Species: Thunnus alalunga, Albacore, Albacore Tuna

Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Albacore, Albacore Tuna

Body elongate, fusiform, moderately compressed; greatest body depth at about origin of 2nd dorsal fin; no fatty eyelid; teeth slender, conical; top of tongue with 2 cartilaginous ridges; 25-31 gill rakers; 2 dorsal fins, barely separated; 1st dorsal XII-XVI; 8-9 finlets after dorsal and anal fins; pectoral fin very long (reaches well past 2nd dorsal base) and with straight point; short, forked bony process between pelvic fins; 1 large + 2 small keels on tail base; tail fin deeply forked; indistinct scaly corselet on front of body; small scales cover body behind corselet; lateral line complete, front covered by corselet.

Faint iridescent blue stripe along flank; first dorsal deep yellow; second dorsal and anal light yellow; anal finlets dark grey; tail grey, with white rear border.

Size: 152 cm; 60 kg.

Habitat: oceanic.

Depth: 0-600 m.

Circumglobal, temperate; New England to Brazil.