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Tuna

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Illustration of different kinds of tuna fish, including albacore, Atlantic bluefin, skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna.

All About Tuna

Tuna are special fish that live in warm seas all around the world. They belong to a family called Scombridae, which also includes mackerel. There are 15 different kinds of tuna, ranging from tiny ones like the bullet tuna to very big ones like the Atlantic bluefin tuna.

One cool thing about tuna is that they can keep their bodies warmer than the water around them. This helps them swim fast and far. Some tuna, like the yellowfin tuna, can zoom through the water at speeds of up to 75 kilometers per hour (that’s almost 47 miles per hour)! Their sleek bodies make them great swimmers.

Tuna are very important for food. People all over the world enjoy eating them. Fresh tuna can be cooked as a juicy steak, while canned tuna is used in sandwiches and salads. Tuna is a good source of protein and vitamin D, but it’s important to eat it in moderation because it can sometimes contain a substance called mercury.

Tuna are caught in many ways, including with special nets and hooks. Fishing for tuna has grown a lot over the years, with most coming from the Pacific Ocean. Some tuna species, like the southern bluefin tuna, are caught so much that they are now in danger. Many groups work together to make sure tuna can keep swimming in the oceans for years to come.

Some Interesting Tuna Facts

  • The word “tuna” comes from the Spanish word atún.
  • Scientists discovered that the Atlantic bluefin tuna and the Pacific bluefin tuna are two different species in 1999.
  • Tuna have shiny, silvery bellies that help them blend into deeper water.

Tuna are amazing fish that help feed many people and are loved by fishers around the globe.

Images

An illustrated depiction of a tuna fish by artist George Henry Ford.
Illustration of a fish species called Auxis thazard, part of the Scombridae family.
Illustration of a bonito fish, also known as Euthynnus alletteratus.
Illustration showing the relative sizes of Atlantic tuna fish, with the largest one about 8 feet long.
Illustration of a Southern Bluefin Tuna for educational use.
Illustration of an Atlantic mackerel, a type of fish commonly found in the ocean.
Illustration of a king mackerel, a type of large fish found in the Atlantic Ocean.
Illustration of a Sarda sarda fish from a 1901 report.
Illustration of a skipjack tuna fish.
Atlantic bluefin tuna - a large, powerful fish found in the open ocean.
Illustration of a yellowfin tuna, a popular species of ocean fish.
Illustration of a bigeye tuna, a large ocean fish.
A majestic Pacific bluefin tuna, a large and powerful fish found in the ocean.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Tuna, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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