# Bluefish (*Pomatomus saltatrix*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/pomatomus-saltatrix  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) is a bony fish in the family Pomatomidae, within the order Scombriformes and suborder Scombroidei. Its scientific name carries the authority (Linnaeus, 1766), and it belongs to the genus Pomatomus in the class Teleostei. Other English names for the bluefish include Elf, Shad, Ancho, Jumbos and Tailor. The IUCN Red List assesses the bluefish globally as Vulnerable (VU), a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | up to 13.6 kg |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | marine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Scombriformes
- family: Pomatomidae
- genus: Pomatomus
- species: *Pomatomus saltatrix* (Linnaeus, 1766)

Synonyms: *Cheilodipterus heptacanthus*, *Cheilodipterus saltatrix*, *Chromis epicurorum*, *Gasterosteus saltatrix*, *Gonenion serra*, *Lopharis mediterraneus*, *Perca lophar*, *Pomatomix saltatrix*, *Pomatomus pedica*, *Pomatomus saltarix*, *Pomatomus saltator*, *Pomatomus saltatrix*, *Pomatomus skib*, *Rachycentron canadum*, *Scomber sypterus*, *Scomer sypterus*, *Sparactodon nalnal*, *Sypterus pallasii*, *Temnodon conidens*, *Temnodon saltator*, *Temnodon saltator*, *Temnodon tubulus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is a bluefish?

The bluefish is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Pomatomidae in the order Scombriformes.

### What is the scientific name of the bluefish?

The scientific name of the bluefish is Pomatomus saltatrix, in the genus Pomatomus.

### Is the bluefish endangered?

The bluefish is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List in its global assessment, which is a threatened category.

### What other names does the bluefish have?

The bluefish is also called Elf, Shad, Ancho, Jumbos and Tailor.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/pomatomus-saltatrix