Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800)

Frigate tuna
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Auxis thazard
Picture by Randall, J.E.
Classification / Names
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scombridae (Mackerels,
tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
Etymology: Auxis: Greek, auxis = a variety of tunna (Ref. 45335).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution rangeEcology

Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 50 - ? m (Ref. 9340).
Tropical; 27°C - 28°C; 61°N - 51°S, 180°W - 180°E

DistributionCountries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Atlantic, Indian and Pacific (Western Central). Eastern Pacific population recognized as
subspecies Auxis thazard brachydorax (Ref. 32349). Many authors have used the name Auxis
thazard as including Auxis rochei in the belief that there was only a single worldwide species
of Auxis. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea
(Ref. 26139).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm 29.5, range 29 - ? cm
Max length : 65.0 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 29114); common length : 60.0 cm TL
male/unsexed; (Ref. 47377); max. published weight: 1.7 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age:
5 years (Ref. 29114)
Short descriptionMorphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays:
10 - 14. Back bluish, turning to deep purple or almost black on the head. A pattern of 15 or
more narrow, oblique to nearly horizontal, dark wavy lines in scaleless area above lateral
line. Belly white. Pectoral and pelvic fins purple, their inner sides black. Body robust,
elongate and rounded. Teeth small and conical, in a single series. Pectoral fins short, but
reaching past vertical line from anterior margin of scaleless area above corselet. A large
single-pointed flap (interpelvic process) between pelvic fins. Body naked except for the
corselet, which is well developed and narrow in its posterior part (no more than 5 scales wide
under second dorsal-fin origin). A strong central keel on each side of caudal-fin base
between 2 smaller keels (Ref 9684).
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Biology Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Epipelagic in neritic and oceanic waters (Ref. 9340). Feeds on small fish, squids, planktonic
crustaceans (megalops), and stomatopod larvae (Ref. 5213). Because of their abundance,
they are considered an important element of the food web, particularly as forage for other
species of commercial interest. Preyed upon by larger fishes, including other tunas
(Ref. 9987). Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9340); also utilized dried or salted, smoked and
canned (Ref. 9987).
Life cycle and mating behaviorMaturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
In correlation with temperature and other environmental changes, the spawning season varies
with areas, but in some places it may even extend throughout the year.
Main referenceUpload your references | References | Coordinator : Collette, Bruce B. | Collaborators

Collette, B.B. and C.R. Aadland, 1996. Revision of the frigate tunas (Scombridae, Auxis),
with descriptions of two new subspecies from the eastern Pacific. Fish. Bull. 94(3):423-441.
(Ref. 32349)

Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849)

Kawakawa
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 Euthynnus affinis AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Euthynnus affinis
Picture by Randall, J.E.
Classification / NamesCommon names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.)
| ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scombridae (Mackerels,
tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
Etymology: Euthynnus: Greek, eu = good + Greek, thynnos = tunna (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology
Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 200 m (Ref. 54439).
Tropical; 18°C - 29°C (Ref. 168); 35°N - 38°S, 19°E - 137°W (Ref. 54439)
DistributionCountries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Indo-West Pacific: in warm waters including oceanic islands and archipelagos. A few stray
specimens have been collected in the Eastern Central Pacific. Highly migratory species,
Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 39.8, range 40 - 65 cm
Max length : 100.0 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 168); common length : 60.0 cm FL
male/unsexed; (Ref. 168); max. published weight: 14.0 kg (Ref. 30874)
Short descriptionMorphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays:
11 - 15; Vertebrae: 39. Swim bladder absent. No trace of vertebral protuberances. Anterior
spines of first dorsal fin much higher than those mid-way. Interpelvic process small and
bifid. Body naked except for corselet and lateral line. Posterior portion of the back with a
pattern of broken oblique stripes.
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Biology Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Occurs in open waters but always remains close to the shoreline. The young may enter bays
and harbors. Forms multi-species schools by size with other scombrid species comprising
from 100 to over 5,000 individuals. A highly opportunistic predator feeding indiscriminately
on small fishes, especially on clupeoids and atherinids; also on squids, crustaceans and
zooplankton (Ref. 9684). Generally marketed canned and frozen; also utilized dried, salted,
smoked (Ref. 9684) and fresh (Ref. 9987).
Life cycle and mating behaviorMaturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Main referenceUpload your references | References | Coordinator : Collette, Bruce B. | Collaborators
Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, 1983. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the
world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related
species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137 p. (Ref. 168)

Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Skipjack tuna
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Katsuwonus pelamis AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Katsuwonus pelamis
Male picture by Freitas, R.
Classification / NamesCommon names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.)
| ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scombridae (Mackerels,
tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 260 m (Ref. 9340), usually 0 - ? m
(Ref. 55287). Tropical; 15°C - 30°C (Ref. 168); 63°N - 47°S, 180°W - 180°E
DistributionCountries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Cosmopolitan in tropical and warm-temperate waters. Not found in the Black Sea. Highly
migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 40.0, range 40 - 45 cm
Max length : 110 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 89423); common length : 80.0 cm FL
male/unsexed; (Ref. 168); max. published weight: 34.5 kg (Ref. 168); max. reported age: 12
years (Ref. 168)
Short descriptionMorphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays:
14 - 15; Vertebrae: 41. Interpelvic process small and bifid. Body without scales except for
the corselet and the lateral line. Swim bladder absent. The back is dark purplish blue, lower
sides and belly silvery, with 4 to six very conspicuous longitudinal dark bands which in live
specimens may appear as continuous lines of dark blotches.
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Biology Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Found in offshore waters; larvae restricted to waters with surface temperatures of 15°C to
30°C (Ref. 6390). Exhibit a strong tendency to school in surface waters with birds, drifting
objects, sharks, whales and may show a characteristic behavior like jumping, feeding,
foaming, etc. Feed on fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods and mollusks; cannibalism is
common. Spawn throughout the year in the tropics, eggs released in several portions
(Ref. 35388). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). Preyed upon by large pelagic fishes
(Ref. 6885). Also taken by trolling on light tackle using plugs, spoons, feathers, or strip bait
(Ref. 9684). Marketed fresh, frozen or canned (Ref. 9340); also dried-salted and smoked
(Ref. 9987).
Life cycle and mating behaviorMaturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
In tropical waters, reproductively active female skipjack tuna spawn almost daily.
Main referenceUpload your references | References | Coordinator : Collette, Bruce B. | Collaborators

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, 1983. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the
world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related
species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137 p. (Ref. 168)

Selaroides leptolepis (Cuvier, 1833)

Yellowstripe scad
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 Reviewed map
Selaroides leptolepis AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Selaroides leptolepis
Picture by Greenfield, J.
Classification / NamesCommon names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.)
| ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Carangidae (Jacks and
pompanos) > Caranginae
Etymology: Selaroides: A Malay vernacular name, ikan selar + Greek, suffix, oides = similar
to.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution rangeEcology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 50 m
(Ref. 90102). Tropical; 39°N - 34°S, 49°E - 170°E (Ref. 54888)
DistributionCountries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf to the Philippines, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea
(Ref. 9819) and Australia (Ref. 3287).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 11.9, range 9 - 11 cm
Max length : 22.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 28620); common length : 15.0 cm TL
male/unsexed; (Ref. 9137); max. published weight: 625.00 g (Ref. 4883)
Short descriptionMorphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 21 -
23.
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Biology Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Adults occur in inshore waters of the continental shelf (Ref. 7300). They form large demersal
schools over soft bottom habitats at depths shallower than 50 m. Sometimes they ascend into
freshwater reaches like the freshwater tidal zone in the Mekong delta (Ref. 12693).
Ostracods, gastropods and euphausiids are common prey but small fish are also taken.
Life cycle and mating behaviorMaturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Main referenceUpload your references | References | Coordinator : Smith-Vaniz, William
F. | Collaborators
Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen and J.E. Hanley, 1989. Pisces. Petromyzontidae to
Carangidae. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Vol. 7. Australian Government Publishing
Service, Canberra, 665 p. (Ref. 7300)