No photo available
Kawakawa (mackerel tuna)
Euthynnus affinis
Valid name.
- English
- Kawakawa (mackerel tuna)
- Scientific
- Euthynnus affinis
- Dhivehi
- ލައްޓިLatti
- Maximum size
- Commonly to 55 cm; maximum about 1 m and 14 kg
- Depth and habitat
- Coastal and near-atoll surface waters, 0 to about 200 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2022
Description
A small tuna with wavy dark stripes on the back above the lateral line and a few dark spots below the pectoral fin. It forms fast-moving schools in coastal and near-reef waters, feeding on small fish, squid and crustaceans. It is often confused with frigate tunas, which have a different stripe pattern. Its dark flesh is used fresh and in processed fish products.
In the Maldives
Caught in Maldivian pole-and-line and troll fisheries, typically nearer the atolls than skipjack. The featured photo was taken in Baa Atoll.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Euthynnus-affinis.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ލައްޓި
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Euthynnus_affinis_Maldives.JPG
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives, Marine Research Section, Malé (FAO/BOBP MAG/21); Thaana from Dhivehi Wikipedia (fish articles derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition).