Striped bonito is a fish in the mackerel family found near the surface in coastal waters, including parts of the eastern Pacific. The dark stripes on its upper back and sides help distinguish it from skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), which has stripes along the lower sides and belly.

Appearance

Appearance
Look for several narrow, dark, slanting stripes on the upper back and sides; the belly is silver.

Look-alikes

Skipjack tunaKatsuwonus pelamis

Striped bonito has dark stripes above the middle of the body. Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) has dark stripes along the lower sides and belly.

Why they get mixed upBoth are streamlined, striped fish found around Hawaii.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Coastal surface waters
  • Waters near islands
Range
It occurs around Hawaii and in parts of the eastern Pacific along the Pacific coast of the Americas.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
8 sources
  1. iNaturalist taxon API: Oriental Bonito
  2. 국립수산과학원 어류정보: 줄삼치
  3. FishBase: Striped bonito
  4. 黒潮生物研究所: ハガツオ
  5. 新潟市水族館: ハガツオ
  6. NOAA: Hawaiian fish list
  7. FAO identification sheet: Sarda orientalis
  8. 対馬市魚図鑑: ハガツオ
Striped bonito (Sarda orientalis) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo