Pelagic | National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa

School of long striped blackfin barracuda fish in a blue open ocean.

A school of blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena quenie), a beautifully striped fish, can often be found schooling and are usually very curious.

Species/Subject: Blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena quenie)
Attribution: Jeff Milisen/NOAA PIFSC
Site: American Samoa 2023 NOAA RICHARDS Cruise with NMSAS

A group of squids (cephalopods) is also known as a "shoal." They have intriguing intelligence and remarkable ability to change body color, texture, and shape in mere seconds.

Species/Subject: Squids (Cephalopods)
Attribution: Mia Lamirand/NOAA PIFSC
Site: American Samoa 2023 NOAA RICHARDS Cruise with NMSAS

A school of vibrant yellowfin tuna swimming in the deep blue ocean. They have sleek, torpedo-shaped bodies and distinctive yellow finlets.

Pacific yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) are a migratory pelagic species that feed near the top of the food chain on fish, squid, and crustaceans. Adult yellowfin tuna can be distinguished from other tunas by its long, bright-yellow dorsal fin and a yellow stripe down its side.

Species/Subject: Pacific Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)
Attribution: Jeff Muir
Site: South Pacific

Whale shark just beneath the surface of the ocean

On August 2023, a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) greeted divers at Fagatele Bay. This may be the first documented whale shark in Fagatele Bay, and is a welcome addition to the sanctuary's species list.

Species/Subject: Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
Attribution: Ray Boland/NMFS
Site: Fagatele Bay