π¦ Animal world π¬ Sea animals
The tuna
π In short
The tuna is a strong, fast sea fish that swims very long distances across the wide oceans. In many countries people love eating it, fresh or canned in sandwiches and salads. It belongs to the mackerel family.
π€© Did you know?
- The bluefin is the biggest tuna, up to 3.4 meters long and 730 kilograms.
- One tuna swam 10800 kilometers on a single journey.
- There are 14 kinds of tuna.
- A tuna can swim at more than 60 kilometers an hour.
π Find out more
π Swimming nonstop
A tuna never stops swimming, even when resting! It needs water flowing over its gills all the time to breathe.
π A body like a rocket
A tuna's body is smooth and pointed at both ends, and its fins fold into grooves in its body, so it cuts through the water very fast.
π‘ A warm fish
Most fish are as cold as the water, but a tuna can keep its muscles warmer than the water around it, so it swims powerfully even in cold seas.
π― Journeys across the ocean
Tuna migrate thousands of kilometers, crossing the ocean from side to side looking for food and the right water to lay their eggs.
𧩠Test yourself
1 Why does a tuna never stop swimming?
2 Where does the tuna live?
3 One tuna swam ?? kilometers on a single journey.
4 Which picture shows βThe tunaβ?
π¦ Discover more
π· Picture sources: Wikimedia Commons
- Credit: NOAA Central Library Historical Fisheries Collection Β· Public domain
