Acanthocybium solandri

Wahoo - Acanthocybium solandri



Habitat This fish is found far from shore, in tropical and subtropical waters. They move with season changes, and travel into cooler waters during warm summer months.

Range

The Wahoo is often found in the western Atlantic from New Jersey through the Caribbean to Colombia. In warmer summer months, the Wahoo population is greater in the Carolinas. It is also located in the Gulf of Mexico and off the west coast of Central America, along with the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, from the east coast of Africa to the waters off Sri Lanka.

Description

These animals have scales that cover its back that are blue or green with 24 to 30 vertical black bars on the sides. Between these bars there is a silvery blue color, and contain silvery white bellies. These colors fade with the death of a fish. The first and second dorsal fins are continuous. Wahoos can reach a maximum length of 250 cm, but are most commonly found around 170 cm. These fish can also reach weights between 45 and 83 kg. The mouth of the fish is large with strong, serrate teeth. Wahoos can swim up to 80 km/h (50 mph), being one of the fastest fish in the world. The Wahoo is distinguishable from the King Mackerel by a fold of skin over the mandible when the mouth is closed, as opposed to the always visible mandible of the Mackerel.



Ecological Notes

This fish is a popular game-fish. They are also popular in commercial fisheries and are used for food. Wahoos tend to be found alone or in groups of two or three other fish, however if the conditions are right, schools may form of up to 100 or more fish. These fish sometimes have Hirudinella ventricosa (trematode parasite) living in their stomachs, which has not resulted negatively for the fish. Peak reproduction occurs during June and July.

Personal Information While in North Carolina, I ordered a dish that contained Wahoo. It was very flavorful, and did not have that "fishy" taste. The fish tasted similar to Mahi-Mahi.

Journal Articles

For more information on the Wahoo: 1. Adams, D. H. (2010). Mercury in wahoo, acanthocybium solandri, from offshore waters of the southeastern united states and the bahamas. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60(1), 148-151. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.09.031

2. Sepulveda, C., Aalbers, SA, Ortega-Garcia, S, Wegner, NC, & Bernal, D. (2011). Depth distribution and temperature preferences of wahoo (acanthocybium solandri) off baja california sur, mexico. Marine Biology, 158(4), 917-926. doi: 10.1007/s00227-010-1618-y

References

1. Gardieff, S. (2012, April 25). Flmnh ichthyology deperatment: Wahoo. Retrieved from http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/wahoo/wahoo.html

2. Militante, C. (2011, Nov 15). Acanthocybium solandri, wahoo: fisheries, gamefish. Retrieved from http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Acanthocybium-solandri.html