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Thunnus albacares

('fin, Allison Tuna, Allison's 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 Tuna, Yellowfin Tunny, Yellowfin-Tuna, Yellowfinned Albacore)

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 (Ref. 28952, 30329). Peak spawning occurs during the summer, in batches (Ref. 9684). Encircling nets are employed to catch schools near the surface (Ref. 9340). Marketed mainly frozen and canned (Ref. 9684), but also fresh (Ref. 9340) and smoked (Ref. 9987). Highly valued for sashimi (Ref. 26938).

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 Banton:

Tambakol

Common Names in Bikol:

Bangkulis, Bankulis, Bronsehan, Buyo, Kikyawon, Paranganon

Common Names in Carolinian:

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 Chavacano:

Panit

Common Names in Cotabato Cha:

Bariles, Karaw

Common Names in Cotabato Chavacano:

Bariles, Karaw

Common Names in Creole, Fren:

Z´ailes Jaunes

Common Names in Creole, French:

Thon à Nageoires Jaunes, Thon Jaune, Ton Zonn, Z'ailes Jaunes

Common Names in Creole, Port:

Albacora, Atum Oledê, Rabo-Seco

Common Names in Creole, Portuguese:

Albacora, Atum Oledê, 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, Allison Tuna, Allison´s Tuna, Allison's 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 Fijian:

Tuna, Yatu

Common Names in Finnish:

Keltaevätonnikala, Keltaevätonnikala

Common Names in French:

Albacore, Grand Fouet, Thon, Thon à Nageoires Jaunes, Thon Jaune, Thon Rouge

Common Names in Gela:

Atu Igu Mera

Common Names in German:

Albacore, Gelbflossen-Reiskärpfling, Gelbflossen-Thun, Gelbflossen-Thunfisch, Gelbflossenthun, Thunfisch

Common Names in Greek:

Tonnos Macropteros, Tonnos Macrypteros

Common Names in Gujarati:

Gedar, Gedara

Common Names in Hawaiian:

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

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 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

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

串仔, 黃奇串, 黃鰭金槍魚, 黃鰭鮪

Common Names in Maranao/Sama:

Bariles

Common Names in Maranao/Samal/Tao Su:

Bariles, Panit

Common Names in Marathi:

Bugudi, Gedar, Kuppa, Pimp

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 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 Rabil, Atum-Albacora, Atum-Amarelo, Atum-De-Barbatana-Amarela, Atum-De-Galha-à-Ré, Atum-Galha-Amarela, Galha à Ré, Galha à Ré, Ielofino, Peixe De Galha à Ré, Peixe-De-Galha-à-Ré, Peixinho Da Ilho, Rabão, Rabo-Seco

Common Names in Rumanian:

Albacora, Ton galben, 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, 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, Barilis, Buyo, 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

Common Names in Tokelauan:

Kahikahi, Kakahi, Takuo

Common Names in Tongan:

Kahikahi

Common Names in Tuamotuan:

Kakahi

Common Names in Turkish:

Sarikanatorkinoz Baligi, Sarikanatton Baligi

Common Names in Tuvaluan:

Te Kasi

Common Names in Vietnamese:

Cá Bò Vang, Cá Ng? 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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Family Scombridae

Distribution: tropical and subtropical seas . Body elongate and fusiform , moderately compressed in some genera. Snout pointed , premaxilla beaklike, free from nasal bones which are separated by the ethmoid bone; mouth large; teeth in jaws strong , moderate, or weak; no true canines; palate and tongue may bear teeth. The 2 dorsal fins separate and depressible into grooves with 5-12 finlets behind second dorsal and anal fins; first dorsal fin with 9-27 rays , origin well behind the head . Pectoral fins high on body. Pelvic fins moderate or small with 6 fin rays , placed below the pectoral fins. Caudal fin deeply forked with supporting caudal rays completely covering hypural plate. At least 2 small keels on each side of caudal fin base , a larger keel in between on caudal peduncle in more advanced species. Lateral line simple . Vertebrae 31-66. Body covered with small to moderate scales or a scaly corselet developed (area behind head and around pectoral fins covered with large thick scales) and rest of body naked or covered with tiny scales. Gill membranes not united to isthmus. Thunnus and close relatives with a specialized vascular system for heat exchange; the evolution of this and related adaptations for endothermy are discussed in Brock et al. 1993, Science 260:210-214. Primarily swift, epipelagic predators ; some species occur in coastal waters , others far from shore . Mackerels (Scomber and Rastrelliger) filter plankton with their long gill rakers. Spanish mackerels, bonitos and tunas feed on larger prey , including small fishes , crustaceans and squids . The main predators of smaller scombrids are other predacious fishes, particularly large tunas and billfises. Dioecious and most display little or no sexual dimorphism in structure or color pattern . Females of many species attain larger sizes than maels. Batch spawning of most species takes place in tropical and subtropical waters, frequently inshore . Eggs are pelagic and hatch into planktonic larvae. Among the most important of commercial and sport fishes. Thunninae=ISSCAAP 36; Scombrinae=ISSCAAP 37. Also Ref. 50681.The family Scombridae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 15 genera and 51 species. It may be found in Marine and Brackish environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is thunniform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be very active . Members of this family have been dated back to the lower Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name : Latin, scomber = mackerel . 1841

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 .

