Scientific Name
Orcynopsis unicolor

Common Name
Plain bonito

Biology
Adults are neritic, confined primarily to temperate waters, but juveniles may be encountered in waters of up to 30?C. Form small schools at the surface so that the first dorsal fin stands out of the water like that of sharks, also frequently associated with birds. Feed on small fishes, especially sardines, anchovies, jacks, mackerel, bogue and others. Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). Marketed canned or frozen.

Classification

Classified By

Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mackerels, tunas, bonitos (Scombridae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Oslo, Norway south to Dakar, Senegal but the range is centered in the southern Mediterranean Sea. Not known from Madeira, the Canary Islands or Cape Verde.

Range

60°N - 13°S, 18°W - 36°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; brackish; 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

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

130 cm

Common Length

90.0 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

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (60 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated