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Info > Little Tunny
| |
| Scientific
Name: |
Euthynnus
alletteratus |
| Common
Names: |
Bonito,
Little Tuna, False Albacore, Spotted Bonito, Blue Abacore |
| Range
& Habitat: |
This
fish is distributed Gulfwide in blue and green water at all
depths. It comes closer to shore than any other tuna species.
|
| Identification
& Biology: |
This fish has a "tuna-shaped", but streamlined body.
The back is steel blue to dark blue in color and has a patch
of wavy lines on the rear part of the back. The belly is very
white and has several dark spots on each side between the
pectoral and pelvic fins. No other species with a back-patch
of wavy or mottled lines has these spots, although the spots
may be hard to see on some fish. The closest look-alike to
the little tunny is the less common Atlantic bonito. Besides
lacking the belly spots, the patch of wavy lines on the back
of the Atlantic bonito extends further forward, to a point
equal to the front of the dorsal fin. In the little tunny,
the patch of lines begins at a point about halfway back from
the beginning of the fin.
Little tunny are a strongly schooling species that can form
schools nearly a mile long. When a large school is actively
feeding, they are very noisy, keeping the water splashing
and foaming. They feed most heavily on fishes such as herrings,
sardines and scads, but they will also readily take squid
and crustaceans. They are fast-growing, but short-lived fish.
At one year of age and 14 inches, they are mature enough to
spawn, which takes place offshore in waters over 100 feet
deep. Little tunny seldom live over 5 years. |
| Size: |
Little
tunny average 10-12 pounds, but are not rare over
20 pounds. |
| Food
Value: |
Good;
better than its reputation, but because of the very red flesh,
they are seldom eaten. |
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