Species Detail: Thunnus obesus
Taxonomy / Classification
Scientific Name: Thunnus obesus
 
Authority: (Lowe, 1839)
 
Synonyms:
 
Common Names:
Common Names Location Language
Bigeye tuna Caribbean English
Bigeye tuna North America English
Grootoogtonijn Dutch Caribbean Dutch
 
 
Formal Taxonomy:
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Animalia Chordata Actinopterygii
(Ray-finned Fishes)		 Perciformes
 Scombridae Thunnus
 
Taxonomic Comments:
 
General Species Description: 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).

Conservation Status
Status type Location Status Review date
IUCN Redlist Caribbean VU

Habitats Terrestrially widely distributed: No

No Habitats listed.

Distribution Status No Distributions listed.

Location Occurrence Status Description
Dutch Caribbean

Population No Population listed.

Threats No Threats listed.

Uses No Uses listed.

Resources
Images
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Distribution Maps No Distribution Maps listed.

Documents No Documents listed.

Web Links No Web Links listed.

References
Citation Author Reference Type
Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen 1983 FAO species catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2). 137 p. Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen 1983 Published document

Additional Resources

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