Pacific bonito

fish subspecies

Also known as: Sarda chilensis lineolata

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Last updated

July 21, 2026

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The Pacific bonito (Sarda lineolata) is a subspecies of bonito, a tunalike schooling fish found worldwide in the Scombridae family. These fish are known for being swift and predacious, with striped backs and silvery bellies, typically reaching about 75 cm (30 inches) in length.12

Bonitos share characteristics with tunas, including a streamlined body, a forked tail, and small finlets behind their dorsal and anal fins. The Pacific bonito is a distinct population of S. chilensis, which is found in the eastern Pacific. Bonitos are valued for both commercial fishing and sport.2

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bonito
…two distinct geographic populations: the Pacific bonito (S. chilensis lineolata) and the Eastern Pacific bonito (S. chilensis chiliensis). The leaping bonito (Cybiosarda elegans) is a related Indo-Pacific food and sport fish. The oceanic bonito is the skipjack tuna (see tuna).
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…two distinct geographic populations: the Pacific bonito (S. chilensis lineolata) and the Eastern Pacific bonito (S. chilensis chiliensis). The leaping bonito (Cybiosarda elegans) is a related Indo-Pacific food and sport fish. The oceanic bonito is the skipjack tuna (see tuna).
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