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What the sources say

Atlantic Bluefin TunaThunnus thynnus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 45 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Thunnus thynnus (Atlantic bluefin tuna). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysweightKg: 250
The source saysAverage mass 250 kgNote: task #1096: ADW's average mass; Heavy class, where the name guess gave Light. NOAA's 2,000 lb is a maximum. Not in a curated matchup

Source
02

NOAA Fisheries

Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysA tuna up to 13 feet long
The source saysThey are the largest of the tuna species and can reach up to 13 feet and 2,000 pounds.Note: tagline; NOAA's current page used over Florida Museum's older 458 cm / 684 kg record
The page saysJuveniles eat fish, squid and crustaceans; western Atlantic adults feed mainly on baitfish such as herring, bluefish and mackerel
The source saysJuveniles eat fish, squid, and crustaceans, and adults feed mainly on baitfish such as herring, bluefish, and mackerel.Note: stats.diet; reviewer split juveniles from adults (fish/squid/crustaceans is NOAA's juvenile diet); adults scoped to the western stock, the subject of the NOAA page
The page saysNOAA's page on the western Atlantic stock says these fish live near the surface in temperate waters but often dive 500 to 1,000 meters
The source saysAtlantic bluefin tuna live near the surface in temperate waters but frequently dive to depths of 500 to 1,000 meters.Note: scoped to the page's western stock
The page sayscan migrate thousands of miles across an entire ocean.
The source saysThey can migrate thousands of miles across an entire ocean.
The page saysIt is the largest of the tuna species.
The source saysThey are the largest of the tuna species
The page saysIt has a torpedo-shaped body, dark blue-black on the back and white on the lower sides, where colorless lines alternate with rows of colorless spots.
The source saysAtlantic bluefin tuna have large, torpedo-shaped bodies ... They have dark blue-black on the back and white on the lower sides and belly. Atlantic bluefin tuna h ave colorless lines alternating with rows of colorless spots on their lower sides.Note: source text has a stray space in 'have'
The page saysIts second back fin is reddish brown.
The source saysThe second fin on their back (dorsal fin) is reddish brown
The page saysNOAA reports it can reach up to 13 feet and 2,000 pounds.
The source sayscan reach up to 13 feet and 2,000 poundsNote: Appearance section states these for the species ('separate this species from other members of the tuna genus')
The page saysIn the western Atlantic stock, NOAA says, bluefin grow more slowly than other tuna and can live 20 years or more.
The source saysBluefin tuna grow more slowly than other tuna. They have a long lifespan, up to 20 years or moreNote: NOAA's current page used over Florida Museum's 'approximately 15 years' and AnAge's 15 years (wild)
The page saysIn the western Atlantic, NOAA says, juveniles eat fish, squid and crustaceans, and adults feed mainly on baitfish such as herring, bluefish and mackerel.
The source saysJuveniles eat fish, squid, and crustaceans, and adults feed mainly on baitfish such as herring, bluefish, and mackerel.
The page saysSharks, large fish and marine mammals, including killer whales and pilot whales, feed on bluefin in turn.
The source saysSharks, marine mammals (including killer whales and pilot whales), and large fish feed on bluefin tuna.
The page saysWestern fish spawn mainly in the Gulf of Mexico, from mid-April to June.
The source saysThey spawn from mid-April to June, mainly in the Gulf of America.Note: NOAA uses the US name 'Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico)'; the page uses the international name, Gulf of Mexico, for worldwide readers
The page saysNOAA says a female in the western Atlantic stock can produce up to 10 million eggs a year.
The source saysFemales can produce up to 10 million eggs a year.
The page saysThe eggs are fertilized in the water and hatch in about 2 days.
The source saysThe eggs are fertilized in the water column and hatch in about 2 days.
The page saysFishing on the western stock is managed under harvest quotas set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.
The source saysFor 2023, the stock is being managed under ICCAT Recommendation 21-10 that is responsive to scientific advice.Note: NOAA: 'For 2023, the stock is being managed under ICCAT Recommendation 21-10'; quotas claim below; reviewer cut 'still' (a 2026 present-state claim from a 2023 line); ICCAT name expanded from the same page
The page saysThe Biggest Tuna
The source saysThey are the largest of the tuna speciesNote: heading
The page saysPredator and Prey
The source saysBluefin tuna are top predators.Note: heading; prey side from the predators claim
The page saysmanaged under harvest quotas set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
The source saysICCAT implemented harvest quotas for the western Atlantic bluefin tuna stock in 1982.

Source
03

Florida Museum of Natural History, Discover Fishes

Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Florida Museum of Natural History, Discover Fishes.