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 3,545 meters (0 to 11,631 feet).Mean = -332.540 meters (-1,091.011 feet), Standard Deviation = 1,309.400 based on 8,463 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biome: Brackish water, saltwater . Pelagic .

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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Ambiguous Synonyms

  1. Scomber albacorus Lacepède, 1800

Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Germo albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788)
  2. Germo albacora (Lowe, 1839)
  3. Germo allisoni (Mowbray, 1920)
  4. Germo argentivittatus (Cuvier, 1832)
  5. Germo itosibi (Jordan & Evermann, 1926)
  6. Germo macropterus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
  7. Kishincella zacalles Jordan & Evermann, 1926
  8. Kishinoella zacalles Jordan & Evermann, 1926
  9. Neothunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788)
  10. Neothunnus albacora (Lowe, 1839)
  11. Neothunnus albacora subsp. brevipinna Bellón & Bardán de Bellón, 1949
  12. Neothunnus albacora subsp. longipinna Bellón & Bardán de Bellón, 1949
  13. Neothunnus albacora subsp. macropterus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
  14. Neothunnus albacores (Bonnaterre, 1788)
  15. Neothunnus allisoni (Mowbray, 1920)
  16. Neothunnus argentivittatus (Cuvier, 1832)
  17. Neothunnus brevipinna Bellón & Bàrdan de Bellón, 1949
  18. Neothunnus catalinae Jordan & Evermann, 1926
  19. Neothunnus itosibi Jordan & Evermann, 1926
  20. Neothunnus macropterus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
  21. Neothunnus macropterus subsp. itosibi Jordan & Evermann, 1926
  22. Neothunnus macropterus subsp. macropterus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
  23. Orcynus albacora (Lowe, 1839)
  24. Orcynus macropterus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
  25. Orcynus subulatus Poey, 1875
  26. Scomber albacares Bonnaterre, 1788
  27. Scomber sloanei Cuvier, 1832
  28. Semathunnus guildi Fowler, 1933
  29. Semathunnus itosibi (Jordan & Evermann, 1926)
  30. Thunnus albacares subsp. macropterus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
  31. Thunnus albacarres (Bonnaterre, 1788)
  32. Thunnus albacora (Lowe, 1839)
  33. Thunnus albacores (Bonnaterre, 1788)
  34. Thunnus allisoni Mowbray, 1920
  35. Thunnus argentivittatus (Cuvier, 1832)
  36. Thunnus catalinae (Jordan & Evermann, 1926)
  37. Thunnus itosibi (Jordan & Evermann, 1926)
  38. Thunnus macropterus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
  39. Thunnus zacalles (Jordan & Evermann, 1926)
  40. Thunus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788)
  41. Thynnus albacora Lowe, 1839
  42. Thynnus argentivittatus Cuvier, 1832
  43. Thynnus macropterus Temminck & Schlegel, 1844

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Group expert : Collette B .B., Data last modified by FishBase 13-Mar-2000

Similar Species

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Similar species occurring in the same areas as yellowfin tuna include bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), blackfin tuna (T. atlanticus), and albacore (T. alalunga). The bigeye tuna has shorter dorsal and anal fins than the yellowfin tuna and is generally a heavier and deeper-bodies fish. Blackfin tuna have dorsal and anal finlets that are dusky in color, rather than bright yellow with black margins as seen in the yellowfin and bigeye tunas. Albacore can be distinguished from the yellowfin with the size of the pectoral fins. The pectoral fins of the albacore are much longer than the yellowfin tuna, reaching to the second dorsal finlet in most cases. Also the caudal fin of the albacore has a white posterior edge which is lacking on the yellowfin tuna.

Members of the genus Thunnus

There are approximately 29 species in this genus:

T. alalunga · T. alalunga · T. albacares · T. alalunga (Albacore) · T. alb · T. albacares ('fin) · T. albacares macropterus · T. albacaris · T. albalonga · T. albecares · T. atlanticus (Albacore) · T. bacares · T. atlanticus · T. maccoyi · T. maccoyii (Bluefin) · T. obesus (Big Eye) · T. obesus mebachi · T. obesus sibi · T. orientalis (Bluefin Tuna) · T. tanggul · T. thunnina · T. thunnus · T. thynnus (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna) · T. thynnus coretta · T. thynnus maccoyii · T. thynnus orientalis · T. thynnus saliens · T. thynnus thynnus · T. tonggol (Blue Fin Tuna)

Bibliography

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