Bony fish · Scombriformes · Scombridae

Bullet Tuna

Auxis rochei

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The bullet tuna is a small scombrid with a spindle-shaped body and a dark blue back marked with spots and wavy lines confined to the rear half. It forms dense, fast-moving schools in temperate and warm waters worldwide and feeds on small fish, crustaceans and squid.

Weight

up to 1.8 kg

Size

25 cm – 50 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Social structure

School

Gathers in coordinated schools, typical of fish.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanCarnivore In schools Fish Ocean

32countries 39parks 70dive sites7same family

Fun facts

GeneralA small tuna with dark flesh, traditionally canned in Andalusia.
It is told apart from the mackerel by its corselet: a band of thick scales around the front of the body that leaves the rest of the flank bare.
It is one of the main prey of tuna, dolphins and seabirds, and a key link between the plankton and the large predators.
It is one of the smallest tunas: barely 50 cm and about 1.8 kg, against the 4.6 m of the bluefin.
It forms shoals visible at the surface chasing small fish, and is standard bait for marlin, sailfish and wahoo.
Like the rest of the tunas, it keeps its body temperature above that of the surrounding water.