10/19/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/1MBWECJvbk/?mibextid=wwXIfr
🐟 TYPES OF TUNA & TUNA-LIKE SPECIES
A Visual Guide to 15 Commonly Recognized Species
Tuna and tuna-like fishes belong mainly to the mackerel family, Scombridae. They are streamlined, powerful swimmers adapted to open-water environments. However, not every fish commonly called “tuna” belongs to the genus Thunnus—species such as skipjack, bullet tuna, frigate tuna, and dogtooth tuna are closely related tuna-like fishes.
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🔵 1. ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA
Scientific name: Thunnus thynnus
A large, powerful bluefin species found in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. It has a robust body, dark blue upper coloration, and silvery sides.
Key feature: Large, thick-bodied bluefin with a strong caudal peduncle.
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🔵 2. PACIFIC BLUEFIN TUNA
Scientific name: Thunnus orientalis
A highly migratory bluefin found primarily in the North Pacific. It has a deep, muscular body and characteristic blue-gray coloration.
Key feature: Robust body with prominent bluefin proportions.
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🔵 3. SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA
Scientific name: Thunnus maccoyii
A large pelagic tuna associated with temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere.
Key feature: Deep-bodied bluefin with a dark blue upper body and silvery lower sides.
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🟡 4. YELLOWFIN TUNA
Scientific name: Thunnus albacares
One of the most recognizable tropical tunas. Its bright yellow dorsal and a**l fins and yellow finlets are distinctive.
Key feature: Yellow fins + streamlined body.
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⚫ 5. BIGEYE TUNA
Scientific name: Thunnus obesus
A large oceanic tuna with a deep body and relatively large eyes.
Key feature: Large eye and deep, powerful body.
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⚪ 6. ALBACORE TUNA
Scientific name: Thunnus alalunga
Known for its exceptionally long pectoral fins, which extend well beyond the beginning of the a**l fin.
Key feature: Very long pectoral fins.
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🩶 7. SKIPJACK TUNA
Scientific name: Katsuwonus pelamis
A smaller, highly active tuna recognized by its dark longitudinal stripes on the lower sides.
Key feature: Four to six dark stripes along the lower body.
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⚫ 8. BLACKFIN TUNA
Scientific name: Thunnus atlanticus
A relatively small Thunnus species found in the western Atlantic.
Key feature: Dark coloration and relatively compact body. FishBase lists its maximum reported length at about 108 cm fork length.
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🟢 9. LONGTAIL TUNA
Scientific name: Thunnus tonggol
A coastal or neritic tuna distributed through parts of the Indo-West Pacific.
Key feature: Elongated body and relatively long-looking tail region.
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🔵 10. LITTLE TUNNY
Scientific name: Euthynnus alletteratus
A fast-swimming tuna-like species of the Atlantic Ocean.
Key feature: Dark markings on the upper body and a streamlined shape.
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🔵 11. BULLET TUNA
Scientific name: Auxis rochei
A small, fast tuna-like fish found in tropical and subtropical oceans.
Key feature: Compact, muscular body with a pointed head and narrow caudal peduncle.
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🔵 12. FRIGATE TUNA
Scientific name: Auxis thazard
Another small, highly active tuna-like species.
Key feature: Dark back, compact body, and characteristic markings.
FishBase lists Auxis thazard separately from bullet tuna (Auxis rochei).
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🩶 13. SLENDER TUNA
Scientific name: Allothunnus fallai
A distinctive tuna-like species associated with cooler Southern Ocean waters.
Key feature: Noticeably slender body compared with the larger Thunnus species.
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🔵 14. DOGTOOTH TUNA
Scientific name: Gymnosarda unicolor
Despite its common name, dogtooth tuna is not a species of the genus Thunnus. It is a closely related tuna-like fish.
Key feature: Powerful body, large mouth, and prominent canine-like teeth.
FAO references classify dogtooth tuna among tuna-like species rather than the principal Thunnus tunas.
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⚫ 15. BLACK SKIPJACK
Scientific name: Euthynnus lineatus
A tuna-like species found primarily in the eastern Pacific.
Key feature: Dark body markings and compact, streamlined shape.
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🔎 QUICK IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
Fish Scientific Name Easy Identification Feature
Atlantic Bluefin Thunnus thynnus Very large, deep body
Pacific Bluefin Thunnus orientalis Robust bluefin body
Southern Bluefin Thunnus maccoyii Deep-bodied southern bluefin
Yellowfin Thunnus albacares Bright yellow fins
Bigeye Thunnus obesus Large eye, deep body
Albacore Thunnus alalunga Extremely long pectoral fins
Skipjack Katsuwonus pelamis Dark stripes on lower sides
Blackfin Thunnus atlanticus Compact western Atlantic Thunnus
Longtail Thunnus tonggol Elongated tail region
Little Tunny Euthynnus alletteratus Dark upper-body markings
Bullet Tuna Auxis rochei Small, compact body
Frigate Tuna Auxis thazard Dark back, compact shape
Slender Tuna Allothunnus fallai Very slender body
Dogtooth Tuna Gymnosarda unicolor Large mouth & strong teeth
Black Skipjack Euthynnus lineatus Dark body markings
The scientific names above follow FishBase and FAO references; importantly, the chart includes both true Thunnus tunas and closely related tuna-like species.
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🎣 MUMU FISHING TIP
When identifying tuna, don't rely on color alone. Color can change after capture and can vary with lighting and fish condition.
Instead, compare:
BODY SHAPE → FIN LENGTH → FIN COLOR → STRIPES/MARKINGS → EYE SIZE → TAIL & CAUDAL PEDUNCLE
And remember:
> Not every fish called “tuna” belongs to the genus Thunnus.
That distinction is especially important when comparing skipjack, bullet tuna, frigate tuna, dogtooth tuna, and other tuna-like species.
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