The page saysSubtropical and temperate Atlantic, from Labrador to northern Brazil in the west and from Norway to the Canary Islands in the east, including the Mediterranean Sea
The source saysIn the western Atlantic Ocean, it is found from Labrador, Canada, to northern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, it is found from Norway to the Canary Islands.Note: stats.habitat; Florida Museum's Pacific sentences left out; climate band claim below; Mediterranean claim below
The page saysSubtropical and temperate Atlantic
The source saysThe bluefin tuna is distributed throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in subtropical and temperate waters.Note: stats.habitat; reviewer replaced 'Temperate' alone, since the range runs to northern Brazil and the Canary Islands
The page sayscan cross the Atlantic in under 60 days
The source saysOther tagging studies have shown that a bluefin can cross the Atlantic in less than 60 days.Note: stats.superpower
The page saysTagging studies show that a bluefin can cross the Atlantic in less than 60 days.
The source saysOther tagging studies have shown that a bluefin can cross the Atlantic in less than 60 days.
The page saysThe Florida Museum says bluefin commonly reach 200 cm, which is 78 inches.
The source saysBluefin commonly attain a size of 78 inches (200 cm).
The page saysBluefin show strong schooling behavior while they are young.
The source saysBluefin tuna exhibit strong schooling behavior while they are young.
The page saysAtlantic bluefin range from Labrador to northern Brazil on the western side of the ocean, and from Norway to the Canary Islands on the eastern side.
The source saysIn the western Atlantic Ocean, it is found from Labrador, Canada, to northern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, it is found from Norway to the Canary Islands.
The page saysThe Florida Museum of Natural History says bluefin can swim at speeds up to 45 mph, which is 72.5 kph.
The source saysThey can swim at speeds up to 45 mph (72.5 kph).Note: the museum's 'bluefin' page covers Atlantic and Pacific bluefin, so the figure stays attributed to 'bluefin'
The page saysIts body is deepest near the pelvic fins and tapers significantly toward the base of the tail.
The source saysThe body is deepest near the insertion of the pelvic fins, and tapers significantly to the caudal peduncle.Note: 'base of the tail' for 'caudal peduncle'; replaces a NOAA sentence the FAQ's ref did not state
The page saysCompared with other tunas, its head is long and somewhat pointed, and its eye is small.
The source saysCompared to other tunas, the head is long and somewhat pointed, and the eye is small.
The page saysTagging studies show that a bluefin can cross the Atlantic in less than 60 days.
The source saysOther tagging studies have shown that a bluefin can cross the Atlantic in less than 60 days.Note: vibe.reason
The page saystags: fast
The source saysThey can swim at speeds up to 45 mph (72.5 kph).Note: task #1096: the tag definition is high-velocity locomotion slicing through water

Source
04

Block et al. 2001

Block et al. (2001). Migratory Movements, Depth Preferences, and Thermal Biology of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. Science.

The page saysdives past 1,000 meters and keeps a warm body
The source saysBluefin tuna dive to depths of >1000 meters and maintain a warm body temperature.
The page saysKeeps a warm body, dives past 1,000 meters
The source saysBluefin tuna dive to depths of >1000 meters and maintain a warm body temperature.Note: stats.superpower; crossing claim below
The page saysElectronic tags on Atlantic bluefin recorded dives to depths of more than 1,000 meters, and the fish maintained a warm body temperature.
The source saysBluefin tuna dive to depths of >1000 meters and maintain a warm body temperature.Note: Block 2001 abstract only: 'tagging of Atlantic bluefin tuna with implantable archival and pop-up satellite archival tags'
The page saystags: deep-diver
The source saysBluefin tuna dive to depths of >1000 meters and maintain a warm body temperature.Note: task #1096

Source
05

Ciezarek et al. 2018

Ciezarek et al. (2018). Phylotranscriptomic Insights into the Diversification of Endothermic Thunnus Tunas. Molecular Biology and Evolution.

The page saysThe **Atlantic bluefin tuna** (*Thunnus thynnus*) is endothermic, conserving heat made by its own metabolism to hold its body or tissues above the temperature of its surroundings.
The source saysconserving internally generated, metabolic heat to maintain body or tissue temperatures above that of the environmentNote: 'tunas' are named among the endothermic fishes; 'surroundings' for 'environment'
The page saysBluefin tunas are renowned for keeping their swimming muscle, gut, brain and eyes at elevated temperatures.
The source saysThey are renowned for their endothermy, maintaining elevated temperatures of the oxidative locomotor muscle, viscera, brain and eyesNote: 'bluefin tunas' scope as in the paper; abstract background, not a finding of the study; 'swimming muscle' for 'oxidative locomotor muscle', 'gut' for 'viscera'
The page saysA Fish That Runs Hot
The source saysThey are renowned for their endothermyNote: heading

Source
06

Richardson et al. 2016

Richardson et al. (2016). Discovery of a spawning ground reveals diverse migration strategies in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysFish from the eastern stock spawn in the Mediterranean.
The source saysan early-maturing eastern stock, which spawns in the Mediterranean Sea
The page saysLarval surveys found a spawning ground in the Slope Sea, between the Gulf Stream and the northeast United States continental shelf.
The source saysWe use larval collections to demonstrate a bluefin tuna spawning ground in the Slope Sea, between the Gulf Stream and northeast United States continental shelf.
The page saysWhere It Roams and Spawns
The source saysan early-maturing eastern stock, which spawns in the Mediterranean SeaNote: heading; see body claims

Source
07

Cermeño et al. 2015

Cermeño et al. (2015). Electronic Tagging of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus, L.) Reveals Habitat Use and Behaviors in the Mediterranean Sea. PLOS ONE.

The page saysincluding the Mediterranean Sea
The source saysthe Mediterranean is clearly an important habitat for this species
The page saysThe Mediterranean Sea is a home too: tagging indicates that part of the population stays there for much of the year.
The source sayspart of the bluefin tuna population remains in the Mediterranean basin for much of the year

Source
08

Collette et al. 2021

Collette et al. (2021). Thunnus thynnus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T21860A46913402.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus; GBIF copy of the Red List
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.