Orcynopsis unicolor (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1817)

Mouth rather large, upper jaw reaching to hind margin of eye. Laminae of olfactory rosette 25 to 28. Interpelvic process small and bifid. Body naked behind the well developed corselet. Swim bladder absent. Vertebrae 17 or 18 precaudal plus 19 to 21 caudal, total 37 to 39. Anterior three quarters of first dorsal fin black.

A female weighing 5 or 6 kg may carry some 500 to 600,000 eggs which are spawned in portions.

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 15; Analsoft rays: 14 - 16

Its food spectrum is more restricted than that of Euthynnus alletteratus and Sarda sarda.

Adults are neritic, confined primarily to temperate waters, but juveniles may be encountered in waters of up to 30°C. Form small schools at the surface so that the first dorsal fin stands out of the water like that of sharks, also frequently associated with birds. Feed on small fishes, especially sardines, anchovies, jacks, mackerel, bogue and others. Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). Marketed canned or frozen.

fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; price category: medium; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species