Scientific Name
Euthynnus alletteratus

Common Name
Little tunny

Biology
Found in neritic waters close inshore (Ref. 13628). This schooling species is an opportunistic predator which feeds on virtually everything within its range, i.e. crustaceans, fishes (mainly clupeoid), squids, heteropods and tunicates. Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). Specialized traps (madragues) are used in Tunisia and Morocco. Diving bird flocks may indicate large schools (Ref. 9710). Utilized fresh, dried-salted, smoked, canned and frozen (Ref. 9987). A popular game fish (Ref. 9710).

Classification

Classified By

Rafinesque, 1810

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mackerels, tunas, bonitos (Scombridae)

Distribution

Region

Atlantic Ocean

Distribution

Atlantic Ocean: in tropical and subtropical waters, including the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).

Range

56°N - 30°S, 92°W - 42°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

150 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 150 m (Ref. 28173)

Trophic Level

4.49 s.e. 0.80 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

122 cm

Common Length

80.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (57 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.13-0.22; tm=2; tmax=8; Fec=71,000)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated