Cobia

{{Short description|Species of ray-finned fish}} {{Other uses}} {{Redirect|Lemonfish|the New Zealand fish|Spotted estuary smooth-hound}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Speciesbox | image = Rachycentron canadum Robertson.jpg | image_caption = juvenile | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Collette, B.B. |author2=Curtis, M. |author3=Williams, J.T. |author4=Smith-Vaniz, W.F. |author5=Pina Amargos, F. |date=2015 |title=''Rachycentron canadum'' |volume=2015 |article-number=e.T190190A70036823 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T190190A70036823.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Rachycentron | species = canadum | authority = (Linnaeus, 1766) | synonyms = {{Collapsible list| *''Gasterosteus canadus'' (Linnaeus, 1766) *''Elacate canada'' (Linnaeus, 1766) *''Scomber niger'' (Bloch, 1793) *''Apolectus niger'' (Bloch, 1793) *''Elacate nigra'' (Bloch, 1793) *''Naucrates niger'' (Bloch, 1793) *''Centronotus gardenii'' (Lacepède, 1801) *''Centronotus spinosus'' (Mitchill, 1815) *''Rachycentron typus'' (Kaup, 1826) *''Elacate motta'' (Cuvier, 1829) *''Elacate bivittata'' (Cuvier, 1832) *''Elacate atlantica'' (Cuvier, 1832) *''Elacate malabarica'' (Cuvier, 1832) *''Elacate pondiceriana'' (Cuvier, 1832) *''Elacate nigerrima'' (Swainson, 1839) *''Meladerma nigerrima'' (Swainson, 1839) *''Elacate falcipinnis'' (Gosse, 1851) *''Thynnus canadensis'' (Gronow, 1854) }} | synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Rachycentron|canadum|month=August|year=2019}}</ref> }}

The '''cobia''' ('''''Rachycentron canadum''''') ({{IPAc-en|'|k|oʊ|b|i|ə}}, {{Respell|KOH|bee|ə}}) is a species of marine carangiform ray-finned fish, the only extant representative of the genus ''Rachycentron'' and the family Rachycentridae. Its other common names include '''black kingfish''', '''black salmon''', '''ling''', '''lemonfish''', '''crabeater''', '''prodigal son''', '''codfish''', and '''black bonito'''.

==Distribution== It is found in warm-temperate to tropical waters of the West and East Atlantic Ocean, throughout the Caribbean, and in the Indian Ocean off the coast of India, Australia, and the Pacific coast of Japan.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Ditty, J. G. |author2=Shaw, R. F. |year=1992|title= Larval development, distribution, and ecology of cobia ''Rachycentron canadum'' (Family: Rachycentridae) in the northern Gulf of Mexico|journal=Fishery Bulletin|volume=90|pages=668–677|url=http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-content/1992/904/ditty.pdf}}</ref>

=== Introduced species === The cobia has been reported in various locations<ref name="Nour2021">{{cite journal | author1 = Ola Mohamed Nour | author2 = Sara A.A. Al Mabruk | author3 = Bruno Zava | author4 = Alan Deidun6 | author5 = Maria Corsini-Foka | name-list-style = and | year = 2021 | title = Records of new and rare alien fish in North African waters: the burrowing goby ''Trypauchen vagina'' (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) and the bartail flathead ''Platycephalus indicus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) in Egypt and the cobia ''Rachycentron canadum'' (Linnaeus, 1766) in Libya | journal = BioInvasions Records | volume = 10 | issue = 4 | pages = 914–923 | doi = 10.3391/bir.2021.10.4.16| s2cid = 244109264 | doi-access = free }}</ref> of the eastern Mediterranean Sea since 1978, following either entry via the Suez Canal or escape from mariculture.<ref>Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (''Rachycentron canadum''). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Rachycentron_canadum.pdf</ref> Juvenile individuals that escaped from offshore aquaculture in Ecuador in August 2015 have established cobia as an introduced species in the eastern Pacific, with subsequent spread north to the Pacific coast of Colombia and Panama.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/scientists-panama-call-alert-cobia-potentially-invasive-fish-spreads-eastern-pacific|title=Scientists in Panama Call for Alert as Cobia, a Potentially Invasive Fish, Spreads in Eastern Pacific|website=Smithsonian|date=11 February 2016|access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Mariculture-induced introduction of cobia ''Rachycentron canadum'' (Linnaeus, 1766), a large predatory fish, in the Tropical Eastern Pacific|last1=Castellanos-Galindo|first1=Gustavo A.|last2=Baos|first2=Rodrigo|last3=Zapata|first3=Luis Alonso|journal=BioInvasions Records|volume=5|issue=1|pages=55–58|doi=10.3391/bir.2016.5.1.10|year=2016|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Migratory habits === The cobia makes seasonal migrations. It winters in the Gulf of Mexico, then moves north as far as Massachusetts for the summer, passing Florida around March.<ref>[http://www.onthewater.com/reader-report-cape-cod-cobia/ Reader Report: Cape Cod Cobia]. onthewater.com (20 July 2015)</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=March 2026}} ==Description== Attaining a maximum length of 2 m (78 in) and maximum weight of {{Convert|79|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, the cobia has an elongated, fusiform (spindle-shaped) body and a broad, flattened head. The eyes are small and the lower jaw projects slightly past the upper. Fibrous, villiform teeth line the jaws, the tongue, and the roof of the mouth. The body of the fish is smooth with small scales. It is dark brown in color, grading to white on the belly, with two darker brown horizontal bands on the flanks. The stripes are more prominent during spawning, when they darken and the background color flashes.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

