Thunnus obesus, Bigeye tuna : fisheries, gamefish

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Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839)

Bigeye tuna
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Thunnus obesus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Thunnus obesus (Bigeye tuna)
Thunnus obesus
Picture by Chow, S.

Classification / Names Nomi Comuni | Sinonimi | Catalog of Fishes(Genere, Specie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Scombriformes (Mackerels) > Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) > Scombrinae
Etymology: Thunnus: Greek, thynnos = tunna (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Lowe.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / distribuzione batimetrica / distribution range Ecologia

marino pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromo (Ref. 51243); distribuzione batimetrica 0 - 1500 m (Ref. 117020), usually 0 - 500 m (Ref. 117020). Subtropical; 13°C - 29°C (Ref. 168); 52°N - 48°S, 180°W - 180°E

Distribuzione Stati | Aree FAO | Ecosystems | Presenze | Mappa dei ritrovamenti | Introduzioni | Faunafri

Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. Absent in the Mediterranean. Highly migratory species.

Length at first maturity / Size / Peso / Age

Maturità: Lm 112.5, range 100 - 125 cm
Max length : 250 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 27000); common length : 180 cm FL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 168); peso massimo pubblicato: 210.0 kg (Ref. 9987); Età massima riportata: 11 anni (Ref. 30326)

Short description Chiavi di identificazione | Morfologia | Morfometria

Spine dorsali (totale) : 13 - 14; Raggi dorsali molli (totale) : 14 - 15; Spine anali: 0; Raggi anali molli: 14; Vertebre: 39. This large species is distinguished by the following characters: robust, fusiform body, slightly compressed from side to side; total gill rakers on first gill arch 23-31; dorsal fins separated only by a narrow interspace, the second followed by 8-10 finlets; anal fin followed by 7-10 finlets; pectoral fins moderately long (22 to 31% of fork length) in large specimens (over 110 cm FL), but very long (as long as in Thunnus alalunga) in smaller specimens; 2 flaps (interpelvic process) between pelvic fins; very small scales on body; corselet of larger and thicker scales developed, but not very distinct; caudal peduncle very slender, with a strong lateral keel between 2 smaller keels; ventral surface of liver striated; swimbladder present. Colour of back metallic dark blue, lower sides and belly whitish; a lateral iridescent blue band runs along sides in live specimens; first dorsal fin deep yellow, second dorsal and anal fins light yellow, finlets bright yellow edged with black (Ref. 9684).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

Biologia     Glossario (es. epibenthic)

Occur in areas where water temperatures range from 13°-29°C, but the optimum is between 17° and 22°C. Variation in occurrence is closely related to seasonal and climatic changes in surface temperature and thermocline. Juveniles and small adults school at the surface in mono-species groups or mixed with other tunas, may be associated with floating objects. Adults stay in deeper waters (Ref. 5377). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6390). Feed on a wide variety of fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans during the day and at night (Ref. 9340). Meat is highly prized and processed into sashimi in Japan. Marketed mainly canned or frozen (Ref. 9684), but also sold fresh (Ref. 9340).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturità | Riproduzione | Deposizione | Uova | Fecundity | Larve

Are multiple spawners that may spawn every 1 or 2 days over several months (Ref. 30330). They spawn over periods of the full moon (Ref. 6390). Spawn throughout the year in tropical waters (Ref. 6390).

Main reference Upload your references | Bibliografia | Coordinatore : Collette, Bruce B. | Collaboratori

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, 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. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137 p. (Ref. 168)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)

  Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd); Date assessed: 15 January 2021

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

Pesca: elevato interesse commerciale; Pesce da pesca sportiva: si
FAO - pesca: landings, species profile; Publication: search | FIRMS - Stock assessments | FishSource | Sea Around Us

Informazioni ulteriori

Trophic ecology
Food items (preys)
Alimentazione
Consumo di cibo
Food rations
Predatori
Ecologia
Ecologia
Home ranges
Life cycle
Riproduzione
Maturità
Maturity/Gills rel.
Fecundity
Deposizione
Spawning aggregations
Uova
Egg development
Larve
Dinamica popolazioni larvali
Distribuzione
Stati
Aree FAO
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Presenze
Introduzioni
BRUVS - Videos
Anatomy
Area branchiale
Brain
Otolith
Physiology
Body composition
Nutrients
Oxygen consumption
Swimming type
Swimming speed
Visual pigments
Fish sound
Diseases & Parasites
Toxicity (LC50s)
Genetica
Genome
Genetica
Heterozygosity
Ereditarietà
Human related
Aquaculture systems
Profili di acquacoltura
Varietà
Ciguatera cases
Stamps, coins, misc.
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Bibliografia
Bibliografia

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Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Fonte Biblio. 123201): 16.8 - 28.6, mean 26.6 °C (based on 3638 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Fonte Biblio. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5039   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01318 (0.01043 - 0.01666), b=3.03 (2.99 - 3.07), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Fonte Biblio. 69278):  4.5   ±0.0 se; based on diet studies.
Generation time: 6.6 (4.4 - 10.4) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 12 growth studies.
Resilienza (Fonte Biblio. 120179):  Medio, tempo minimo di raddoppiamento della popolazione 1.4 - 4.4 anni (K=0.11-0.23; tm=3; tmax=11; Fec=2 million).
Prior r = 0.52, 95% CL = 0.34 - 0.77, Based on 10 full stock assessments.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  High vulnerability (56 of 100). 🛈
Climate Vulnerability (Ref. 125649):  Moderate to high vulnerability (47 of 100). 🛈
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Very high.
Nutrients (Ref. 124155):  Calcium = 22.1 [12.0, 42.2] mg/100g; Iron = 2.65 [1.06, 6.93] mg/100g; Protein = 24 [23, 25] %; Omega3 = 0.453 [0.273, 0.754] g/100g; Selenium = 54.7 [17.4, 171.5] μg/100g; VitaminA = 19.6 [2.7, 180.1] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.278 [0.153, 0.561] mg/100g (wet weight);