| Scientific name: Thunnus albacares |  |
| Nome comum: Atum-albacora; Albacora; Atum |
| Common name: Yellowfin tuna |
| Classification: CHORDATA > ACTINOPTERYGII > Perciformes > Scombridae |
| Description: A large tuna. Body fusiform, elongate, and slightly compressed. Body is deepest near the middle of the first dorsal fin base. Large specimens have very long second dorsal and anal fins. Pectoral fins moderately long. Back metallic dark blue, changing through yellow to silver on the belly, which is frequently crossed by about 20 broken, nearly vertical lines. Dorsal and anal fins, and dorsal and anal finlets, bright yellow, the finlets with a narrow black border. |
Global Distribution: Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters; absent from the Mediterranean.
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| BIOLOGICAL FEATURES |
| Size: Maximum length 239 cm (fork length); common length 150 cm (FL); maximum published weight 200.0 kg. |
| Age: Maximum reported age: 9 years. |
| Weight length rel.: Bayesian estimated length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00937 - 0.02229), b=3.11 (2.98 - 3.24). |
| Growth type: |
| von Bertallanfy growth parameters: |
| Reproduction: Peak spawning occurs during the summer, in batches. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. |
| Maturity: 103.3 cm, range 78 - 158 cm. |
| Behavioural ecology: 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. |
| Population structure & migrations: |
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| ECOLOGICAL FEATURES |
| Depth range: FishBase: 1 - 250 m, usually 1 - 100 m. |
| Habitat: An oceanic species occurring above and below the thermoclines. Pelagic in open water. |
| Feeding habits: Feeds on fishes, crustaceans and squids. |
| Trophic level: FishBase: 4.3 |
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| FISHERIES |
| Commercial interest: Highly valued commercial species; also gamefish. |
| Conservation status: Near threatened. |
| Nutritional information & food safety: |
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| REFERENCES |
Collette B.B., Nauen C.E. (1983). FAO Species Catalogue Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopses, 125 vol.2, 137 pp.
Direcção Regional de Pescas, Madeira.
Froese, R., Pauly D., editors (2011) .FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, (07/2014). www.fishbase.org/summary/Thunnus-albacares.html
IUCN (2014). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. www.iucnredlist.org |
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