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Tuna Facts & Worksheets

Tuna is a saltwater fish species that belongs to the Scombridae family. It is found in temperate and tropical oceans across the world and is known to migrate vast distances.

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Tuna is a saltwater fish that is considered one of the most consumed types of fish. Tuna belongs to the Thunnini tribe, which comprises 15 different species. Out of the 15, eight are considered “true” tunas, which are either bluefin or yellowfin tunas. Highly prized as food and game fish, tuna is commercially fished in temperate and subtropical seas.

See the fact file below for more information on Tuna, or you can download our 29-page Tuna worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • “Tuna” comes from the Middle Latin form Thunnus of the Greek word thýnnos which means “to rush.”
  • The English term “tuna” is also reportedly derived from the Spanish name atún from the 19th century.

TAXONOMY

  • In terms of scientific classification, tunas belong to Kingdom Animalia; the phylum Chordata; the class Actinopterygii, which includes ray-finned fish; the order Scombriformes; the family Scombridae, together with mackerels and bonitos; and the tribe Thunnini.
  • There are five genera part of the Thunnini tribe, one of which is Thunnus where the “true” tunas of bluefin and yellowfin species belong.

BODY DESCRIPTION AND PHYSIOLOGY

  • The body of a tuna is sleek, streamlined, and shaped like a torpedo, fashioned for speed.
  • It has a curved tail like a crescent moon and is pointed at the tips.
  • A tuna has two dorsal fins on its back, one of which can be laid flat to decrease resistance.
  • Close to the tail, there are three keels on each side to help the tuna stabilize its movement.
  • Between the dorsal and caudal fins, there are rayless and non-retractable finlets.
  • Commonly, the upper side of a tuna is a metallic shade of dark blue.
  • Its underside, however, is more of a silver or white color for camouflage purposes.
  • Most fish are purely cold-blooded, but tunas are partially warm-blooded, meaning they are able to regulate their temperature.
  • They can also warm up their muscles in order to swim fast and migrate to colder locations.
  • They can keep their body temperature close to the temperature of the surrounding water.
  • A tuna has a complex network of arteries and veins close to the muscles called the rete mirabile.
  • The rete mirabile facilitates the warming of the blood.

SIZE AND SPEED

  • A tuna is generally a large fish.
  • Bluefin tuna can reach 6 feet in length and weigh more than 500 pounds.
  • The largest tuna ever caught was an Atlantic bluefin that weighed 1,496 pounds.
  • Tuna can swim very fast by pulling back their dorsal and pectoral fins, which accelerates their speed and decreases the drag they produce.
  • They can achieve a speed of over 40 miles per hour. They can swim up to approximately 60 miles per hour.
  • Tuna can swim close to the surface of the water.
  • They can also go as deep as 3,000 feet while hunting for food.

LOCATION

  • Because they tend to move from one location to another, tuna are known to be nomadic.
  • Tunas are commonly located in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas, where the waters are temperate and subtropical.

REPRODUCTION

  • The average lifespan of tuna is 15 to 30 years.
  • The mating season of tuna varies from one location to another. For instance, mating happens from June to August in the Mediterranean Sea, while in the Gulf of Mexico, it starts around April and lasts until mid-June.
  • One female is able to release 30 million eggs during spawning.
  • Typically, only two of those eggs will survive until adulthood, as others will be eaten by marine animals.

DIET

  • Tuna are omnivores.
  • They feed on many other types of fish, including mackerel, herring, and hake.
  • They also eat squids, shellfish, crustaceans, and eels.
  • If they find plankton, kelp, or other vegetable matter in the ocean, tuna will eat those too.

FISHING

  • Tuna is a commercial fish regarded as one of the most consumed in the world.
  • Tuna are overfished in different locations, especially in Japan and Australia. 
  • Because of overfishing and high demand, the number of bluefin tuna specifically has dropped approximately 90% since the beginning of the 20th century.
  • Tuna has been listed as an endangered species.
  • Despite their endangered status, fishermen around the world continue to hunt them.
  • Not only is tuna being fished for food, but also caught as game, either for recreation purposes or competitions.

