Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)

Scientific name: Thunnus obesus Lowe, 1839

Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)

The Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) is a marine fish of the family Scombridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 13–29°C (55–84°F).

Bigeye tuna care at a glance

Temperature
13–29°C (55–84°F)

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. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. Feed on a wide variety of fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans during the day and at night. Meat is highly prized and processed into sashimi in Japan. Marketed mainly canned or frozen, but also sold fresh.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Thunnus obesus
Family
Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
250
Common length
180
Depth range
0–250 m (0–820 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 250 m
Climate
Subtropical
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.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU) (A1bd)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.11-0.23; tm=3; tmax=11; Fec=2 million)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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