Southern Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus maccoyii (Castelnau, 1872)

Scientific name: Thunnus maccoyii
Alternative name/s:
Bluefin, Japanese Central Pacific Bluefin Tuna, SBT, Southern Tuna, Southern Tunny
Southern Bluefin Tuna Click to enlarge image
A Southern Bluefin Tuna at a depth of 1 m, in a large floating pen in Boston Bay, Port Lincoln, South Australia, 21 March 2012. Image: David Muirhead
© David Muirhead

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Thunnus
    Species
    maccoyii
    Family
    Scombridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    2.25 m (fork length)

The Southern Bluefin Tuna is a fast-swimming pelagic species that occurs circum-globally in southern temperate waters.

Identification

The species has relatively short pectoral fins and lacks distinctive body patterning.

Distribution

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.

Conservation status

See Further Reading, below.

References

  1. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Pepperell, J. 2010. Fishes of the Open Ocean. A natural history & illustrated guide. University of NSW Press. Pp. 266.

Further reading

  1. Australian endangered species: Southern Bluefin Tuna. 2013. Australian endangered species: Southern Bluefin Tuna. [ONLINE] Available at: http://theconversation.com/australian-endangered-species-southern-bluefin-tuna-11636. [Accessed 13 May 2013].