Mackerels and tunas are fast swimming, oceanic fishes with elongate, streamlined bodies. They can be recognized by the series of finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins, their slender caudal peduncle and their lunate (crescent-shaped) tail. Tunas can maintain their body temperature above that of the surrounding water, thus increasing their metabolic rate to provide large quantities of energy for high speed swimming. Some species in this family have lost their ability to pump water over their gills from which they get oxygen and must constantly swim to meet their respiratory needs. Most fishes in this family are important sport and food fishes. If the flesh is not adequately preserved and allowed to spoil, ingesting it will cause "scombrid" poisoning which results in sever allergy-like reactions. |