Thunnus obesus

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
ScombridaeThunnus obesus(Lowe)1839Bigeye Tuna

Thunnus obesus

Unique Characters: Two small keels and a large median keel between them on either side of caudal peduncle. 7-10 dorsal and 7-10 anal finlets. Adipose eyelids absent. Teeth in jaws slender, conical, hardly compressed. Corselet of scales well developed. Upper surface of tongue with 2 longitudinal ridges. 9-16 spines in first dorsal fin. First and second dorsal fins barely separated, at most by eye diameter. 12-16 spines in first dorsal fin. Interpelvic process bifid and short, much shorter than pelvic fin rays. No dark longitudinal stripes on belly. Gill rakers 19-45 on first arch. Body covered with very small scales behind corselet. No black spots on body. 30-36 pectoral-fin rays. Ventral surface of liver covered with prominent striations; central lobe of liver equal to or longer than left and right lobes. Total gill rakers on first arch 23-31. Pectoral fins moderate to long, more than 80% of head length. Caudal fin without white posterior border. Pectoral fins short or moderate in length, reaching end of second dorsal-fin base (except in small individuals). Greatest body depth about middle of body, near middle of first dorsal fin.

Yellowfin and Bigeye Tunas livers
Yellowfin (left) and Bigeye (right) Tunas livers
Photo Credit: R.J. Goldstein

Similar Species:

Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus thynnus

Albacore
Thunnus alalunga

Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus. Two small keels and a large median keel between them on either side of caudal peduncle. 7-10 dorsal and 7-10 anal finlets. Adipose eyelids absent. Teeth in jaws slender, conical, hardly compressed. Corselet of scales well developed. Upper surface of tongue with 2 longitudinal ridges. 9-16 spines in first dorsal fin. First and second dorsal fins barely separated, at most by eye diameter. 12-16 spines in first dorsal fin. Interpelvic process bifid and short, much shorter than pelvic fin rays. No dark longitudinal stripes on belly. Gill rakers 19-45 on first arch. Body covered with very small scales behind corselet. No black spots on body. 30-36 pectoral-fin rays. Ventral surface of liver covered with prominent striations; central lobe of liver equal to or longer than left and right lobes. Total gill rakers on first arch 31-43 Pectoral fins short, less than 80% of head length, 16.8-21.7% of fork length.

Albacore Thunnus alalonga. Two small keels and a large median keel between them on either side of caudal peduncle. 7-10 dorsal and 7-10 anal finlets. Adipose eyelids absent. Teeth in jaws slender, conical, hardly compressed. Corselet of scales well developed. Upper surface of tongue with 2 longitudinal ridges. 9-16 spines in first dorsal fin. First and second dorsal fins barely separated, at most by eye diameter. 12-16 spines in first dorsal fin. Interpelvic process bifid and short, much shorter than pelvic fin rays. No dark longitudinal stripes on belly. Gill rakers 19 to 45 on first arch. Body covered with very small scales behind corselet. No black spots on body. 30-36 pectoral-fin rays. Ventral surface of liver covered with prominent striations; central lobe of liver equal to or longer than left and right lobes. Total gill rakers on first arch 23-31. Pectoral fins moderate to long, more than 80% of head length. Caudal fin with a narrow white posterior border. Pectoral fins very long, reaching well past end of second dorsal-fin base. Greatest body depth at or slightly before level of second dorsal fin.

Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares

Blackfin Tuna
Thunnus atlanticus

Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin Tuna – Thunnus albacares
Thunnus atlanticus
Blackfin Tuna – Thunnus atlanticus
Photo Credit: G.W. Link

Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares. Two small keels and a large median keel between them on either side of caudal peduncle. 7-10 dorsal and 7-10 anal finlets. Adipose eyelids absent. Teeth in jaws slender, conical, hardly compressed. Corselet of scales well developed. Upper surface of tongue with 2 longitudinal ridges. 9-16 spines in first dorsal fin. First and second dorsal fins barely separated, at most by eye diameter. 12-16 spines in first dorsal fin. Interpelvic process bifid and short, much shorter than pelvic fin rays. No dark longitudinal stripes on belly. Gill rakers 19-45 on first arch. Body covered with very small scales behind corselet. No black spots on body. 30-36 pectoral-fin rays. Ventral surface of liver without striations; right lobe of liver much longer than left or central lobes. Total gill rakers on first arch 26-34, usually 27 or more. Second dorsal and anal fins of larger individuals (120 cm fork length and longer) elongate, more than 20% of fork length.

Blackfin Tuna Thunnus atlanticus. Two small keels and a large median keel between them on either side of caudal peduncle. 7-10 dorsal and 7-10 anal finlets. Adipose eyelids absent. Teeth in jaws slender, conical, hardly compressed. Corselet of scales well developed. Upper surface of tongue with 2 longitudinal ridges. 9-16 spines in first dorsal fin. First and second dorsal fins barely separated, at most by eye diameter. 12-16 spines in first dorsal fin. Interpelvic process bifid and short, much shorter than pelvic fin rays. No dark longitudinal stripes on belly. Gill rakers 19-45 on first arch. Body covered with very small scales behind corselet. No black spots on body. 30-36 pectoral-fin rays. Ventral surface of liver without striations; right lobe of liver much longer than left or central lobes. Total gill rakers on first arch 19-28, usually 26 or fewer. Second dorsal and anal fins never greatly elongate, less than 20% of fork length at all sizes.

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