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Thunnus atlanticus

(Albacore, Albacore, Blackfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Deep-Bodied Tunny, Deep-Bodied Tunny)

Overview

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Family : Mackerels , tunas , bonitos ; Found in oceanic waters, sometimes not far from the coast (Ref. 13628). Forms large mixed schools with the skipjack tuna . Its spawning grounds are located well offshore. Preys on surface and deep-sea fishes , squids , amphipods , shrimps, crabs and stomatopods and decapod larvae. The largest fishery for blackfin tuna operates off the southeastern coast of Cuba and uses live-bait and pole . Utilized fresh, dried or salted, canned and frozen (Ref. 9987).

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Creole, French:

Ton Noir

Common Names in Danish:

Sortfinnet Tun

Common Names in English:

Albacore, Blackfin Tuna, Deep-Bodied Tunny

Common Names in French:

Bonite, Bonite Noire, Giromon, Petit Thon, Thon à Nageoires Jaunes, Thon à Nageoires Noires, Thon Noir, Thon Nuit

Common Names in German:

Schwarzflossen-Thun, Thunfisch

Common Names in Japanese:

Mini Maguro, Monte Maguro, Taiseiyo Maguro

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

黑鰭金槍魚

Common Names in Portuguese:

Albacora, Albacora-Preta, Albacorinha, Atum, Atum-Barbatana-Negra, Atum-Negro, Atum-Preto, Binta

Common Names in Russian:

тунец черноперый, Atlanticheskyj Tunets, Chernij Tunets

Common Names in Spanish:

Albacora, Atún, Atún Aleta Azul, Atún Aleta Negra, Atún Atlántico, Atún Des Aletas Negras, Falsa Albacora

Common Names in Swedish:

Karibisk Tonfisk, Svart Tonfisk

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 atlanticus

Distinctive Features: As one of the smaller tuna species, the blackfin tuna has a robust , fusiform body, with small, compact scales completely covering the body. The mouth is oblique and the maxillary jaw terminates prior to the vertical from the center of the large eye. The corselet , a band of larger scales forming a circle around the body behind the head , is small and inconspicuous. Pectoral fins are moderately long, reaching below the origin of the second dorsal fin. There are separate finlets located behind the anal and dorsal fins. The lunate caudal fin has short keels at its base . Blackfin tuna swim primarily through movements of the caudal fin and body. The second spine on the dorsal fin is the highest with the first spine almost as high. The anal fin is similar in appearance to the soft, low dorsal fin. Anteriorly, the lateral line has a distinctive dip , descending posteriorly to the pectoral fin origin, then ascending to a point below the 3rd or 4th dorsal spine, then continuing straight to the caudal keel.

Color:

The blackfin tuna has a bluish-black back with gray to silver sides and a white belly. A broad, brown stripe is located along the upper portion of the eye. There is a prominent yellow to golden-colored lateral band present on the sides, usually fading upon death . Small iridescent areas located on the sides of the abdomen are silvery. This area is sometimes marked with vertical rows of pale dots along with slightly elongate spots between these rows. The dorsal finlets are dusky with bronzy reflections and white edges while the ventral finlets are usually gray. The absense of yellow on these finlets distiguishes the blackfin tuna from all other tunas . However, the dorsal finlets sometimes fade to yellow upon death.

Size/Age/Growth

Blackfin tuna reach a maximum size of 39 inches (100 cm) in length and 46 pounds (21 kg ) in weight . They are most frequently taken at an average size of approximately 19.75 inches (50 cm), corresponding to a weight of about 7 pounds (3.2 kg). Maturity is reached at lengths of 16-20 inches (40-50 cm). The blackfin tuna may live past 5 years of age. Growth rates have been reported at .4-.6 inches (1-1.5 cm) per month. The all-tackle world record for the blackfin tuna is 45 pounds 8 ounces (20.6 kg) caught off the coast of Florida.

Habitat

Occurring in oceanic waters in close proximity to the coastline, the blackfin tuna prefers clean water and warm temperatures , usually seaward from the continental shelf. It is a strongly schooling , migratory fish , often forming large mixed schools with skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). During the summer months, the blackfin tuna migrates to temperate waters remaining above 70°F (21°C). It is most abundant off the Florida coast during autumn, winter, and spring .

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -5,205 meters (0 to -17,077 feet).Mean = 79.290 meters (260.138 feet), Standard Deviation = 2,909.060 based on 111 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biome: Saltwater . Pelagic .

Biology

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Diet

Various fish, squid, amphipods , shrimp, crabs, and stomatopods constitute the diet of the blackfin tuna . It often feeds in surface waters where they form large mixed schools with skipjack tuna (Euthynnus pelamis). It directly competes with the skipjack tuna for prey , and is occasionally even preyed upon by it. Blackfin tuna feed by straining prey from the water as well as chasing and capturing prey which is then engulfed.

