Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Hysterothylacium Infection 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Sterrhurus Infection. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Pelichnibothrium Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Kudoa Infestation 4. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Didymostoma Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligus Infestation 22. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Lecithocladium Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Callitetrarhynchus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Pseudocycnus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hexostoma thynni Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hirudinella clavata Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Lacistorhynchus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Tentacularia Disease of Coryphaena. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligus Infestation 7. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hirudinella Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hysterothylacium Infection 6. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Tristomella Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Ascaridatosis (adult and juvenile). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Didymocystis Infestation 11. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Didymocystis Infestation 12. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hirudinella Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Koellikerioides Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Köllikeria Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Köllikeria Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Wedlia Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Wedlia Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Oviparous batch spawner, with an inter-spawning interval of 1-2 days in the Mediterranean Sea (Ref. 88871). Females larger than 205 cm fork length are estimated to have a mean fecundity of 30-60 and 13-15 million eggs, in the western and eastern Atlantic respectively (Ref. 40805, Ref. 88871). Spawning occurs when sea surface temperatures are between 22.6-27.5 ºC and 22.5-25.5 ºC in the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean Sea respectively (88868). Spawning occurs between June and August in the Mediterranean Sea (Ref. 88868). Eggs are released directly to the water column and hatch after 2 days (Ref. 88823). At 24°C, embryo development lasts about 32 hours and larval stages about 30 days. Egg size 1.0 mm, larval length at hatching 2.8 mm.Spawning grounds are mainly known from the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea, but the presence of mature individuals and larvae far from these areas (e.g. Bahamas and central North Atlantic Ocean) suggest that other spawning grounds may also be utilized (Ref. 88873, Ref. 88874, Ref. 88872). Appears to display homing behaviour with (western-tagged individuals migrating back to specific spawning sites either in the Gulf of Mexico or the Mediterranean Sea) (Ref. 88872, Ref. 88870). Fidelity to natal areas seem to occur once individuals reach maturity, i.e. after returning to either the western or eastern spawning grounds (Ref. 88868).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 13 - 16; Vertebrae: 39

Bluefin tuna are highly migratory, fast swimmers capable of attaining speeds over 90 km / h (Ref. 88852), moving between cooler feeding grounds and warmer spawning areas (Ref. 88823). Trans-Atlantic movements related to feeding have been reported; juveniles originating from the Mediterranean Sea found in foraging grounds in the eastern coast of the USA (88870), conversely, juveniles originating from the western Atlantic have been found in foraging grounds in the central North Atlantic (88868). Variations in the food spectrum are attributed primarily to behavioral differences in feeding: 'vigorous pursuit' would be required on small schooling fishes (anchovies, sauries, hakes) or on squids, while 'modified filter-feeding' is used to feed on red crabs and other less agile organisms (Ref. 168). Preyed upon by killer whales, Orcinus orca; mako sharks and pilot whales, Globicephala melaena. Parasites found were Hirundinella ventricosa, Hysterothylacium adunca, Hysterothylacium incurvum, Hysterothylacium reliquens, Anisakis simplex, Genitocotyle atlantica, Derogenes varicans, Caligus coryphaenae and Rhapidascaris camura (Ref. 5951).

Lecithaster Infection. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

A very large species, deepest near the middle of the first dorsal fin base. The second dorsal fin higher than the first; the pectoral fins are very short, less than 80% of head length. Swim bladder present. Lower sides and belly silvery white with colorless transverse lines alternated with rows of colorless dots. The first dorsal fin is yellow or bluish; the second reddish-brown; the anal fin and finlets dusky yellow and edged with black; the median caudal keel is black in adults. May be confused with several other tunas, these are typically much smaller and easily distinguished by specific patterns of stripes, bands or dots.

Oncophora Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Brachiella Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caligus Infestation 18. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Euryphorous Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Pennella Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Didymozoon Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Didymozoon Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Didymozoon Infestation 4. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caballerocotyla Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caballerocotyla Infestation 5. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caballerocotyla Infestation 6. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Caballerocotyla Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hexostoma dissmile Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hexostoma albsmithi Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Kuhnia Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Rhipidocotyle Infestation 6. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Köllikeria Infestation 4. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Distomum Infection. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Didymocystis Infestation 24. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Didymocystis Infestation 15. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Tristomella Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Tristomella Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Sibitrema Infection. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Neohexostoma Infestation 4. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Neohexostoma infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Nasicola Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Nasicola Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Metapseudaxine Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hexostoma acutum Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Oceanic but seasonally coming close to shore. They school by size, sometimes together with albacore, yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack etc. Visual predators (Ref. 88866) preying on small schooling fishes (anchovies, sauries, hakes) or on squids and red crabs. Live up to 40 years in the western Atlantic (Ref. 88822). Weight up to 900 kg (Ref. 88823). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). Juvenile growth is rapid (about 30 cm / year) but slower than in other tuna and billfish species (Ref. 88867). Adult growth is considerably slower, with about 10 years needed to reach two thirds of maximum length. Become rare because of massive overfishing (Ref. 35388).

fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes