There are 15 generally recognized tuna species in the current practical classification. They belong to the tribe Thunnini in the mackerel family, Scombridae, and are divided among five genera: Thunnus, Katsuwonus, Euthynnus, Auxis, and Allothunnus.
However, the answer depends on what someone means by “types.” Seven species are usually considered the major commercial tunas, while eight others are smaller, regional, or lower-volume commercial species. Older references may list 13 rather than 15 because they use an earlier classification.
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The seven major commercial tuna species
Most seafood, fisheries, and consumer references focus on seven principal market tunas. These species dominate international tuna fisheries, canned-tuna supply chains, fresh-fish markets, or high-value sashimi markets.
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- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)
- Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)
- Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
- Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
- Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)
- Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)
Six of these seven species belong to the genus Thunnus. Skipjack is the exception: it belongs to the separate genus Katsuwonus.
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How the major species are used
Albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack are especially familiar in canned-tuna products, although the exact species depends on the product, labeling rules, market, and supply chain. A package labeled simply “tuna” does not necessarily contain one universal species.
Bigeye tuna and the three bluefin species are particularly important in fresh-fish and sashimi markets. Bluefin tuna are also among the most valuable tuna species in commercial fisheries, although value varies with location, size, quality, and market.
The eight minor or neritic tuna species
The remaining eight species are often described in fisheries references as minor or neritic tunas. “Minor” refers to their lower overall importance in global tuna markets, not to their biological validity. Several are important in regional fisheries, recreational fishing, or local food systems.
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- Frigate tuna (Auxis thazard)
- Bullet tuna (Auxis rochei)
- Black skipjack (Euthynnus lineatus)
- Longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol)
- Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis)
- Little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus)
- Blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus)
All 15 tuna species at a glance
| Common name | Scientific name | General category |
|---|---|---|
| Albacore tuna | Thunnus alalunga | Major commercial |
| Yellowfin tuna | Thunnus albacares | Major commercial |
| Blackfin tuna | Thunnus atlanticus | Minor or neritic |
| Southern bluefin tuna | Thunnus maccoyii | Major commercial |
| Bigeye tuna | Thunnus obesus | Major commercial |
| Pacific bluefin tuna | Thunnus orientalis | Major commercial |
| Atlantic bluefin tuna | Thunnus thynnus | Major commercial |
| Longtail tuna | Thunnus tonggol | Minor or neritic |
| Skipjack tuna | Katsuwonus pelamis | Major commercial |
| Kawakawa | Euthynnus affinis | Minor or neritic |
| Little tunny | Euthynnus alletteratus | Minor or neritic |
| Black skipjack | Euthynnus lineatus | Minor or neritic |
| Frigate tuna | Auxis thazard | Minor or neritic |
| Bullet tuna | Auxis rochei | Minor or neritic |
| Slender tuna | Allothunnus fallai | Minor or neritic |
Why do some sources say there are 13 tuna species?
The 13-species figure generally comes from older fisheries or taxonomic references rather than from a simple counting error. Older FAO material described tunas as 13 species in four genera: Thunnus, Euthynnus, Katsuwonus, and Auxis.
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Newer 15-species summaries use a different taxonomic treatment, including recognition of the slender tuna, Allothunnus fallai, and the modern treatment of Pacific bluefin as Thunnus orientalis. As classifications are revised, older and newer sources can produce different totals while referring to broadly the same tuna group.
For a current general-audience answer, 15 species is the most useful figure—but it should be presented with that classification caveat.
Species count versus “types” in seafood markets
The word type can describe several different things:
- Biological species: recognized living species in the tuna tribe. The practical current count is 15.
- Major commercial species: the seven tuna species that dominate global trade and fisheries statistics.
- Regional fishery species: species found in a particular ocean, coastal region, or management program. The number changes with geography.
- Food-label categories: species grouped under the word “tuna” for a particular market or labeling system.
These categories do not always match. For example, a U.S. trade-monitoring list can include major species such as albacore, bigeye, bluefin, skipjack, and yellowfin alongside regionally important species such as blackfin and longtail tuna.
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Why tuna identification can be difficult
Identifying a tuna from a photograph—or from a fish that has already been caught—is not always straightforward. Color can fade after capture, fins may be damaged, and young tuna may not look like adults. Several species also share a streamlined body shape and similar markings.
A reliable identification should use multiple features rather than one visual clue. Depending on the species and the condition of the fish, useful features may include body proportions, fin shape, finlet patterns, markings, coloration, and geographic location. Life stage also matters.
Official regional identification guides are preferable when identification affects fishing regulations. For example, Atlantic fisheries guides cover regulated species such as bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin, skipjack, and albacore, while western U.S. guides provide more detailed comparisons for tuna encountered in that region.
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If you want a physical reference for comparing species, an optional tuna and billfish field guide can be useful. A specialist reference such as Tunas and Billfishes of the World is more appropriate for worldwide taxonomy than a general aquarium or fishing book. Regional coastal-fish guides can be helpful too, but they should not be treated as complete references for every tuna species worldwide.
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How the 15 species are classified
The 15 species are distributed across five genera:
| Genus | Species included |
|---|---|
| Thunnus | Albacore, yellowfin, blackfin, southern bluefin, bigeye, Pacific bluefin, Atlantic bluefin, and longtail tuna |
| Katsuwonus | Skipjack tuna |
| Euthynnus | Kawakawa, little tunny, and black skipjack |
| Auxis | Frigate tuna and bullet tuna |
| Allothunnus | Slender tuna |
All five genera are part of the tribe Thunnini, within the broader mackerel family, Scombridae. In other words, tuna are related to mackerels and bonitos, but not every fish sold or described informally as a “tuna-like” fish belongs to the same biological group.
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If someone asks how many types of tuna fish there are, the clearest response is:
There are 15 tuna species in the current practical classification, but only seven are usually counted as the major commercial tunas. Older sources may list 13 because they follow an earlier taxonomic treatment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common type of tuna?
Skipjack is one of the most important tuna species in global commercial fisheries and is widely used in canned products. Albacore and yellowfin are also especially familiar to consumers. “Most common” can mean most caught, most sold, or most familiar, so the answer depends on the measure.
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Are bluefin tuna one species or three?
There are three widely recognized bluefin tuna species: Atlantic bluefin (Thunnus thynnus), Pacific bluefin (Thunnus orientalis), and southern bluefin (Thunnus maccoyii).
Are skipjack and black skipjack the same fish?
No. Skipjack is Katsuwonus pelamis, one of the seven major commercial tunas. Black skipjack is Euthynnus lineatus, a separate, generally minor or regional tuna species.
Can you identify every tuna species by color?
Not reliably. Color fades after capture, and related species can look similar. Accurate identification should consider several physical features, the fish’s life stage, its condition, and where it was caught.
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The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The best current general-audience answer is 15 tuna species. Seven—albacore, bigeye, yellowfin, skipjack, Atlantic bluefin, Pacific bluefin, and southern bluefin—are the major commercial tunas. The other eight are lower-volume or regional species, and older references may report 13 because they use an earlier classification.
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