TUNA AS FOOD

  • Tuna is a healthy source of nutrients. It is rich in Omega-3s, vitamins B12 and D, iron, and calcium.
  • The flesh of tuna can be stored and served either fresh or frozen.
  • In Japanese cuisine, various tuna species are served raw as sushi or sashimi.
  • It can also be prepared as a steak dish.
  • Processed tuna can be stored in cans as flakes, chunks, or solids.
  • Tuna can be canned in oils, brine, water, and various sauces.
  • Tuna can also be processed into pet food, particularly for cats.

TUNA SPECIES

  • The seven species of tuna in the genus Thunnus are as follows:
    • Northern bluefin tuna (T. thynnus)
    • Albacore (T. alalunga)
    • Yellowfin tuna (T. albacares)
    • Southern bluefin tuna (T. thunnus maccoyii)
    • Bigeye tuna (T. obesus)
    • Blackfin tuna (T. atlanticus)
    • Longtail tuna (T. tonggol) 
  • These species of tuna vary in size, ranging from moderate to huge.
  • The biggest among the seven is the northern bluefin tuna, also known as the Atlantic bluefin tuna, which grows to up to 4.3 meters and can weigh up to 800 kilograms. 
  • The lifespan of the Atlantic bluefin tuna can last up to 35 years or more.
  • The Atlantic bluefin tuna is heavily fished as a highly prized food fish, often served as high-grade sushi.
  • As one of the smaller tuna species, the albacore grows to about 36 kilograms and can live for approximately 12 years.
  • The albacore, also known as the longfin tuna, has extremely long pectoral fins.
  • The tuna-canning industry of the United States mainly utilized the albacore species originally.
  • The yellowfin tuna, which has bright yellow dorsal and anal fins, can grow to about 180 kilograms. It also has yellow sides.
  • The yellowfin can live for around six or seven years and can breed all year round. 
  • The southern bluefin tuna is a species found in seas in the southern hemisphere.
  • The bigeye tuna can search for food in colder waters. They can also tolerate waters that are low in oxygen.
  • The bigeye is not found in the Mediterranean seas.
  • The blackfin tuna is the smallest of the seven species.
  • Also known as blackfin albacore or deep-bodied tunny, the blackfin is also highly prized as food fish.
  • The longtail tuna notably lives longer than other species of similar size.

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Tuna across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Tuna, a saltwater fish species that belongs to the Scombridae family and is found in temperate and tropical oceans across the world and is known to migrate vast distances.

Tuna Worksheets

Tuna Worksheets
Tuna Worksheets
Tuna Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  • Tuna Facts
  • Fact ID
  • Tuna or False?
  • The Tuna Diet
  • Tuna Bingo
  • Correct Sketch
  • Life Cycle Study
  • Search For More
  • Highly Prized Food Fish
  • Similar Animals
  • My Tuna Fable

Frequently Asked Questions About Tuna

What is the natural habitat of tuna fish?

Tuna are found in the open ocean, typically in temperate and tropical waters worldwide. Some species are pelagic, meaning they swim near the surface, while others occupy deeper waters. Tuna migrate vast distances, traveling between their feeding and breeding grounds.

What do tuna eat?

Tuna are apex predators and feed on smaller fish, squid, and crustaceans. Some species, such as the bluefin tuna, consume anchovies, sardines, and mackerel. The feeding habits of tuna vary depending on their size and species, with larger tuna generally feeding on larger prey.

How do tuna reproduce?

Tuna are capable of reproducing through spawning, in which they release eggs and sperm into the water, which then fertilize and develop into larvae. The exact spawning methods vary between species and can depend on environmental factors such as water temperature and the presence of other fish.

What is the average lifespan of tuna?

The lifespan of tuna in the wild can vary between species, with some species living for up to 15 years. Larger species, such as the Atlantic bluefin tuna, can live up to 30 years or more.

What are some threats to tuna populations?

Overfishing, bycatch, and the destruction of ocean habitats are significant threats to tuna populations in the wild. Climate change and the warming of the oceans can also impact tuna’s breeding and feeding patterns, as well as their distribution and migration patterns. Conservation efforts, such as fishing quotas and protected areas, are in place to help ensure the sustainability of tuna populations in the wild.

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Link will appear as Tuna Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 3, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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