The basic problems of taxonomy and 

 nomenclature of tunas still remain unresolved. 

 Even among American tuna research labora- 

 tories now studying eastern Pacific tunas, there 

 exist some differences in the usage of names. 

 Some uses stand on reasonably firm scientific 

 ground; others are based on custom and gener- 

 ally follow Kishinouye's lead. 



In the category of true tunas are included 

 thebluefins, albacores, yellowfins, bigeyes, and 

 members of genera Kishinoella and Allothunnus . 

 Among the bluefins, the authors feel that (1) T. 

 maccoyi is a distinct species, (2) T. saliens is 

 at least subspecifically distinct from the Atlan- 

 tic form, (3) the relationship of T. saliens to 

 T. orientalis is unknown, and (4) until necessary 

 research is done, the best course is to call the 

 California bluefin T. saliens and the Japanese 

 T. orientalis. 



There is but one species of albacore in 

 the North Pacific, but no one knows whether it 

 is in any way distinguishable from that in the 

 Atlantic. The Pacific albacore has been listed 

 as T. germo, G. germo, T. alalunga, and G. 

 alalunga. The question of specific names can- 

 not be properly resolved until a direct compari- 

 son of Atlantic and Pacific material is made. 



The problem with yellowfins is whether 

 the various forms from the oceans of the world 

 are identical or whether they are specifically 

 and subspecifically distinct. This problem will 

 be resolved only by a global attack; pending that, 

 continued use of macropterus for the Pacific 

 forms is recommended. 



For the bigeye, Pacific workers have 

 generally used sibi, and it seems wise to con- 

 tinue this practice for the present. 



Serventy (1942)^'has documented the 

 case for the Australian northern bluefin, Kishi- 

 noella tonggol; the New Zealand fish, Allothunnus 

 fallai , rounds out the Pacific tunas. 



In the category of the skipjacks are in- 

 cluded the skipjack, the black skipjacks, and the 

 frigate mackerels. The skipjack appear s almost 

 universally in the literature as Katsuwonus 

 pelamis. Such usage tacitly recognizes the 

 existence of a species worldwide in distribution . 

 K. vagans is used by some authors who regard 

 the Pacific form as separable from the Atlantic 

 form. There are no factual data to support 

 either view, and there is need for a direct com- 

 parison of specimens. 



The black skipjacks are now universally 

 consigned to genus Euthynnus. The number and 



definition of species are matters of debate, but 

 it is reasonably certain that alletteratus, linea- 

 tus, and affinis are valid names for valid species. 

 It is suggested that the name E. yaito be retained 

 for the western Pacific species until such time 

 as its confusion (it may be synonymous) with 

 affinis has been clarified. 



As for higher classification, the 

 author s believe that Germo should be submerged 

 in favor of Thunnus and that Neothunnus would 

 have to be submerged in favor of Parathunnus, 

 on page priority, if their separation from 

 Thunnus seems advisable. Despite these opin- 

 ions, no changes are recommended at present, 

 except for Germo. Katsuwonus should be re- 

 tained as a separate genus because of the many 

 characters by which it differs from the three 

 black skipjacks. 



These suggestions are offered for action: 

 (1) Determine the relationships of these fishes at 

 the specific or subspecific level and above all on 

 a worldwide basis as soon as sponsorship and 

 fundingcanbe arranged; (2) establish a commit- 

 tee which would submit a detailed proposal for. 

 actionto the FAO World Tuna Conference; and 

 (3) those concerned with the Pacific tuna resource 

 should implement the program through tuna re- 

 search agencies active in the Pacific basin, if 

 worldwide sponsorship cannot be obtained. 



Rosa, H. , Jr. , and T. Laevastu 



World distribution of tunas and tunafish- 

 eries in relation to environment. /Con- 

 ference Paper V - \J 



Bluefin and albacore occur in the temper - 

 ate subtropical and tropical water s of the oceans 

 of the world, are often associated with frontal 

 zones, and have a narrow optimal temperature 

 range. Bigeye and yellowfin are mainly pelagic 

 and are found in the equatorial current systems 

 of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. 

 Skipjack are found in the warmer temperate sub- 

 tropical and tropical waters of the world. Bo- 

 nitos and little tunas are found in the coastal 

 areas of the temperate subtropical and tropical 

 oceans. 



Aggregations of tuna are to be found in 

 regions of shallow thsrmocline, cold and warm 

 eddies and intrusions, in areas of upwelling 



37 Serventy, D. L. 1942. The tuna Kishi- 

 noella tonggol Bleeker in Australia. Journal of 

 the Council for Scientific and Industrial 

 Research, vol. 15, no. 12, p. 101-112. 



34 



