Bluefin Tuna Facts

Tuna Types:Four Intriguing Bluefin Tuna Facts

When you were a kid, you probably at one point or the other had a tuna sandwich (unless you are allergic to fish, of course). Millions of people all over the world eat tuna fish on a daily basis, yet the average person does not really know much about the fish that they are consuming. Did you know, for example, that the bluefin tuna can swim at speeds up to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h)? This article will address this issue by sharing with you four intriguing bluefin tuna facts that will shed a little light on a not-so-little fish.

Bluefin Tuna Facts #1: Warm Blooded Fish

Most fish are cold-blooded, in that they cannot regulate their own body temperature. Reptiles and amphibians are like this as well. Bluefin tuna, however, are warm-blooded, which means they can control their body temperature like mammals, which allows them to live in environments that they would not be able to inhabit otherwise. They accomplish this by using special organs located near their muscles that take cold blood from the veins and heat it (basically speaking). This process allows bluefin tuna to be warmer than the surrounding water by as much as 36 degrees Fahrenheit - which is great for those trips through the cold north Atlantic.

Bluefin Tuna Facts #2: Large and In Charge

Believe it or not, and contrary to popular opinion, tuna are not small. Bluefin tuna definitely are not – these fish normally grow to be between 6.5 and 14 feet in length, and can weigh around 750-800 pounds. The largest bluefin tuna specimen ever caught, though, blows most bluefin tuna out of the water. This fish weighed in at an incredible and jaw-dropping 1,500 pounds – which is enough for 4,000 6-ounce cans of tuna.

Bluefin Tuna Facts #3: Where They Live

Bluefin tuna are generally divided into three types based on where they are primarily found: Pacific bluefin, northern bluefin tuna, and southern bluefin tuna. They can be found in just about every major body of water, though, and frequently migrate as far as 6,000 miles away from their spawning location. They also use their powerful muscles and streamlined bodies to dive to depths as far down as 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), where they feast on smaller fish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, and squid.

Bluefin Tuna Facts #4: Bluefin Tuna as Food

Bluefin tuna is quite popular all across the world as one of the most preferred types of tuna out there. While similar in taste to other types, for the most part, bluefin tuna has a distinct taste that makes it more desirable than other types of tuna – and also more expensive. In Japan, for example, bluefin tuna is considered a delicacy, and comprises most of the tuna you will see at a sushi bar (with yellowfin tuna being another popular choice). Of course, you can also find bluefin tuna in other places – even your supermarket, if you are lucky.

Well, there you are. Now, with these bluefin tuna facts, you are better acquainted with the bluefin tuna, one of the most popular and most desirable types of tuna in the sea. So, the next time you take a bite into a tuna salad sandwich, or sample some delicious sushi, think of these bluefin tuna facts – and enjoy the flavor!

You are welcome to visit :
http://tuna-types.blogspot.com/

Tuna Fishing Guide Click Here!