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Longtail tuna
Thunnus tonggol
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Longtail tuna
- Scientific
- Thunnus tonggol
- Dhivehi
- ނިގޫދިގު ކަންނެލިNigoo dhigu kanneli
- Maximum size
- Up to about 1.4 m (fork length); commonly 70 cm; max. published weight 35.9 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 1.3 m
- Depth and habitat
- Open water over reefs and the atoll shelf
- IUCN status
- DD · Data DeficientData Deficient (DD), assessed 2021
Description
A small coastal tuna, dark blue above and silvery white below with rows of colourless oval spots and blackish fins. It schools in coastal waters and feeds on fish, squid and crustaceans.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name nigoo dhigu kanneli (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is extremely rare in Maldivian waters, with only one confirmed specimen.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Thunnus-tonggol.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ނިގޫދިގު_ކަންނެލި
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Thunnus_tonggol.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Nigoo dhigu kanneli' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ނިގޫދިގު ކަންނެލި' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form.