Thunnus thynnus

Thunnus thynnus
    n 1: largest tuna; to 1500 pounds; of mostly temperate seas:
         feed in polar regions but breed in tropics [syn: {bluefin},
         {bluefin tuna}, {horse mackerel}, {Thunnus thynnus}]
    

Tuna \Tu"na\, n. [Cf. {Tunny}.]
   1. (Zool.) Any one of several species of large oceanic fishes
      belonging to the mackerel family {Scombridae}, especially
      the {bluefin tuna} ({Thunnus thynnus}, formerly {Orcynus
      thynnus} or {Albacora thynnus}), called also the {common
      tunny} or {great tunny}, a native of the Mediterranean Sea
      and of temperate parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It sometimes
      weighs a thousand pounds or more, and is caught
      commercially in large quantity for use as food; -- also
      called, especially in Britain, {tunny}. It is also one of
      the favorite fishes used by the Japanese in preparing
      sushi. On the American coast, especially in New England,
      it is sometimes called the {horse mackerel}. Another
      well-known species is the {yellowfin tuna} ({Thunnus
      albacares}) of warm seas. the See Illust. of {Horse
      mackerel}, under {Horse}.

   Note: The little tunny ({Gymnosarda alletterata}) of the
         Mediterranean and North Atlantic, and the long-finned
         tunny, or albacore ({Thunnus alalunga}) (see
         {Albacore}), are related species of smaller size.
         [1913 Webster +PJC]

   2. The bonito, 2.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. the meat of the tuna, used as food; -- also called {tuna
      fish}.
      [PJC]
    

Tunny \Tun"ny\ (t[u^]n"n[y^]), n.; pl. {Tunnies}. [L. thunnus,
   thynnus, Gr. qy`nnos, qy^nos: cf. It. tonno, F. & Pr. thon.]
   (Zool.)
   The chiefly British equivalent of {tuna}; any one of several
   species of large oceanic fishes belonging to the Mackerel
   family, especially the common or great tunny ({Thunnus
   thynnus} syn. {Albacora thynnus}, formerly {Orcynus thynnus})
   native of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It
   sometimes weighs a thousand pounds or more, and is
   extensively caught in the Mediterranean. On the American
   coast it is called {horse mackerel}. See Illust. of {Horse
   mackerel}, under {Horse}. [Written also {thynny}.]
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The little tunny ({Gymnosarda alletterata}) of the
         Mediterranean and North Atlantic, and the long-finned
         tunny, or albicore ({Thunnus alalunga}, see
         {Albacore}), are related species of smaller size.
         [1913 Webster]
    

Albacore \Al"ba*core\, n. (Zool.)
   A name applied to several large fishes of the Mackerel family
   ({Scombridae}), esp. {Thunnus alalunga} (formerly {Orcynus
   alalonga}); it is a type of tuna or tunny. The name has been
   also applied to a larger related species, {Thunnus thynnus}
   (formerly {Orcynus thynnus}), common in the Mediterranean and
   Atlantic, which is called in New England the {horse
   mackerel}. [formerly spelled {albicore}.]
   [1913 Webster +PJC]