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Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Skipjack tuna
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Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
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Katsuwonus pelamis   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Katsuwonus pelamis (Skipjack tuna)
Katsuwonus pelamis
Male picture by Freitas, R.


United States (contiguous states) country information

Common names: Aku, Aku kina'u, Arctic bonito
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: highly commercial | Ref: FAO, 1994
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Also Ref. 6885.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.nmfs.gov
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, 1983
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Nombres comunes | Sinónimos | Catalog of Fishes(Género, Especie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Scombriformes (Mackerels) > Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
Etymology:   More on author: Linnaeus.

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

marino; oceanodromo; rango de profundidad 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

Distribución Países | Áreas FAO | Ecosistemas | Ocurrencias, apariciones | Point map | Introducciones | Faunafri

Cosmopolitan in tropical and warm-temperate waters. Not found in the Black Sea. Highly migratory species,

Length at first maturity / Tamaño / Peso / Age

Maturity: Lm 41.3, range 40 - 45 cm
Max length : 110 cm FL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 89423); common length : 80.0 cm FL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 168); peso máximo publicado: 34.5 kg (Ref. 168); edad máxima reportada: 12 años (Ref. 168)

Short description Claves de identificación | Morfología | Morfometría

Espinas dorsales (total) : 14 - 16; Radios blandos dorsales (total) : 14 - 15; Espinas anales: 0; Radios blandos anales: 14 - 15; Vértebra: 41. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body fusiform, elongate and rounded; teeth small and conical, in a single series; gill rakers on first gill arch numerous, 53-63; D1 XIV-XVI, dorsal fins separated by a small interspace (not larger than eye), the second followed by 7-9 finlets; anal fin followed by 7-8 finlets; pectoral fins short, with 26-27 rays; 2 flaps (interpelvic process) between pelvic fins; body scaleless except for corselet and lateral line; a strong keel on each side of caudal-fin base between 2 smaller keels. Colour of back dark purplish blue, lower sides and belly silvery, with 4-6 very conspicuous longitudinal dark bands which in live specimens may appear as discontinuous lines of dark blotches (Ref. 9684).

Biología     Glosario (por ej. 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, 9684 ); also dried-salted and smoked (Ref. 9987).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproducción | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larva

In tropical waters, reproductively active female skipjack tuna spawn almost daily.

Main reference Upload your references | Referencias | Coordinador : Collette, Bruce B. | Colaboradores

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)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 15 January 2021

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 4690)




Human uses

Pesquerías: muy comercial; pesca deportiva: si
FAO(pesquerías: producción, species profile; publication : search) | FIRMS (Stock assessments) | FishSource | Sea Around Us

Herramientas

Special reports

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Fuentes de Internet

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 13.3 - 29, mean 26.2 (based on 8934 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 1.0000   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01072 (0.00955 - 0.01202), b=3.10 (3.07 - 3.13), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).
Nivel trófico (Ref. 69278):  4.4   ±0.5 se; based on diet studies.
Resiliencia (Ref. 120179):  Medio, población duplicada en un tiempo mínimo de 1.4-4.4 años (K=0.3-0.5; tm=2-3; tmax=12; Fec=61,516).
Prior r = 0.52, 95% CL = 0.35 - 0.79, Based on 9 full stock assessments.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Moderate vulnerability (38 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref. 125649):  Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   High.