The Striped Bonito, Bonitos, Oriental Bonito, or “Bonitas”—as Dr. Grant referred to them—is a species of Fish from the Indo-Pacific waters. It is a pelagic fish, primarily living in the open waters in the upper layers of the sea. Swimming in large schools like tunas, Bonitos can be found in subtropical waters off the coast of North, Central, and South Americas. Juveniles inhabit coastal waters and migrate further into the open sea as they mature. Bonitos belong to the family Scombridae, which includes tunas as well.

Measuring from half to one meter in length, the Bonito has a shimmering silver body with blue hues. It is named after the dark vertical stripes that run along its body. Striped Bonitos are predators, sporting tiny sharp teeth in its large mouth. They primarily prey upon small fish such as anchovies and sardines. Striped Bonitos are typically not fished commercially.

During Dr. Grant and the Kirby’s journey on Isla Sorna in 2001, the survivors traveled downriver on an abandoned boat to reach the coastline. On the voyage through Sorna’s vast river system, Eric Kirby spotted a school of startled Bonitos evading a predator. Unbeknownst to the survivors, the bonitos were fleeing from Sorna’s semiaquatic apex predator—the Spinosaurus.