The large pectoral fins are normally carried horizontally, perhaps helping the fish attain the profile of a shark. The first dorsal fin has six to nine independent, short, stout, sharp spines. The family name Rachycentridae, from the Greek words ''rhachis'' ("spine") and ''kentron'' ("sting"), was inspired by these dorsal spines. The mature cobia has a forked, slightly lunated tail, which is usually dark brown. The fish lacks a swim bladder. The juvenile cobia is patterned with conspicuous bands of black and white and has a rounded tail.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

The previous largest cobia taken on rod and reel came from Shark Bay, Australia, and weighed 60 kg (135 lb).{{Verify source|date=March 2026}} The new record for cobia certified by the IGFA weighed {{Convert|79.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and was caught near Rottnest Island, Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=New World Record Cobia Caught {{!}} Sport Fishing Mag |url=https://www.sportfishingmag.com/news/world-record-cobia/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The cobia resembles its close relatives,<ref>{{cite journal|last=O'Toole|first=Bruce|title=Phylogeny of the species of the superfamily Echeneoidea (Perciformes: Carangoidei: Echeneidae, Rachycentridae, and Coryphaenidae), with an interpretation of echeneid hitchhiking behaviour|journal=Canadian Journal of Zoology|year=2002|volume=80|issue=4|pages=596–623|doi=10.1139/z02-031 |bibcode=2002CaJZ...80..596O }}</ref> the remoras of the family Echeneidae. It lacks the remora's dorsal sucker and has a stouter body.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/fish-facts.aspx?fishname=Cobia|title=Maryland Fish Facts: Cobia|access-date=15 November 2025|publisher=Maryland Department of Natural Resources}}</ref><gallery mode="packed" heights="140"> File:Rachycentron canadum 418881510.jpg|Young juvenile File:Cobia, Kwale County, Kenia imported from iNaturalist photo 19249056.jpg|In Kenya File:Rachycentron canadum Kaikyokan.jpg|In an aquarium </gallery>

==Habitat== It is eurythermal, tolerating a wide range of temperatures, from 1.6 to 32.2 °C. It is also euryhaline, living at salinities of 5.0 to 44.5 ppt.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Resley|first1=M.J.|last2=Webb|first2=K.A.|last3=Holt|first3=G.J.|year= 2006|title= Growth and survival of juvenile cobia ''Rachycentron canadum'' cultured at different salinities in recirculating aquaculture systems|journal= Aquaculture|volume=253|pages=398–407|doi=10.1016/j.aquaculture.2006.12.029|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223180380}}</ref>

The cobia is normally solitary except for annual spawning aggregations, and it sometimes congregates at reefs, wrecks, harbours, buoys, and other structural oases. It is pelagic, but it may enter estuaries and mangroves in search of prey.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

==Ecology== The cobia feeds primarily on crabs, squid, and fish. Like its relatives the remoras, it follows larger animals such as sharks, turtles, and manta rays to scavenge. It is a very curious fish, showing little fear of boats.

The predators of the cobia are not well documented, but the mahi-mahi (''Coryphaena hippurus'') is known to feed on juveniles and the shortfin mako shark (''Isurus oxyrinchus'') eats the adults.

