Scientific Name
Sarda australis

Common Name
Australian bonito

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 14 - 17; Vertebrae: 45 - 46. Mouth moderately large. Interpelvic process small and bifid. Swim bladder absent. Laminae of olfactory rosette 21 to 39. Spleen large and prominent in lateral view. Liver with elongate left and right lobes and a short middle lobe. Body completely covered with very small scales posterior to the corselet. Dorsal stripe closer to being horizontal than in other species of Sarda and extending up to the belly in some specimens.

Classification

Classified By

Macleay, 1881

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mackerels, tunas, bonitos (Scombridae)

Distribution

Region

Southwest Pacific

Distribution

Southwest Pacific: southeastern Australia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand.

Range

23°S - 48°S, 141°E - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.80 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

180 cm

Common Length

45.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (66 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated