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Thunnus albacares

(Pacific long-tailed tuna)

Overview

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An oceanic species occurring above and below the thermoclines. They school primarily by size, either in monospecific or multi-species groups. Larger fish frequently school with porpoises , also associated with floating debris and other objects. Feed on fishes , crustaceans and squids . It is sensitive to low concentrations of oxygen and therefore is not usually caught below 250 m in the tropics[1][2]. Peak spawning occurs during the summer, in batches[3]. Encircling nets are employed to catch schools near the surface[4]. Marketed mainly frozen and canned[3], but also fresh (Ref. 9340) and smoked[5]. Highly valued for sashimi [6].

Near Threatened

Threat status

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Geelvin-tuna, tuna

Common Names in Agutaynen:

Tambakol

Common Names in Arabic:

Gubad, Jaydher, Kababa

Common Names in Austronesian:

O'maguro, Tag-hu, Taguw, Taguw peras, Taguw tangir

Common Names in Banton:

Tambakol

Common Names in Bikol:

Bangkulis, Bankulis, Bronsehan, Buyo, Kikyawon, Paranganon

Common Names in Carolinian:

Manguro, O´maguro, O'maguro, Tag-hu, Taguw, Taguw peras, Taguw tangir

Common Names in Cebuano:

Barelis, Bariles, Barilis, Carao, Karaw, Pak-an, Pala-pala, Panit, Panitto, Pirit, Tulingan

Common Names in Chamorro:

Kacho

Common Names in Chavacano:

Panit

Common Names in Cotabato Chavacano:

Bariles, Karaw

Common Names in Creole, French:

Thon , Thon à nageoires jaunes, Thon jaune, Ton zonn, Z´ailes Jaunes, Z'ailes jaunes

Common Names in Creole, Portuguese:

Albacora, Atum Oled, Atum oledê, Chefarote, Rabo-seco

Common Names in Creoles and Pidgins, French:

Thon à nageoires jaune, Thon à nageoires jaunes, Thon jaune, Ton zonn, Z'ailes jaunes

Common Names in Creoles and Pidgins, Portuguese:

Albacora, Atum oledê, Atum oledÍ, Chefarote, Rabo-seco

Common Names in Danish:

Albacore, Gulfinnet tun, Gulfinnet tunfisk

Common Names in Davawenyo:

Bariles, Bugo, Karaw

Common Names in Dutch:

Geelvintonijn

Common Names in English:

'Fin, Albacore, Allison tuna, Allison´s Tuna, Allison's tuna, Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna, Autumn albacore, Long fin tunny, Longfin, Pacific long-tailed tuna, tuna, Yellow fin tuna, Yellow-fin tuna, Yellow-fin tuna fish, Yellow-fin tunny, Yellowfin, Yellowfin Surgeonfish, yellowfin tuna, Yellowfin tunny, Yellowfin-tuna, yellowfinned albacore

Common Names in Ewe:

Gegu

Common Names in Farsi:

Ghidar

Common Names in Fijian:

tuna, Yatu, Yatunitoga

Common Names in Finnish:

Keltaev, Keltaevätonnikala

Common Names in French:

Albacore, Grand fouet, Thon, Thon à nageoire jaune, Thon à nageoires jaunes, Thon jaune, Thon rouge

Common Names in Gela:

Atu igu mera

Common Names in German:

Albacore, Gelbflossen-Reisk, Gelbflossen-Thun, Gelbflossen-Thunfisch, Gelbflossenthun, Thunfisch

Common Names in Gilbertese:

Baewe, Báibo, Baiura, Te baewe, Te baibo, Te bairera, Te baitaba, Te ingamea, Te ingimea, Te inginea

Common Names in Greek:

Tonnos macropteros, Tonnos macrypteros

Common Names in Greek, Modern (1453):

Tonnos macropteros, Tonnos macrypteros

Common Names in Gujarati:

Gedar, Gedara, ગેદર , ગેદારા

Common Names in Hawaiian:

'fin, Ahi, Kahauli, Kanana, Maha'o, Palaha, Shibi

Common Names in Hiligaynon:

Bantala-an, Panit

Common Names in Ilokano:

Oriles, Tambakul

Common Names in Italian:

Tonno albacora, Tonno monaco, Tunnu monicu

Common Names in Japanese:

Kihada

Common Names in Kagayanen:

Panit

Common Names in Kiribati:

Baewe, Báibo, Baiura, Te baewe, Te baibo, Te bairera, Te baitaba, Te ingamea, Te ingimea, Te inginea

Common Names in Komoro:

M'bassi, Mibassi mibankundri

Common Names in Konkani:

Bokado

Common Names in Korean:

황다랑어

Common Names in Kosraean:

Olwol

Common Names in Kuyunon:

Malaguno, Tambakol

Common Names in Lwena:

Thundwa

Common Names in Mahl:

Kannali-mas

Common Names in Makassarese:

Gantarangang

Common Names in Malagasy:

Lamatra

Common Names in Malay:

Aya, Bakulan, Gelang kawung, Tongkol, Tuna Ekor Kuning

Common Names in Malayalam:

Poovan-choora, പൂവന് ചൂര, പൂവന് ചൂര  

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

串仔, 黃奇串, 黃鰭金槍魚, 黃鰭鮪, 黄奇串, 黄鳍金枪鱼, 黄鳍鲔

Common Names in Maranao/Samal/Tao Su:

Bariles, Panit

Common Names in Maranao/Samal/Tao Sug:

Bariles, Panit

Common Names in Marathi:

Bugudi, Gedar, Kuppa, Pimp, कुपा, गिदार, पीमप, बुगुदी

Common Names in Marshall:

Bwebwe

Common Names in Marshallese:

Bwebwe

Common Names in Misima-Paneati:

Tetena keketina

Common Names in Niuean:

Vahakula

Common Names in Norwegian:

Albacore, Albakor

Common Names in Other:

Tiklaw, Vahuyo

Common Names in Palauan:

Tekuu, To´uo, To'uo

Common Names in Persian:

Ghidar

Common Names in Polish:

Albakora, Tunczyk Z, Tunczyk zóltopletwy a. albakora

Common Names in Portuguese:

Albacora, Albacora da laje, Albacora de lage, Albacora-cachorra, Albacora-da-lage, Albacora-de-laje, Albacora-lage, Albacora-lajeira, Alvacor, Alvacora, Alvacora-lajeira, Atum, Atum albacora, Atum oledê, Atum rabil, Atum-albacora, Atum-amarelo, Atum-de-barbatana-amarela, Atum-De-Galha-, Atum-de-galha-à-ré, Atum-galha-amarela, Chefarote, Galha , Galha à ré, Ielofino, Peixe De Galha , Peixe de galha à ré, Peixe-De-Galha-, Peixe-de-galha-à-ré, Peixinho da ilho, Rab, Rabão, Rabo-seco

Common Names in Romanian:

Ton galben

Common Names in Rumanian:

Albacora, Ton galben

Common Names in Russian:

Albacor, Tikhookeanskij zheltoperyj tunets, Zheltokhvostyj tunets

Common Names in Samoan:

Asiasi, Ta´uo, Ta'uo, To´uo, To'uo

Common Names in Serbian:

Tuna zutoperka, Zutorepi tunj

Common Names in Sinhalese:

As geddi kelawalla, Howalla, Kelawalla, Pihatu kelawalla

Common Names in Somali:

Yajdar-baal-cagaar

Common Names in Spanish:

Albacora, Albacora aleta amarilla, Aleta amarilla, At, atún aleta amarilla, atún de aleta amarilla, Atún aleta amarilla, Atún de aleta amarilla, Rabil

Common Names in Surigaonon:

Bariles

Common Names in Swahili:

Jodari

Common Names in Swedish:

Albacora, Gulfenad tonfisk, Tonfisk Gulfenad

Common Names in Tagalog:

Albakora, Badla-an, Balarito, Barilis, Buyo, Malalag, Painit, Panit, Tambakol

Common Names in Tahitian:

A´ahi, A´ahi ´oputea, A´ahi ´oputi´i, A´ahi Hae, A´ahi Mapepe, A´ahi Maueue, A´ahi Patao, A´ahi Tari´a´uri, A´ahi Tatumu, A´ahi Teaamu, A´ahi Tiamatau, A´ahi Vere, A'ahi, A'ahi 'oputea, A'ahi 'oputi'i, A'ahi hae, A'ahi mapepe, A'ahi maueue, A'ahi patao, A'ahi tari'a'uri, A'ahi tatumu, A'ahi teaamu, A'ahi tiamatau, A'ahi vere, Otara

Common Names in Tamil:

Kelavai, Soccer, சாக்கர், சோஸ்ஸர் 

Common Names in Tokelauan:

Kahikahi, Kakahi, Takuo

Common Names in Tongan:

Kahikahi

Common Names in Tuamotuan:

Kakahi

Common Names in Turkish:

Sarıkanatorkinoz balığı, Sarıkanatton balığı

Common Names in Tuvaluan:

Te kasi

Common Names in Vietnamese:

Cá bñ vang, Cá bò vang, Cá Ng? vây vàng, Cá Ngừ vây vàng

Common Names in Vili:

Nkaba

Common Names in Visayan:

Badla-an, Balarito, Malalag, Painit, Panit

Common Names in Waray-waray:

Baliling, Panit

Common Names in Wolof:

Doullou-doullou, Wakhandor, Waxandor, Wockhandor

Description

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Physical Description

Species Thunnus albacares

Distinctive Features: The yellowfin is a large tuna . Its body is strongly fusiform , and deepest under its first dorsal fin, while tapering considerably towards the caudal peduncle. Two dorsal fins are present. In adults , the second dorsal fin is very long, as is the anal fin, which is directly below the second dorsal. These fins become relatively longer in larger individuals. The pectoral fin is also long, reaching beyond the space between the dorsal fins. The caudal peduncle is very slender and includes three sets of keels. Seven to ten dorsal and ventral finlets are present. Scales are lacking behind the corselet , a band of large scales forming a circle around the body behind the head . A swim bladder is present. The eyes are small; teeth are small and conical .

Color:

The body is metallic dark blue or greenish above, while the belly and lower sides are silvery white and crossed by many vertical , interrupted lines . Perhaps most distinctly, a golden stripe runs along the side. The second dorsal and anal fins and finlets are bright yellow, and the finlets are bordered by a narrow band of black.

Size/Age/Growth

The maximum length reported for yellowfin is 110 inches (280 cm) total length and the maximum weight is 880 lbs . (400 kg ). The all-tackle record recognized by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA ) is 388 lbs. 8 oz . (176.4 kg). This latter example is more indicative of the common maximum size for the species.

Habitat

The yellowfin tuna is an epipelagic, oceanic fish, living above and below the thermocline, at temperatures of 65 to 88°F (18-31°C). It is generally found in the upper 330 feet (100 m ) of the water column.

Ecology: This is an open-water pelagic and oceanic species occurring above and below the thermocline to depths of at least 400 m. This species schools primarily by size, either in monospecific or multi-species groups. Larger fish frequently school with porpoises and are also associated with floating debris and other objects. It feeds on fishes , crustaceans and squids . It is sensitive to low concentrations of oxygen and therefore, is not usually caught below 250 m in the tropics, and is found in waters between the temperatures of 18–31°C.

The primary Atlantic spawning grounds are in the Gulf of Guinea, and to a lesser extent in the Gulf of Mexico. Spawning occurs throughout the year in the core areas of distribution at sea surface temperatures of 24°C or higher, but peaks are observed in the northern and southern summer months respectively. Spawning occurs almost entirely at night between 2200 and 0600 hrs (Kailola et al. 1993, Schaefer 1998).

In the Indian Ocean, longevity is at least seven years (Romanov and Korotkova 1988), although very few individuals live past four years. Estimated maximum age in the Eastern Pacific is 4.8 years (Wild 1986), in the Western Pacific is 6.5 years (Lehodey and Leroy 1999), and in the Atlantic is eight years (IGFA 2001). Smallest mature individuals in the Pacific off the Philippines and Central America are in the 50–60 cm size group at an age of 12–15 months. Length at 50% maturity in the eastern Pacific was 69 cm for males and 92 cm for females corresponding to an age of 2.1 years (Schaefer 1998). Batch fecundity estimates in the eastern Pacific ranged from 162,918 oocytes for a 1,180 mm female to 8,026,026 oocytes for a 1,460 mm female (Collette 2010). Based age-structure data across all stocks (Collette et al. 2011), generation length is estimated to be between 2.2 and 3.5 years.

Maximum Size is 200 cm fork length (FL ). The all-tackle game fish record is of a 183.7 kg fish caught in Magdalena Bay , Baja Sur, Mexico (International Angler 2011).
[7].

List of Habitats :

Biology

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Diet

Primary prey items include fish, cephalopods , and crustaceans. Yellowfin appear to forage rather indiscriminately for any of these items. A study by Watanabe (1958) found 37 families of fish and 8 orders of invertebrates in yellowfin stomachs. Fish species consumed by the yellowfin tuna include dolphin , pilchard, anchovy, flyingfish, mackerel , lancetfish, and other tunas . Other prey items are cuttlefish , squid, octopus , shrimp, lobster, and crabs.

Yellowfin are apparently sight-oriented predators , as their feeding tends to occur in surface waters during daylight. Other large fish and marine mammals compete with yellowfin for food.

Reproduction

Size at maturity varies by region, and may also be different between individuals found near- and offshore. All yellowfin are reproductively mature by the time they reach a length of 47 in. (120 cm) fork length (corresponding to an age of 2-3 years), however some are mature by 20-23 in. (50-60 cm) fork length (corresponding to 12-15 months). In juvenile fishes and adults up to 55 in. (140 cm), the sex ratio is approximately 1:1. The proportion of females declines in fishes larger than this size, however the reason for this is not understood.

Reproduction occurs year-round, but is most frequent during the summer months in each hemisphere. It is believed that 79°F (26°C) is the lower temperature limit for spawning. In the tropical waters of Mexico and Central America, it has been determined that yellowfin spawn at least twice a year. Each female spawns several million eggs per year. Among tunas , larval yellowfin can be identified by the presence of a single spot of black pigment under the chin and a lack of pigment on the tail. In profile , the center of the eye is above the line of the body axis. Postlarvae and small juveniles are very difficult to distinguish from related species because these diagnostic characters become obscured. The juveniles grow quickly, weighing approximately 7.5 pounds (3.4 kg ) at 18 months and 140 pounds (63.5 kg) at 4 years.

Behavior

Yellowfin are strong schoolers. Their tendency to school with organisms of the same size is stronger than the tendency to school by species. They often swim in mixed schools of skipjack, bigeye, and other tunas . In the eastern Pacific Ocean, larger yellowfin frequently school in association with dolphins , particularly the spotted dolphin , spinner dolphin, and common dolphin. Such associations with dolphins have not been observed in the rest of the Pacific, the Indian, or the Atlantic Oceans. Yellowfin will commonly school under drifting objects such as driftwood, patches of seagrass, boats , or dead marine mammals. There are many hypotheses addressing the reasons for schooling under such items. Yellowfin may be attracted to the object to feed on smaller prey which are foraging on the structure. The drifting object provides shade and shelter from predators . Yellowfin tuna may utilize the object as a substrate on which to lay their eggs or as a "cleaning station ," where parasites are removed by other fishes . Also, the fish may view the object as a "schooling companion".

Yellowfin swimming further from the surface are less likely to school, and tend to scatter. There is perhaps less benefit to schooling in such cases, as there are fewer predators and little reason to attempt to obtain food at depth.

Predators:

Sharks , including bignose sharks (Carcharhinus altimus), blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), and cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis), prey upon yellowfin tuna . Large bony fishes are also predators of the yellowfin tuna.

Parasites:

The yellowfin tuna is a known host to 40 parasites including protozoans , digenea (flukes ), didymozoidea (tissue flukes), monogenea (gillworms), cestoda (tapeworms ), nematoda (roundworms), acanthocephala (spiny-headed worms), copepods , isopods , as well as other fish including the cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis), largetooth cookiecutter shark (Isistius plutodus), and the pilotfish (Naucrates ductor).

Taxonomy

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Last Revised: 7/14/2012