Atlantic bonito

Atlantic bonito
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scombridae
Tribe: Sardini
Genus: Sarda
Species: S. sarda
Binomial name
Sarda sarda
(Bloch, 1793)[2]
Atlantic bonito, Sarda sarda

The Atlantic bonito, Sarda sarda, is a large mackerel-like fish of the family Scombridae. It is common in shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea, where it is an important commercial and game fish.

Description

Atlantic bonito belong to a group which have the dorsal fins very near, or separated by a narrow interspace. Its body is completely scaled, with those scales in the pectoral fin area and the lateral line usually larger in size. Bonitos (fishes in the genus Sarda) differ from tuna by their compressed bodies, their lack of teeth on the roof of the mouth, and certain differences in colouration.

Atlantic bonito share Atlantic waters with the striped bonito, Sarda orientalis (the Atlantic population of which is sometimes considered a separate species, Sarda velox). The striped bonito has been taken on the Atlantic coast as far north as Cape Cod. It is similar in its habits, but somewhat smaller than the more common Atlantic bonito. The Atlantic bonito can be distinguished from its relative by its dark oblique stripes on the back and with a maxillary only about half as long as the head, whereas the striped bonito has striping on its topside nearly horizontal and a maxillary more than half the length of the head.

Atlantic bonito grow up to 75 centimetres (30 in) and weigh 5–6 kilograms (11–13 lb) at this size. The world record, 18 pounds 4 ounces (8.3 kg), was caught in the Azores.[3]

Habits

It is a strong swimmer. Normally, it travels in fairly large schools and is common offshore in the vicinity of New York City, where it is known as "skipjack" because of its habit of jumping from the water. (However, the name "skipjack" more commonly refers to the skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis.) The spawning season is June, and specimens 12–15 centimetres (4.7–5.9 in) long are taken in September off Long Island.

Food

Atlantic bonito eat mackerel, menhaden, alewives, silversides, sand lances, and other fishes, as well as squid.

Fishing technique

Bonito are often captured by tuna fishermen when trolling for bigger game. Also it is taken in larger numbers in pound nets. Thought by most fishermen to be inferior to tuna as a food fish, possibly because of the greater oiliness, it is sometimes used as bait.

As food

Bonito is a popular food fish in the Mediterranean; its flesh is similar to tuna and mackerel, and its size is intermediate between the two.[4]

Bonito under 1 kg (2.2 lb) or so (called palamut in Turkish) are often grilled as steaks. Larger bonito (torik in Turkish) are cut into steaks and preserved as lakerda.[4] Bonito is also canned, but canned bonito del norte (Spanish) is not bonito, but albacore tuna.

In Algeria and Spain, it is often prepared as escabeche, which preserves it for about a week.[4] Bonito may also be baked and served cold.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Collette B; et al. (2011). "Sarda sarda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sarda sarda". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  3. ↑ Brant, Ken (2005-05-02). "Atlantic Bonito". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  4. 1 2 3 Alan Davidson, Mediterranean Seafood, Penguin, 1972. ISBN 0-14-046174-4, p. 123
  5. ↑ "Palamut papaz yahnisi", Davidson, p. 359
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