Marine Life

Bigeye tuna

Loabodu kanneli

Thunnus obesus

Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) is similar to and often confused with yellowfin tuna, but it has a heavier, thicker body and shorter second dorsal and anal fins. Additionally, the pattern of pale lines on the sides is different and the liver of yellowfin tuna has one lobe that is noticeably longer than the other two and is not striated. Bigeye tuna is widespread in the Indian Ocean, but it swims deeper than yellowfin tuna, so it rarely appears in normal Maldivian catches.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 2.1 m
color: Dark blue above, pale below. Dorsal and anal fins yellow. Finlets yellow with black edges. Roughly 8-10 near vertical, and more or less continuous pale lines on sides.
order: Perciformes
family: Scombridae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/thunnus-obesus.png
habitat and biology: Juveniles of this species can be found schooling with yellowfin and/or skipjack tuna in oceanic waters from the surface to a depth of 250 m. They feed on fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans.
distinctive characters: The dorsal fins of the larger specimens are close together, with the first dorsal having 13-15 spines and the second dorsal and anal fins being falcate, each followed by 8-10 finlets. The pectoral fins are moderately long, and a corselet of large and thicker scales is developed but not very distinct. The ventral surface of the liver is striated, with all three lobes being roughly equal in length.