Rainbow runner – Elagatis bipinnulata

Rainbow runner, Rainbow Runner, Hawaiian Salmon, Rainbow Yellowtail, Rainbow-runner, Runner - Elagatis bipinnulata, Elagatis bipinnulata
Size: 180 cm
Depth: 0 - 150 m

Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, China, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion Island, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tristan da Cunha, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Yemen

Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Caribbean Sea, Celebes Sea, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Thailand, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Pacific Ocean, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, South China Sea, Sulu Sea, Tasman Sea, Yellow Sea

The Rainbow Runner, Hawaiian Salmon, Rainbow Yellowtail, Rainbow-runner, Runner (Elagatis bipinnulata) is a vibrant and active fish species found throughout tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Its striking coloration and swift movements have earned it several common names, all reflecting its captivating appearance and energetic nature.

Description & Characteristics

Elagatis bipinnulata boasts a streamlined, fusiform body, perfectly designed for swift swimming. This fish is characterized by its deep, compressed body with a prominent, slightly pointed snout. The most striking feature, however, is its vivid coloration. The back and upper flanks are a brilliant iridescent blue-green, transitioning to a silver-white on the belly. The fins are a deep yellow, with the dorsal fin sporting a black spot at its base. The species can reach a maximum size of 180.0 cm, although individuals typically grow to around 1 meter in length.

Habitat and Occurrence

Elagatis bipinnulata is a pelagic fish, meaning it inhabits the open ocean, often found in waters ranging from the surface to depths of 150.0 meters. This species prefers warm, tropical and subtropical waters, with a global distribution spanning the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. The Rainbow Runner is commonly found in coastal areas, particularly around reefs, wrecks, and seamounts, as well as in offshore waters. Its preference for these diverse habitats underscores its adaptability and resilience within its preferred marine zones.

Taxonomy

Elagatis bipinnulata belongs to the family Carangidae, which encompasses a diverse group of fishes commonly known as jacks or scads. The family Carangidae falls within the Order Carangiformes, a large and diverse group of fishes characterized by their streamlined bodies and swift swimming abilities. This order, in turn, belongs to the Class Teleostei, the most diverse group of bony fishes, encompassing over 20,000 species.

Feeding

The Rainbow Runner, Hawaiian Salmon, Rainbow Yellowtail, Rainbow-runner, Runner is a voracious predator, feeding primarily on a wide variety of smaller fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Its diet includes Amphipods, Clams, Copepods, Fish (little fishes), Fish eggs, Fish larvae, Frozen food (small sorts), Insects, Invertebrates, Jellyfish, Krill, Sepia, Snails, Sponges, Worms, and Zooplankton. The Rainbow Runner’s opportunistic feeding behavior allows it to exploit various prey sources, ensuring its survival in a variety of environments.

Associated Species

Image References

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