Scientific Name
Gymnosarda unicolor

Common Name
Dogtooth tuna

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13; Vertebrae: 38. Mouth fairly large, upper jaw reaching to middle of eye. Laminae of olfactory rosette 48 to 56. Interpelvic process large and single. Lateral line strongly undulating. Body naked posterior to corselet. Swim bladder large, spleen visible in ventral view on the right side of the body. The back and upper sides brilliant blue-black, lower sides and belly silvery; no lines, spots or other markings on the body.

Classification

Classified By

R?ppell, 1836

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mackerels, tunas, bonitos (Scombridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia, north to Japan, south to Australia.

Range

31°N - 30°S, 32°E - 130°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

20 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - 100 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.75 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

248 cm

Common Length

190 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (73 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tmax>10)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 168)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated