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Dogtooth Tuna
Gymnosarda unicolor (Rüppell, 1838)
A Dogtooth Tuna at a depth of 15m, Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, October 2001. View larger image.
A 1.6m long Dogtooth Tuna speared by A. Boomer at a depth of 10-15m, Cato Reef, off Queensland, November 1996. View larger image.
The Dogtooth Tuna has two separate dorsal fins, followed by 6-7 finlets. It has a large mouth with conical teeth in both jaws. The lateral line on the rear half of the fish is wavy.
This species is brilliant blue to black above and silver below.
It grows to 1.6m in length.
The Dogtooth Tuna is a tropical species that is often seen cruising along coral reef dropoffs.
It has a wide distribution through parts of the Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Collette, B.B. & C.E. Nauen. 1983. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. No. 125: i-vii + 1-137.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
