Bony fish · Perciformes · Rachycentridae

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The cobia — also known in Spanish as esmedregal, pejepalo, bonito negro or bacalao — is a marine fish, the only species of the genus Rachycentron, which in turn is the only genus in the family Rachycentridae.

Weight

37.4 kg on average

Size

up to 2 m

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanCarnivore Solitary Fish Ocean

44countries 36parks 113dive sites

Fun facts

It looks very much like a remora, but lacks the sucking disc on the head.
It is the only living member of its family, Rachycentridae.
Its fast growth has made it one of the most widely farmed marine species in tropical aquaculture.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
Habitat & environment: Warm coastal waters of almost every ocean; it associates with reefs, buoys, wrecks and floating objects, and frequently accompanies whale sharks and large rays

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachycentron_canadum