The cobia is frequently parasitized by nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, copepods, and acanthocephalans.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Margaret M. Smith|author2=Phillip C. Heemstra|title=Smiths' Sea Fishes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnTpCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA662|year=2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-3-642-82858-4}}</ref> Cobia are susceptible to multiple parasitic and bacterial infections such as ''Amyloodinium'' species, ''Photobacterium damselae'' subsp.'' piscicida'' and ''Lactococcus garvieae''.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1111/tbed.14083|title = First report on genetic characterization, cell-surface properties and pathogenicity of Lactococcus garvieae, emerging pathogen isolated from cage-cultured cobia ( Rachycentron canadum )|year = 2021|last1 = Rao|first1 = Shreesha|last2 = Pham|first2 = Trung Hieu|last3 = Poudyal|first3 = Sayuj|last4 = Cheng|first4 = Li-Wu|last5 = Nazareth|first5 = Sandra Celenia|last6 = Wang|first6 = Pei-Chi|last7 = Chen|first7 = Shih-Chu|journal = Transboundary and Emerging Diseases| volume=69 | issue=3 | pages=1197–1211 |pmid = 33759359|s2cid = 232338928|doi-access = free}}</ref>

==Life history and reproduction== The cobia is a pelagic spawner, releasing many tiny (1.2 mm), buoyant eggs into the water, where they become part of the plankton. The eggs float freely with the currents until hatching. The larvae are also planktonic, being more or less helpless during their first week until the eyes and mouths develop. The male matures at two years and the female at three years. Both sexes lead moderately long lives of 15 years or more. Breeding activity takes place diurnally from April to September in large, offshore congregations, where the female is capable of spawning up to 30 times during the season.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brown-Peterson|first1=N.J.|last2=Overstreet|first2=R.M.|last3=Lotz|first3=J.M.|year=2001|title= Reproductive biology of cobia, ''Rachycentron canadum'', from coastal waters of the southern United States|journal=Fish. Bull.|volume= 99|pages=15–28|url=http://fishbull.noaa.gov/991/2.pdf}}</ref>

While there are rare occurrences of intersex individuals (most likely due to endocrine-disrupting compounds in the water) they mostly have a fixed sex with a putative XX/XY mode of sex determination responsible for this.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Shen |first1=Xueyan |last2=Hu |first2=Jie |last3=Yáñez |first3=José M |last4=Bastos Gomes |first4=Giana |last5=Poon |first5=Zhi Weng Josiah |last6=Foster |first6=Derick |last7=Alarcon |first7=Jorge F |last8=Shao |first8=Libin |last9=Guo |first9=Xinyu |last10=Shao |first10=Yunchang |last11=Huerlimann |first11=Roger |last12=Li |first12=Chengze |last13=Goulden |first13=Evan |last14=Anderson |first14=Kelli |last15=Fan |first15=Guangyi |date=2024-01-01 |title=Exploring the cobia (Rachycentron canadum) genome: unveiling putative male heterogametic regions and identification of sex-specific markers |journal=GigaScience |volume=13 |article-number=giae034 |doi=10.1093/gigascience/giae034 |issn=2047-217X |pmc=11240236 |pmid=38995143}}</ref>

==Culinary use== {{Cleanup section|reason=Lacks citations|date=March 2026}} The cobia is sold commercially and commands a relatively high price for its firm texture and excellent flavor, but no designated wild fishery exists because it is a solitary species. It has been farmed in aquaculture. The flesh is usually sold fresh. It is typically served in the form of grilled or poached fillets. Chefs Jamie Oliver and Mario Batali each cooked several dishes made with cobia in the "Battle Cobia" episode of the Food Network program ''Iron Chef America'', which first aired in January, 2008.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} Thomas Keller's restaurant, The French Laundry, has offered cobia on its tasting menu.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

==Aquaculture== {{Main|Aquaculture of cobia}}

This fish is considered to be one of the most suitable candidates for warm, open-water marine fish aquaculture in the world.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Kaiser, J.B. |author2=Holt, G.J.|year= 2004|title=Cobia: a new species for aquaculture in the US|journal=World Aquaculture|volume= 35|pages=12–14}}</ref><ref name="Liao" /> Its rapid growth rate and the high quality of the flesh could make it one of the most important marine fish for future aquaculture production.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nhfirst=V.C.|last2=Nguyen|first2=H.Q.|last3=Le|first3=T.L.|last4=Tran|first4=M.T.|last5=Sorgeloos|first5=P.|last6=Dierckens|first6=K.|last7=Reinertsen|first7=H.|last8=Kjorsvik|first8=E.|last9=Svennevig|first9=N.|year=2011|title= Cobia ''Rachycentron canadum'' aquaculture in Vietnam: recent developments and prospects|journal=Aquaculture|volume= 315|issue=1–2|pages=20–25|doi=10.1016/j.aquaculture.2010.07.024|bibcode=2011Aquac.315...20N }}</ref>

