rome, FAO. 2001. pp. 3381-4218.
Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, FAO species 1983, catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish.Synop., (125)Vol.. 2: 137 p.
Hoese, D.F., D.J. Bray, J.R. Paxton, & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. in Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
