Skipjack Tuna

The skipjack tuna is among the most abundantly caught fish species in the world.

If you’ve ever eaten canned tuna, then there’s a good chance it’s skipjack. Because of its prolific breeding and short lifespan, skipjack stocks are replenished quickly every year, despite the sheer numbers caught. But stocks must be carefully monitored to prevent depletion.

3 Incredible Skipjack Tuna Facts!

• The skipjack tuna fish spends most of the night near the surface of the water and then dives deep underwater during the day.
• This species migrates around the oceans in large schools with yellowfin tuna, bigeye, and other types of fish. The migration appears to have a north to south seasonal pattern, but it isn’t known whether this is purposeful or accidental.
• The skipjack tuna fish appears to use floating objects or even large animals as meeting places to merge together and form large schools.

Skipjack Tuna Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name of the skipjack is Katsuwonus pelamis. Pelamis appears to be an Ancient Greek word for a young tuna.

Skipjack Tuna Appearance

The skipjack has dark gray, blue, or purple metallic coloration around the back, fading to silver around the stomach, with four to six dark stripes extending from the tail. Measuring no more than 3 feet long, this is among the smallest of the tuna species. The world record skipjack weighed about 45 pounds.

Skipjack Tuna Distribution, Population, and Habitat

The skipjack can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, especially near the equator, at a depth of no more than 850 feet. It seems to prefer areas where warm water mixes with cold, nutrient-rich water.

There are about five major stocks of commercial skipjack populations teeming with millions of fish. It is considered to be a species of least concern.

Skipjack Tuna Predators and Prey

Due to its abundance, the skipjack is an important part of the marine food chain.

What does the skipjack Tuna eat?

The skipjack consumes squid, crustaceans, and some mackerel or perciform fish. As an opportunistic feeder, its diet varies by region.

What eats the skipjack Tuna?

The skipjack appears to be important prey for certain species of sharks, whales, marlins, and other large fish.

Skipjack Tuna Reproduction and Lifespan

Skipjack can spawn at any time during the year, so it varies by region. Egg production is related to body weight. A particularly large female can produce millions of eggs at a time, releasing them right into the water column. Skipjack can live as long as eight to 12 years in the wild.

Skipjack Tuna in Fishing and Cooking

The skipjack is an important part of the commercial fishing industry. Despite being the smallest of the tuna species, it makes up more than half of the tuna catch. Most are caught near the surface with purse seines or pole-and-line gear. Skipjack makes up about 70% of all canned or pouched tuna. Its light meat is used in all sorts of recipes, including sandwiches, wraps, and even sushi.

View all 84 animals that start with S