Cobia

Cobia ( Rachycentron canadum )

The Cobia ( Rachycentron canadum ), Kobia, kingfish or officer perch is a Meeresfischart from the group of horse mackerel relatives ( Carangiformes ). He lives in pelagic open water in tropical and subtropical areas of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, is up to two meters in length and 70 kg in weight.

Features

Cobias have an elongated body and a broad, flattened head. The back is brown. The body sides are three dark brown longitudinal stripes, which are separated by narrow silvery bands, patterned. Before long dorsal fin are six to nine short, detached fin rays. The dorsal fin is supported by one to three hard jets and 26 to 33 soft rays. The anal fin is slightly shorter, begins a little after the dorsal fin and has two to three hard - and 22 to 28 soft rays. The caudal fin of adult specimens is crescent-shaped, with a slightly longer upper lobe.

Way of life

The Cobia lives in small groups in a variety of habitats, over muddy, sandy, rocky and rubble bottoms to rocky shores, coral reefs in, in mangroves and occasionally in estuaries. He ernähert on smaller fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. The population in the western Atlantic spawning in the warmer months. Eggs and larvae are pelagic.

System

He is the only species of its genus, which stands alone in the family Rachycentridae. Within the Trevally family he is most closely related to the ship owners ( Echeneidae ) and dolphinfish ( Coryphaenidae ).

Fishing

The Cobia is considered an excellent food fish and is also a popular angling fish. Due to its large distribution area of the Cobia is known by a variety of national and regional designations. In international trade, it is offered under the following names: Officer Perch, Ling, Cubby Yew, Black Salmon, Runner, Lemon Fish, Black Kingfish, Kingfish, Prodigal Son, Crabeater, Sergeant Fish.