Auxis

Spurious Bonito ( Auxis thazard )

Auxis is a species-poor, with the tunas ( Thunnus) closely related species of marine fish that is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Features

Auxis species are 50 to 65 cm long and have a strong, spindle-shaped body with tapered at the head and foot terminated. The teeth are small, conical and are available in each jaw in a row. Except for a scaly corset on the front body, the fish are unbeschuppt. The two dorsal fins are separated by a wide gap that is as long as the base of the first dorsal fin. This is supported 10-12 spines. Between the second dorsal fin and the tail fin are 8 Flössel, between anal fin and caudal fin 7 Flössel. The pectoral fins are short. On each side of the caudal peduncle there is a strong, bony side keel, followed by two smaller keels. A swim bladder is absent. The number of vertebrae is 39

Auxis species have a dark, blue-black back, the top of the head is deep purple or almost black. The belly is whitish and without streaks or spots. Breast and pelvic fins are purple outside, black inside.

Way of life

Auxis are real genuine schooling fish and live in the epipelagic open ocean. Their food is largely determined by the size of their gill rakers and consists of small fish, squid and pelagic crustaceans. Auxis species themselves are hunted by large tuna, swordfish -like, barracuda and sharks. They proliferate in many parts of its range probably throughout the year, in others only in certain seasons. A female can give in a Laichakt up to one million eggs.

Species

There are two types:

• Auxis rochei ( Rafinesque, 1810)
• Spurious Bonito ( Auxis thazard ) Lacepede, 1800

Fishing

Like all tuna are fished commercially relatives Auxis species.