Scientific Name
Cybiosarda elegans

Common Name
Leaping bonito

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-19; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17; Vertebrae: 45 - 50. Mouth rather large, upper jaw reaching to hind margin of eye. Laminae of olfactory rosette 28 to 33. Interpelvic process small and bifid. Body mostly naked behind the well developed corselet except for a band of scales along the bases of dorsal and anal fins and patches around the bases of the pectoral and pelvic fins. Swim bladder absent. The back is deep blue, covered with elongate black spots; the belly is light with several stripes like those of the skipjack tuna.

Classification

Classified By

Whitley, 1935

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mackerels, tunas, bonitos (Scombridae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: restricted to the northern three quarters of Australia (absent from the south coast) and the southern coast of Papua New Guinea.

Range

6°S - 41°S, 108°E - 158°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

50 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 50 - ? m

Trophic Level

4 s.e. 0.70 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

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

45.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 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

Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated