Yellowtail amberjack
📖 Overview
Adults are benthopelagic in coastal and oceanic waters, off kelp beds and rocky areas , sometimes entering estuaries . They are solitary or in small groups and can be found near rocky shores, reefs and islands . Schools of juveniles are generally found in offshore waters, often near or beyond the continental shelf . They prefer warmer water (18-24°C) although they are occasionally found in cooler water . Adults feed on small fish, squid and crustaceans . Marketed fresh and salted or dried .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 33 - 35; Anal spines: 2 - 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 21. The only jack without scutella on the caudal peduncle. Dark blue dorsally and almost white ventrally; with a well defined line of demarcation between the two colors.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Yellowtail amberjacks are known for their curiosity around human vessels. The fish often accompany stingrays in harbours and estuaries, making use of the stingrays ability to sense fish through electroreception.
🦐 Diet
Being a pelagic fish, yellowtail amberjack are highly active predators, usually in schools or in pairs. Their main diet consists of baitfish including yellowtail mackerel, squid, prawns, garfish, pilchards and kahawai. Yellowtail amberjacks are one of the major predator species in New Zealand waters, and have been recorded eating seabirds.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for Yellowtail amberjack is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 3 - 825 m . Subtropical; 18°C - 24°C ; 55°N - 57°S, 180°W - 180°E South Africa, Walter Shoals, Amsterdam Island, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Hawaii, Rapa, Pitcairn Island, and Easter Island.
🌿 Ecology
small fish, squid and crustaceans (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halatractus dorsalis | Gill | 1863 | Synonym |
| Lichia pappei | Bleeker | 1859 | Synonym |
| Seriola aureovittata | Temminck & Schlegel | 1845 | Synonym |
| Seriola banisteri | Smith | 1959 | Synonym |
| Seriola dorsalis | Gill | 1863 | Synonym |
| Seriola foncki | Delfin | 1903 | Synonym |
| Seriola fonki | Delfin | 1903 | Synonym |
| Seriola grandis | Castelnau | 1872 | Synonym |
| Seriola ialandi | Valenciennes | 1833 | Synonym |
| Seriola lalandei dorsalis | Gill | 1863 | Synonym |
| Seriola mazatlana | Steindachner | 1876 | Synonym |
| Seriola pappei | Bleeker | 1859 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 706 records indexed .
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