Reproduction

Spawning occurs in April through November off the Florida coast, and June to September in the Gulf of Mexico, well offshore in the blue oceanic waters of the Florida current as well as in the coastal waters of northern Brazil. The fish release sperm and eggs into the water column where fertizilation occurs. The buoyant eggs produce pelagic larvae, little else is known about the eggs. These larvae are found in the open ocean at depths ranging from the surface down to 164 feet (50m). The vertebral column is developed by a length of 11.0 mm, while all fin rays develop by lengths of approximately 20mm.

At a length of 28mm, the young blackfin tuna has some pigmentation . The first dorsal fin is pigmented , but not entirely black. Dark pigmentation also exists from the top of the head through to the brain region. The body is heavily pigmented dorsally, with a concentration of pigment concentrated along the lateral line as well as areas along the dorsal and lateral areas, resulting in a faint pattern of six vertical bars .

Behavior

Predators:

Dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus), blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), skipjack tuna (Euthynnus pelamis) and various sea birds all prey on the blackfin tuna during its life cycle. In fact, it is one of the most common items in the diet of the blue marlin. Cannibalism also occurs in this tuna.

Parasites:

The blackfin tuna is a host to at least 9 species of parasites, with none being host-specific . Parasites include digenea (flukes ), monogenea (gillworms), cestoda (tapeworms ), nematoda (roundworms), copepods , and the cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis). Parasitic copepods associated with this tuna include Caligus coryphaena, C. productus, Euryphorus brachypterus, and Pseudocycnus appendiculatus.

Taxonomy

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Ambiguous Synonyms

  1. Scomber coretta Cuvier, 1829
  2. Thunnus coretta (Cuvier, 1829)
  3. Thynnus coretta (Cuvier, 1829)

Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Orcynus balteatus (Cuvier, 1832)
  2. Parathunnus ambiguus Mowbray, 1935
  3. Parathunnus atlanticus (Lesson, 1831)
  4. Parathunnus rosengarteni Fowler, 1934
  5. Thunnus balteatus (Cuvier, 1832)
  6. Thynnus atlanticus Lesson, 1831
  7. Thynnus balteatus Cuvier, 1832

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Synonym: Thynnus balteatus. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: March 01, 2004. Other common names : Portuguese: Albacora, Spanish: Albacora, Portuguese: Albacora-preta, Portuguese: Albacorinha, Russian: Atlanticheskyj tunets, Portuguese: Atum, Portuguese: Atum-barbatana-negra, Portuguese: Atum-negro, Portuguese: Atum-preto, Spanish: Atún, Spanish: Atun aleta negra, Spanish: Atún aleta negra, Spanish: Atún Atlántico, Spanish: Atún des aletas negras, French: Bonite, French: Bonite noire, Russian: Chernij tunets, Spanish: Falsa albacora, French: Giromon, Swedish: Karibisk tonfisk, Japanese: Mini maguro, Japanese: Monte maguro, French: Petit thon, German: Schwarzflossen-Thun, Danish: Sortfinnet tun, Swedish: Svart tonfisk, Japanese: Taiseiyo maguro, French: Thon à nageoires noires, French: Thon noir, French: Thon nuit, German: Thunfisch, Creole, French: Ton noir, Russian: ????? ??????????



Lesson first described the blackfin tuna as Thunnus atlanticus in 1831. The genus name Thunnus is derived from the Greek "thynnos" meaning tunna. Synonyms referring to this fish include Thynnus balteatus Cuvier 1832, Thunnus balteatus South 1845, Thunnus coretta South 1845, Orcynus balteatus Cuvier 1832, Parathunnus rosengarteni Fowler 1934, Parathunnus ambiguus Mowbray 1935, and Parathunnus atlanticus Beebe and Hollister 1935.

The family Scombridae are primarily swift predators of the open seas and are among the most important of commercial and sport fishes .

Common Names: Blackfin tuna (English), albacore (English), deep-bodied tunny (English), albacora (Portuguese), albacorinha (Portuguese), atlanticheskyj tunets (Russian), atum-barbatana-negra (Portuguese), atum-preto (Portuguese), atun (Spanish), atun aleta negra (Spanish), atun Atlantico (Spanish), atun des aleta negras (Spanish), bonite (French), bonite noire (French), chernij tunets Russian), falsa albacora (Spanish), giromon (French), mini maguro (Japanese), monte maguro (Japanese), petit thon (French), taiseiyomaguro (Japanese), thon noir (French), thon nuit (French), and ton noir (Creole).

Similar Species

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The number of gill rakers, small, flesh-colored knobby structures located on the inside of each gill, can be used to distinguish young blackfin tuna from other tuna species. The blackfin tuna has only about 20-23 on the first arch, fewest of all the Atlantic tuna species. Most other species have approximately 30 or more gill rakers. The ventral surface of the liver, visible as a pink-red organ in the chest region when opening the body cavity, can also be used to positively identify the blackfin tuna. Other tuna species have striations on the ventral surface of the liver while on the blackfin tuna, this surface is smooth. A small swim bladder is present.

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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More Info

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

Last Revised: 2008-08-14