Mackerel tuna

Mackerel Tuna is a common name for several species of tuna within the family Scombridae. The term is most often used to refer to the species Euthynnus affinis, also known as the Kawakawa or Eastern Little Tuna.

Taxonomy

The Mackerel Tuna belongs to the genus Euthynnus, which is part of the larger family of Scombridae. This family includes other well-known fish such as the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and the Albacore.

Description

Mackerel Tuna are small to medium-sized fish, typically measuring between 50 and 80 cm in length. They have a streamlined body built for fast swimming and a metallic blue or greenish-blue color on their back with silver sides and belly.

Distribution and Habitat

Mackerel Tuna are found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. They are pelagic fish, meaning they live in the open ocean rather than close to the coast, but they are also known to enter bays and lagoons.

Diet

The diet of the Mackerel Tuna consists mainly of small fish, cephalopods such as squid, and crustaceans.

Commercial Importance

Mackerel Tuna are commercially important in many parts of the world. They are caught both for local consumption and for export, often canned or processed into fish meal.

Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not evaluated the conservation status of the Mackerel Tuna. However, like many other species of tuna, they are potentially threatened by overfishing.

See Also

• Tuna
• Scombridae
• Euthynnus