{{multiple image | align = center | direction = horizontal | width = | image1 = cobia fingerlings.jpg | alt1 = | caption1 = Cobia fingerlings at the University of Miami | image2 = Rachycentron canadum.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 = Female broodstock, about 8 kg, prior to transport to broodstock holding tanks at the University of Miami | image3 = Cobia on ice.jpg | alt3 = | caption3 = Cobia on ice at Open Blue Sea Farms | image4 = | alt4 = | caption4 = Snack time | total_width = 750 }}

Currently, the cobia is being cultured in nurseries and offshore grow-out cages in parts of Asia, the United States, Mexico, and Panama. In Taiwan, cobia of 100 to 600 g are cultured for 1.0 to 1.5 years until they reach 6 to 8 kg. They are then exported to Japan, China, North America, and Europe. Around 80% of marine cages in Taiwan are devoted to cobia culture.<ref name="Liao">{{cite journal|last1=Liao|first1=I.C.|last2=Huang|first2=T.S.|last3=Tsai|first3=W.S.|last4=Hsueh|first4=C.M.|last5=Chang|first5=S.L.|last6=Leano|first6=E.M.|year=2004|title=Cobia culture in Taiwan: current status and problems|doi=10.1016/j.aquaculture.2004.03.007|journal=Aquaculture|volume= 237|issue=1–4|pages=155–165|bibcode=2004Aquac.237..155L }}</ref> In 2004, the FAO reported that 80.6% of the world's cobia production was in China and Taiwan.<ref name=fao>[http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Rachycentron_canadum/en ''Rachycentron canadum'']. FAO.org</ref> Vietnam is the third-largest producer, yielding 1,500 tonnes in 2008.<ref name="Liao" /> Following the success of cobia aquaculture in Taiwan, emerging technology is being used to demonstrate the viability of hatchery-reared cobia in collaboration with the private sector at exposed offshore sites in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, and the largest open-ocean farm in the world is run by a company called Open Blue off the coast of Panama.<ref name="Benetti2007">{{cite book|author=Benetti, D. D.|year=2007|title=Aquaculture of cobia (''Rachycentron canadum'') in the Americas and the Caribbean|url=http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/assets/pdfs/aquaculture/Aquaculture-in-the-Americas-Benetti-etalCobia2007.pdf|publisher=Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science of the University of Miami|access-date=7 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111121725/http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/assets/pdfs/aquaculture/Aquaculture-in-the-Americas-Benetti-etalCobia2007.pdf|archive-date=11 January 2017}}</ref>

Greater depths, stronger currents, and distance from shore all act to reduce environmental impacts often associated with finfish aquaculture. Offshore cage systems could become a more environmentally sustainable method for commercial marine fish aquaculture.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Benetti, D.D.|year= 2003|title= Advances in hatchery and growout technology of marine finfish candidate species for offshore aquaculture in the Caribbean|url=http://aquaticcommons.org/13580/1/gcfi_54-39.pdf|journal=Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute|volume= 54|pages=475–487|display-authors=etal}}</ref> However, some problems still exist in cobia culture, including high mortality due to stress during transfer from nursery tanks or inshore cages to the offshore grow-out cages, as well as disease.<ref name="Liao" />

==References== '''Notes ''' {{Reflist}}

'''Further reading''' {{Commons category|Rachycentron canadum}} * {{ITIS |id=168566 |taxon=''Rachycentron canadum'' |accessdate=30 January 2006}} * {{FishBase|genus=Rachycentron|species=canadum|year=2005|month=10}} * {{FishBase_family|family=Rachycentridae|year=2005|month=May}} * {{cite book |title= Guide to Corals & Fishes of Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean |last= Greenberg |first= Idaz |year= 1977 |pages= [https://archive.org/details/guidetocoralsfi000gree/page/2 2–3] |publisher= Seahawk Press |isbn= 0-913008-08-7 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/guidetocoralsfi000gree/page/2 }} * {{cite book|title=Florida Inshore Angler |last= Applegarth |first= Allen |page= 36 |url=http://www.floridainshoreangler.com}} * [http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/cobia/species_pages/cobia.htm Cobia] ''NOAA FishWatch''. Retrieved 5 November 2012. * {{cite web|url=http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/lateral-line/2014/01/now-my-friends-serious-cobia?src=SOC&dom=fb|title=Now That, My Friends, Is A Serious Cobia|work=Field & Stream |date=24 March 2021 |last1=Cermele |first1=Joe }}

Category:Rachycentridae Category:Pantropical fish Category:Commercial fish Category:Game fish Category:Fish described in 1766 Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Rachycentron Category:Fish of the Gulf of Mexico