Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus Pelamis)
Latin name: Katsuwonus pelamis
Common name: Skipjack tuna
In other languages: E: Listado, F: Bonite a ventre raya©, D: Echter Bonito
Distribution: Mediterranean, Pacific.
Habitat: It can be seen close to the surface pursuing small fish. In the Mediterranean this pelagic fish comes close to the shoreline in the summer months in the company of fellow family members.
Behaviour: Below the water one has little time to take in what is happening let alone study them. Like most of this family they are very fast swimmers and soon disappear from the visible range.
Diet: Small fish.
Size: Common: 30 - 60cm, maximum: 100cm.
Colour: Identified by the horizontal stripes below the lateral line.
Did you know: Catch and tagging of these fish can be very difficult due to the fact that on nearing the boat, coupled with the prior struggle, the fish may haemorrhage and on release would no doubt die.