The bluefin tunaBy Zach Yates

RelationsWhat the bluefins closest relatives are…..

Kingdom Phylum etc……………………..Kingdom ( animilia )Phylum ( chordata )Class ( actinopterygii )Order ( perciformes )Family ( scombridae )Genus ( Thunnus )Species (maccoyii ) ( orentalis ), or ( thynus ).There are many types of tuna, even three

types of bluefin tuna. They are on the next slide.

Types of bluefin1) The Pacific bluefin ( Thunnus orentalis )

(above )

2) The Atlantic bluefin ( Thunnus thynus )

3) The Southern bluefin ( Thunnus maccoyii ) (below)

Physical characteristicsThere is no difference between the three

types of bluefin, nor male and female, but here are some of their characteristics.

Caudal - the part of the tuna that connects its tailfin to its body.

DistributionThe bluefin tuna is distributed all over the

world with more than 80,000 tons being brought to fish markets every year.

HabitatThe bluefin tuna lives near the equator, but is most common near Mexico and California.

Conservation statusThe pacific bluefin (Thunnus orentalis ) is of

least concern and increasing, while the other species however are not doing well at all.

The southern bluefin ( Thunnus maccoyii ) is the most endangered of all three bluefin tuna. It is critically endangered and decreasing.

The Atlantic bluefin ( Thunnus thynus ) is also endangered and decreasing, but not as much as the southern bluefin.

Reproductive characteristicsThe bluefin tuna spawns when they are

around seven to ten years old.They gather in big packs of 200 to 300 tuna to spawn.

They lay about 3 million eggs a year, but only 1% of those eggs survive due to natural preditors.

Parental careThe bluefin tuna leaves its eggs right after it

lays them.Neither parents take care of the eggs.

Longevity and mortalityThe bluefin tuna lives up to 15 years in the

wild ( although the record is up to 50 years ).Bluefin tuna do not die of old age in captivity,

they are usually slaughtered, frozen, and sent to fish markets for a decent pay.

Seasonal patternsThe Atlantic bluefin tuna’s patterns are

through the Atlantic ocean.

Seasonal patternsSouthern bluefins patterns are all through

Australian waters

Seasonal patternsThe pacific bluefin migrates through

Californian and Mexican waters.

Seasonal patternsThe bluefin tuna does not hibernate or

undergo torpor

DietThe bluefin tuna feeds on squid,Fish, and other vertebrates andInvertebrates.

Predator relationships

The bluefin tuna’s predators are mostly sharks and people.

The sharks pose no threat to the tuna though.

Human relationshipsHumans pose the biggest threat to the

bluefin tuna, over fishing and caging have brought this fish down to less than 50% of what it used to be in the 1950’s.

Fun facts!!!!!!Did you know…….

Mitsubishi owns more than half of the bluefin fishing companies.

The bluefin can cross the Atlantic ocean in less than 60 days.

they have 2 types of muscle for cruising and having long darts of speed to catch prey.

They are warm blooded.They can obtain a speed of 45 mph.The bluefin tuna has the longest migration of any

animal on the planet.

Works citedwww.plosone.orgwww.arkive.orgwww.iucnredlist.org/www.sciencedirect.comwww.gtopp.org

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT1EL9kpel4