SPECIES IDENTIFICATIONS SHEET OF MAJOR TUNA SPECIES FOUND IN SRI LANKA

Yellowfin tuna

Bigeye tuna

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

:Thunnus albacares
: Kelawalla
: 200 cm(Max)
: Common

Albacore
Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

:Thunnus alalunga
: Lansi kelawalla
: 127 cm(Max)
: Rare

Kawakawa
Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

:Thunnus obesus
: Asgedi kelawalla
: 200 cm(Max)
: Average

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

:Thunnus tonggol
: Iratawalla
: 130 cm(Max)
; Rare

Skipjack tuna

Striped bonito

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

:Katsuwonus pelamis
: Balaya
: 108 cm(Max)
: Common

Frigate tuna
:Euthynus affinus
: Atawalla
: 100 cm(Max)
: Average

Longtail tuna

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

:Sarda orientalis
: Thora balaya
: 100 cm(Max)
: Average

Bullet tuna
:Auxis thazard
: Alagoduwa
: 58 cm(Max)
: Common

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

:Auxis rochei
: Baita
: 50 cm(Max)
: Common

Source: FAO Species Catalogue

SPECIES IDENTIFICATIONS SHEET OF MAJOR TUNA LIKE SPECIES FOUND IN SRI LANKA
Wahoo
Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

:Acanthocybium solandri
: Sawara
: 210 cm(Max)
: Average

Narrowbarred spanish mackeral

Streaked seerfish

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

: Scomberomorus commerson
: Ahin thora
: 220 cm(Max)
: Average

Indo-pacific sail fish

Black marlin

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurance

: Istiophorus platipterus
: Thalapatha
: 340 cm(Max)
; Average

Indo-pacific blue marlin

: Makaria indica
: Koppara(kalu)
: 460cm(Max)
: Average

Striped marlin

Sword fish

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurance

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

: Tetraptrus audax
: Koppara(Iri)
: 350 cm(Max)
: Rare

: Scomberomorus lineotus
: Thora anjilawa
: 80 cm(Max)
: Average

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurance

: Makaria mazara
: Koppara(nil)
: 440 cm(Max)
: Average

Dolphinfish
: Xiphias gladius
: Sappara
: 445 cm(Max)
: Average

Scientific name
Sinhala name
Fork length
Occurrence

: Coryphaena hippurus
: Vannawa
: 200 cm(Max)
: Average

Source: FAO Species Catalogue

Identification of Juvenile Yellowfin tuna and Bigeye tuna adopted by ITANO (1)
v4: 3-23-04

v4: 3-23-04

External Characteristics
Head and eye morphology and Body Marking

greater head length

and depth vs Fork
Length than yellowfin
greater eye diameter
compared to yellowfin
of same Fork Length

Yellowfin
shorter head length and
depth vs Fork Length than
bigeye
smaller eye diameter
compared to bigeye of same
Fork Length

Pectoral fin length and characteristics

(for fish ~46-110 cm)

Bigeye

External Characteristics

irregular, vertical,
widely spaced lines
mostly straight white
lines, fewer spots or
dashes

conspicuous, chevron
pattern of closely
spaced silvery lines
lines alternate between
solid lines and rows of
dots

Bigeye

pectoral fin reaching beyond base of second dorsal fin

pectoral fin thin, pointed and flexible

Yellowfin

pectoral fin reaching no further than center of base of second

dorsal fin
pectoral fin thicker, stiffer compared to bigeye

Identification of Juvenile Yellowfin tuna and Bigeye tuna (2)

External Characteristics

v4: 3-23-04

Different Measurement (cited from IOTC-2006-WPB-INF01)

(1) Types of measurements used for tuna

Pectoral fin characteristics

Bigeye

pectoral fin tip often

points ventrally when
folded

pectoral fin tip thin,

pointed, floppy,
often split

forms a smooth arc

when erected, fine tip
easily split

Yellowfin

pectoral fin shorter, thicker, blade-like compared

to bigeye

LD1: Length to the first dorsal fin (Projected straight distance from the tip of the snout to the anterior
base of the first dorsal fin)

(2) Types of measurements used for billfish

DFL: Projected straight distance between the most anterior

insertion of the dorsal fin and the fork of the tail

PFL: Projected straight distance between the most anterior

insertion of the pectoral fin and the fork of the tail.

PDL: Projected straight distance between the most anterior

insertion of the pectoral fin and the most anterior insertion of the
second dorsal fin.

EFL: Projected straight distance from the caudal margin of

orbit to the fork of the tail.

D2FL: Projected straight distance between the most anterior

insertion of the second dorsal fin and the fork of the tail
PAL: Projected straight distance between the most anterior
insertion of the pectoral fin to the most posterior rim of the anal
sphincter.

LJFL: Projected straight distance from the tip of the lower jaw
to the shortest caudal ray (fork of the caudal fin.).