Creature Feature – Yellowfin Tuna
This week is the letter ‘Y’, and today’s featured creature is the Yellowfin Tuna.
There are 15 Species of Tuna – Yellowfin tuna are torpedo-shaped with dark metallic blue backs, yellow sides, and a silver belly. They have very long anal and dorsal fins and finlets that are bright yellow, hence the name!
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Thunnus albacares
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Scombriformes
Family: Scombridae
Genus: Thunnus
Yellowfin Tuna Fact File
Size: Individuals can reach over 2m long and weigh up to 200kg
Distribution: This species is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, mainly in deep offshore waters
Diet: Their prey includes other fish, pelagic crustaceans and squid
Behaviour: They are a highly migratory species and they often travel in schools with similarly sized companions
IUCN Status: Least Concern. This species is an important commercial tuna species, particularly the raw sashimi market. Although tuna do provide food and livelihoods for people, they are more than just seafood. Tuna are a top predator in the marine food chain, maintaining a balance in the ocean environment. Overfishing is their populations biggest threat
