Dogtooth tuna
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| Dogtooth tuna | ||||||||||||||
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| Gymnosarda unicolor (Rüppell, 1836) |
The dogtooth tuna is a large fast-swimming fish in the family Scombridae. It is one of the apex non pelagic predators (along with Giant Trevally, Napoleon Wrasse, and Large Groupers) of its range (from the Marshall islands to the Indian Ocean). It is not a true tuna, but is closely related to the bonitos. It has the large teeth and straight edged first dorsal fin characteristic of all bonito. Appreciated as both a game fish and food fish, a large specimen can give a good struggle. Anglers travel the world in search of Giant Trevally and dog tooth tuna, spending tens of thousands of dollars in both gear and travel expenses. It is a near shore fish, with smaller fish in shallow reef areas and larger ones in deep reef drop off areas. It will readily attack most fish that will fit in its mouth: mackerels, sardines, etc. Here is a picture of a smaller one [1]
The fish is known in Samoa and some other Pacific nations as tagi.
[edit] References
- Gymnosarda unicolor (TSN 172469). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 18 April 2006.
- "Gymnosarda unicolor". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
