A Yellowtail is a species of saltwater fish in the taxonomic genus Seriola. Researchers place this fish species in the Carangidae family alongside the jack, pompano, scad, trevally, look down, and more. When people refer to a “Yellowtail,” they most often refer to the species Seriola quinqueradiata.
Description of the Yellowtail
This fish has a typical “fish-like” body plan with an elongated torpedo shape and a tall, laterally flattened body. It has silvery scales on its underbelly and blue-green scales along its back.
Large adults can reach nearly 5 ft. and weigh up to 88 lbs. However, most fish do not get almost this size.
Interesting Facts About the Yellowtail
This fish has several attractive traits and adaptations. Learn more about what makes them unique below.
- Sushi – When you eat fish, buy this name at a sushi restaurant, you typically eat this species. However, a few other species also go by “Yellowtail,” including dumerili and S. lalandi.
- Hamachi vs. Buri – Restaurants selling this fish under “Hamachi” serve you fish grown to about 6 lbs. However, the same species increased to 11 kg. Gains the name “Buri.”
- Aquaculture – People commonly raise this species in fish farms or aquaculture. During this process, they catch the fry of wild fish and present them in sea cages. Aquaculture of this species has wild popularity because the fish is so tasty.
Habitat of the Yellowtail
You can find this fish in salty, oceanic habitats. It primarily inhabits demersal ecosystems or regions near the seafloor. Additionally, it generally lives near the coast. This species often lives in intense waters despite its proximity to the coastal areas.
Distribution of the Yellowtail
This fish lives near the coast of the Indo-Pacific region. More specifically, it lives along the coast of Japan. Its range extends along the entire Japanese coast, the coast of North and South Korea, and some surrounding areas.
Diet of the Yellowtail
These predatory fish have carnivorous feeding habits and hunt for smaller animals to eat. Some everyday food items include small fish, shrimp, squid, and smaller or younger fish that feed on smaller prey, such as plankton. In fish farms, people often provide this species with commercially produced pelleted food.
Yellowtail and Human Interaction
Despite some fishing pressure, this species is commercially viable in fish farms. Through aquaculture, the pressure on the wild populations sees a drastic reduction. For this reason, they have stable people, and the IUCN lists them as the Least Concern.
Domestication
Humans have not domesticated this fish in any way.
Does the Yellowtail Make a Good Pet
No, people generally do not keep these fish in home aquariums.
Care
Commercial aquariums sometimes keep this species to educate the public on sustainable fishing, aquaculture, or fish farms. As they live social lives in the wild, aquariums house them in schools. Many facilities also keep this fish with a variety of similar-sized species that they live near in the wild. They feed a diet of fish, squid, and crustaceans.
The behavior
These species live in groups known as schools or shoals. In their larval stage, the young fish live in the seaweed floating along the ocean’s surface. As they reach adulthood, shoals swim near the seafloor, searching for prey. They also migrate seasonally to breed and to move into warmer waters during the winter.
Reproduction
These fish breed via spawning, where the females release their eggs, and the males fertilize them outside the body. Larger females generally produce more significant numbers of eggs. After fertilization, the parents show no additional investment or care toward the eggs or larval young.
