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Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallai) — Scombridae

Slender tuna

Allothunnus fallai
Family: Scombridae

The Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallai) is a saltwater fish of the family Scombridae that grows up to 105 cm.

Length
105 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–20.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Easter I., Amsterdam I. and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The slender tuna is a mackerel-like tuna (Scombridae) from the cool waters of the southern hemisphere, in a broad band around the Southern Ocean. The species grows to about 1 metre and has a streamlined, torpedo-shaped, blue-black body with a silvery belly and small separate finlets before the crescent-shaped tail. As a fast schooling predator it hunts small zooplankton, mainly crustaceans, and small fish in open water. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slender tuna?

The Slender tuna has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Slender tuna live?

The Slender tuna lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Africa: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Easter I., Amsterdam I. and others

How big does the Slender tuna get?

The Slender tuna grows to a maximum of about 105 cm. On average the species is around 86 cm.

Is the Slender tuna dangerous to humans?

No, the Slender tuna is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Slender tuna edible?

Yes, the Slender tuna is commonly eaten.

More photos

Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallai) — Scombridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — gregs (CC0)
Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallai) — Scombridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) peterlanglands, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallai) — Scombridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Johanna Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallai) — Scombridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) JP, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Slender tuna sourced
Scientific name
Allothunnus fallai
Family
Scombridae
Other names
Slender tuna; Falla's tuna; Tuna verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
105.0 verified
Average length (cm)
86.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Easter I., Amsterdam I. and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Can be caught with natural bait or lures, matched to the size and habitat of the species. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Scombridae

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