How to Identify Striped Bonito

To identify Striped Bonito (Sarda orientalis), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

torpedo

Coloration

Dorsal side is dark metallic blue to blue-green, fading to silvery white on the flanks and belly. The most distinctive feature is the presence of 5-11 narrow, dark, oblique stripes on the back, running upwards and backwards from the lateral line. These stripes are typically more prominent above the lateral line.

Scale type

none

Mouth position

terminal

Distinctive features

5-11 narrow, dark, oblique stripes on the back, running upwards and backwards., Two dorsal fins, widely separated., A series of 7-9 finlets behind the second dorsal fin and 6-8 finlets behind the anal fin., Small, conical teeth in a single row in both jaws., Absence of scales on the body except for the corselet and lateral line.

Dorsal fin

Two dorsal fins; the first is long with 17-19 spines, the second is much shorter with 13-15 soft rays, followed by 7-9 finlets. The two dorsal fins are widely separated.

Tail fin

Deeply forked caudal fin, characteristic of fast-swimming pelagic fish.

Pectoral fin

Short, with 23-26 rays, located relatively low on the body.

Distinctive fins

Anal fin with 12-14 soft rays, followed by 6-8 finlets. Pelvic fins are small and located beneath the pectoral fins.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Body Stripes

   Look for the characteristic 5-11 narrow, dark, oblique stripes on the back, which angle upwards and backwards. This is the most reliable distinguishing feature.

2. 2

   Dorsal Fins

   Note the two distinctly separated dorsal fins, a key characteristic of Sarda species.

3. 3

   Finlets

   Count the finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins (7-9 dorsal, 6-8 anal) to confirm identification within the Scombridae family.

4. 4

   Absence of Scales

   Observe the smooth body, largely devoid of scales except for the corselet (a patch of scales around the pectoral fin and lateral line).

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