Scombridae

Yellowfin tuna

Thunnus albacares

Golden fins roaming beside porpoises

• Blue
• Silver
• Yellow
• Tropical
• Globally widespread
• Marine fish
• Fusiform
• Large
• Tropical fish

Long yellow fins on a streamlined body give an adult yellowfin tuna a distinctive profile. The back is dark metallic blue, while the lower body grades toward silver; yellow finlets and a stripe along the side add further clues. This is an ocean traveller distributed through tropical and subtropical seas, rather than a fish tied to one reef. Its movements can extend toward higher latitudes as seasonal waters warm. Young fish occupy surface waters, whereas older fish often use deeper layers. Adults pursue fish, squid and crustaceans, but are themselves prey for large marine predators. NOAA describes rapid growth and reproduction beginning around two years for most individuals. Tropical spawning can occur throughout the year, while higher-latitude populations spawn seasonally, linking this fish's life cycle closely to the warm-water environment.

Sources: NOAA Fisheries — Pacific Yellowfin Tuna