Longfin yellowtail
📖 Overview
Adults are benthopelagic in outer reef slopes and offshore banks to 160 m or more. They form small groups . Young often seen around floating objects . They feed mainly on fishes, but also on invertebrates. Eggs are pelagic . Marketed fresh and salted or dried . May cause ciguatera poisoning, particularly in coral reef areas . Uncommon on East Indian reefs but occasionally found in cool upwelling areas of Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27 - 33; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 22; Vertebrae: 24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: upper jaw posterior very broad, extends to level of middle of pupil; gill rakers (excluding rudiments) decreasing slightly in number with growth, 6-9 + 18-20 = 24 -29 in 2-7 cm FL individuals, but 22-26 in fish larger than 20 cm FL; length of dorsal-fin lobe about 1.3 to 1.6 times longer than pectoral fins and 18 to 22% of fork length; caudal peduncle with dorsal and ventral grooves present; first pterygiophore of anal fin straight in specimens larger than about 10 cm fork length. Colour: dorsal brown or silvery blue-green to olivaceous, ventral paler or silvery with brassy or lavender reflections, with yellow midlateral stripe usually present, and an oblique, dark yellowish brown band from nape through eye to edge of upper lip, the nuchal bar often persistent in adults (may be absent); juveniles (2-18 cm fork length) with dark nuchal bar and 6 dark body bars, each with a light narrow irregular area through their centre vertically, that do not extend into the membranes of the second dorsal and anal fins, and a seventh bar at the end of caudal peduncle; fins dark or yellowish grey except pelvic fins, white ventrally . : short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Longfin yellowtail is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 245 m , usually 30 - 35 m . Subtropical; 43°N - 38°S, 180°W - 180°E West Pacific: Kenya south to South Africa (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
fishes, but also on invertebrates
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Longfin yellowtail is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.2 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 170 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Longfin yellowtail has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Almaco Amberjack · Almaco Jack · Amber · Amberjack · Crevalle · Deep-water Amberjack · European Amberjack · Falcate Amberjack · Greater Amberjack · Highfin Amberjack · Jack · Longfin Kingfish · Longfin yellowtail · Longfin yellowtail, Almaco Jack · Pacific amberjack · Rock Salmon · Silvercoat Jack · Yellow Kingfish · bonito |
| 🇫🇷French | Sériole Limón |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Hirenagakampachi · ヒレナガカンパチ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | barnsteenmakreel |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | írio |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Южноамериканская лакедра |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Atún Medregal · Blanquilla · Bojalá · Boquerón · Escolar · Esmedregal · Fortuna · Fortuno · Huayaipe · Huayaipe Blanco · Madregal Limón · Medregal · Medregal Atún · Medregal limón · Ojarán · Palometa · Pez Fuerte · coronado |
| 🌍TAH | paru matavai |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seriola bonariensis | Valenciennes | 1833 | Synonym |
| Seriola bovinoculata | Smith | 1959 | Synonym |
| Seriola colburni | Evermann & Clark | 1928 | Synonym |
| Seriola coronata | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
| Seriola declivis | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
| Seriola dubia | Lowe | 1839 | Synonym |
| Seriola falcata | Valenciennes | 1833 | Synonym |
| Seriola ligulata | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
| Seriola proxima | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
| Seriola ravoliana | Valenciennes | 1833 | Synonym |
| Seriola rivolacea | Valenciennes | 1833 | Synonym |
| Seriola rivoliana | Cuvier | 1833 | Synonym |
| Seriola rivolina | Valenciennes | 1833 | Synonym |
| Seriola songoro | Smith | 1959 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 78 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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