Visit Our Diving Center
View our Accommodation
  • Plongée
    • Cours de Plongée
    • Plongées Accompagnées
    • Tarifs de Plongée
  • Maisons de Vacances
  • Offres Spéciales
  • Services de Vacances
  • Sites de Plongée
  • Gozo
  • A Propos de Nous
  • Contact
Magasin on-line Enregistrement en Plongee
  • FR
    • EN
    • DE
    • IT
    • PL
  • Plongée
    • Cours de Plongée
    • Plongées Accompagnées
    • Tarifs de Plongée
  • Maisons de Vacances
  • Offres Spéciales
  • Services de Vacances
  • Sites de Plongée
  • Gozo
  • A Propos de Nous
  • Contact
03. 03. 2019

Thunnus thynnus (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna)

Home » Blog » Thunnus thynnus (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna)

Thunnus thynnus, the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, is a species of tuna variously known as the Northern Bluefin Tuna (mainly when including Pacific bluefin as a subspecies), Giant Bluefin Tuna (for individuals exceeding 150 kg), and formerly as the Tunny.  Atlantic Bluefin Tunas are native to both the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.  They have become extinct in the Black Sea.

The genus Thunnus belongs to the family Scombridae, order Scombriformes, class Actinopterygii, phylum Chordata and kingdom Animalia.

Thunnus thynnus is a close relative of the other two bluefin tuna species – the Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus orientalis) and the Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii).  It is also a distant relative to the other large tunas of the genus Thunnus – the Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) and the Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares).   For many years, the Pacific and Atlantic bluefin tuna species were considered the same, or subspecies, and referred to as the ‘Northern Bluefin Tuna’.

The body of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is rhomboidal in profile and robust.  The head is conical and the mouth rather large.  The head contains a ‘pineal window’ that allows the fish to navigate over its multiple thousands-of-miles range.

The colour of Thunnus thynnus is dark blue above and grey below, with a gold coruscation covering the body and bright yellow caudal finlets.  Bluefin tuna can be distinguished from other family members by the relatively short length of their pectoral fins.  Their livers have a unique characteristic in that they are covered with blood vessels (striated).  In other tunas with short pectoral fins, such vessels are either not present or present in small numbers along the edges.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna reach maturity relatively quickly, and in approximately 15 years of age, fully mature adult specimens average 2 to 2.5 metres long and weigh around 250 kg.  However, Thunnus thynnus may exceed 900 kg in weight and live up to 50 years.

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna possesses enormous muscular strength, which it channels through a pair of tendons to its lunate-shaped caudal fin for propulsion.  In contrast to many other fish, the body stays rigid while the tail flicks back and forth, increasing stroke efficiency.  It also has a very efficient circulatory system.  It possesses one of the highest blood-haemoglobin concentrations among fish, which allows it to efficiently deliver oxygen to its tissues; this is combined with an exceptionally thin blood-water barrier to ensure rapid oxygen uptake.

To keep its core muscles warm, which are used for power and steady swimming, the Thunnus thynnus uses countercurrent exchange to prevent heat from being lost to the surrounding water.  Heat in the venous blood is efficiently transferred to the cool, oxygenated arterial blood entering a rete mirabile.  While all members of the tuna family are warm-blooded, the ability to thermoregulate is more highly developed in the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna than in any other fish.  This allows them to seek food in the rich but chilly waters of the North Atlantic.

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna typically hunts small fish such as sardines, herring, and mackerel, and invertebrates such as squid and crustaceans.  It dives to depths of 500 metres and can reach speeds of 64 km/h.

Female Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are thought to produce up to 30 million eggs.  They spawn in two widely separated areas.  One spawning ground exists in the western Mediterranean, particularly in the area of the Balearic Islands.  Their other important spawning ground is the Gulf of Mexico.

Thunnus thynnus group together in large concentrations to spawn, and at such times are highly vulnerable to commercial fishing.  This is particularly so in the Mediterranean, where the groups of spawning bluefins can be spotted from the air by light aircraft and purse seines directed to set around the schools.

The photo of these Atlantic Bluefin Tunas was taken at a depth of 30m at Reqqa Point on Gozo’s north coast.

Photo taken by Brian Azzopardi

Articles connexes:

Bath Sponge
05. 02. 2021

Bath Sponge (Spongia officinalis)

Spongia officinalis, better known as a variety of Bath Sponge, is a commercially used sea sponge.  Individuals grow in large...

Voir plus
Green Boring Sponge
09. 01. 202109. 01. 2021

Green Boring Sponge (Cliona viridis)

Cliona viridis, the Green Boring Sponge, is a species of demosponge found along the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean,...

Voir plus
Merry Christmas
11. 12. 2020

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2021

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2021 Wishing you all the best ! Happy Holidays from the Atlantis Gozo...

Voir plus

Reviews

Tolles Center für Sport- Tec und Rebreather Taucher. Bestens zu empfehlen 😃, immer wieder gerne hier 👍.
Manfred Kleemann
Manfred Kleemann
2022-05-23T05:51:17+0000
Our club goes out to Malta/Gozo every year and Atlantis was by far the best centre we have dealt with. The communication building up to the trip was great. So helpful. Our club has a mixed range of diver levels and Atlantis made sure that all our levels was covered. On arrival the welcome was very warming. They couldn’t have been more helpful. Once the admin and kit issue was done we was on our way. The end I’ve every day the team was on hand to assist us making sure we was all prepared for the following day. Nitrox, stages, fills and so on. The end of our trip the staff even came to the apartment to say farewell and seen us off. One of our club members left their regs by mistake but the team contacted us and meet us at the ferry port to return them. Thank you so much!!! We will be returning next year.
Alex Lucas
Alex Lucas
2022-04-21T07:36:58+0000
Highly recommended dive centre! We got all needed services in very friendly atmosphere. Thank you!!
Gedimas Usack
Gedimas Usack
2021-11-27T20:24:01+0000
I did a package deal of 10 dives with Atlantis and was extremely impressed from the get go. The center was very well equipped and maintained and the staff were awesome, totally committed to making sure everyone was welcomed and having fun whilst keeping a high level of professionalism. The guides (Denis, Georgia, Apollo, George) were very knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend Atlantis to anyone looking for a solid and trustworthy center with fair prices. P.s. Go in November, its way less busy and the vis is still good!
Jakob Wayne Víkingur Robertson
Jakob Wayne Víkingur Robertson
2021-11-18T01:22:10+0000
awesome place awesome people!
Richard Binks
Richard Binks
2021-10-20T05:07:13+0000
‹
›

Lettre d’informations (newsletter)

Abonnes-toi à notre Lettre d'informations et tu recevras les dernières nouvelles et les offres spéciales de l'équipe Atlantis! En agissant ainsi, vous acceptez nos Privacy Policy

Mailchimp
Sending
  • A Propos de Nous
    • Carrières
    • Partenaires
  • Plongée
    • Cours de Plongée
    • Cours de PADI
    • CMAS & VDST Kurse
    • BSAC Courses
    • Cours de Spécialité
    • Plongées Accompagnées
    • Plongées non accompagnées
    • Plongée TEK
    • Location du Matériel
    • Tarifs de Plongée
  • Sites de Plongée
  • Services de Vacances
    • Maisons de Vacances
    • Transferts d’Aéroport
    • Location de Voiture
    • Les Excursions
  • Offres Spéciales
  • Gozo
  • Galerie Photos
    • Crédit Photos
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Atlantis Diving Center. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de confidentialité | Termes et Conditions | Refund Policy

Website designed & developed by