Bullet tuna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bullet Tuna |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scombriformes |
| Family: | Scombridae |
| Genus: | Auxis |
| Species: |
A. rochei
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| Binomial name | |
| Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810)
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| Synonyms | |
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The bullet tuna (Auxis rochei) is a type of tuna that lives in warm, tropical oceans all around the world. You can also find them in the Mediterranean Sea. These fish usually swim near the ocean's surface, but they can go down to about 50 meters (164 feet) deep.
Some scientists think the bullet tuna found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean might be a slightly different type, or even its own species! The bullet tuna can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long.
What is a Bullet Tuna?
The bullet tuna is sometimes called the bullet mackerel. It is a smaller and thinner type of tuna. It has a pointy first fin on its back (dorsal fin). This fin is quite far from its second back fin. Its other fins, like the ones on its belly (anal fin) and sides (pectoral fins), are also small. Just like other tuna, it has small finlets (tiny fins) near its tail. It also has a small patch of tiny scales around its chest area.
What do they look like?
Bullet tuna are blue-black on their back. They have cool zig-zag patterns of dark markings on their upper back, near the tail. Their belly is shiny silver. All of their fins are dark grey.
What do they eat?
Bullet tuna are hunters! They mostly eat small fish and squid. They also enjoy tiny ocean creatures called crustaceans, which are part of the plankton. Sometimes, they even eat baby mantis shrimp.
 | Roy Wilkins |
 | John Lewis |
 | Linda Carol Brown |
