| albacore | ||||||||||||||
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| Thunnus alalunga |
The albacore (Thunnus alalunga Bonnaterre, 1788) is an important food fish, a type of tuna (family Scombridae). It is found in the open waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea.
The pectoral fins of the albacore are very long, as much as 30% of the total length. The dorsal spines are 11-14 in number, and well forward of the rays of the dorsal fin. The anterior spines are much longer, giving a concave outline to the spiny part of the dorsal fin. Lengths range up to 140 cm and weights up to 60.3 km.
Albacores swim in schools, and may form mixed schools with skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii). They are predators, feeding on smaller fishes, crustaceans, and squids, and are in turn eaten by marlins and wahoos.
Albacore is a prized food, and the albacore fishery is economically significant. Methods of fishing include pole and line, longlining, and some purse seining. The best-quality canned tuna is made from albacore. However, albacores have been observed to accumulate higher levels of mercury than other types of tuna, and some group have urged testing and recall of canned albacore with high mercury levels. Albacores are also sought after by sport fishers.
This species may also be called albacore fish, albacore tuna, bastard albacore, bonito (but see bonito), longfin tuna, longfin tunny, or even just tuna.
In some parts of the world, other species may be called "albacore":