Tuna Species

Were highlighting the major commercial tuna species on this page, six in the genus Thunnus and one in the genus Katsuwonus. Minor or less economically important tunas include bullet tuna, blackfin tuna, and tonggol.

Tuna species share some distinctive characteristics.

Due to the physiology of their respiratory system, tunas are obligate ram ventilators that is, they need to swim constantly to make water pass through their gills.

Because they swim constantly to oxygenate their blood, their muscular metabolism continuously generates heat, which gives them a unique feature among all bony fishes the ability to regulate their body temperatures. Their thermoregulation capacity enables them to tolerate a wide range of water temperatures.

Major Tuna Species

Learn about the characteristics, geographic locations, and more of these major tuna species.