Family: Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) , subfamily: Thunninae
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name: Bigeye tuna
Max. size: 250 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 27000); max. published weight: 210.0 kg (Ref. 9987); max. reported age: 11 years
Environment: pelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine ; depth range 0 - 250 m
Climate:subtropical; 13 - 29°C; 45°N - 43°S, 180°W - 180°E
Importance: fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes
Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. Absent in the Mediterranean. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).
Biology: 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).
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