Frigate tuna
A small tropical tuna found in oceans worldwide.
The frigate tuna is a species of tuna in the family Scombridae. It inhabits tropical oceans across the globe. Some authorities classify the eastern Pacific population as a distinct species called Auxis brachydorax.
- Found in tropical oceans worldwide
- Scientific name is Auxis thazard
- Hosts intestinal parasites called digeneans
- Eastern Pacific group may be a separate species
What it is
The frigate tuna, also known as the frigate mackerel or alagaduwa, is a member of the tuna family Scombridae. This fish lives in tropical waters around the world. Its scientific name is Auxis thazard. While it is generally considered one species, some experts view the population in the eastern Pacific Ocean as a separate entity named Auxis brachydorax.
Where it lives
This species is found in tropical oceans across the globe. It does not restrict itself to a single basin but ranges widely through warm waters. The eastern Pacific group is sometimes treated as a distinct species due to regional differences.
How it lives
Like many other fish, the frigate tuna hosts various parasites. These include digeneans, which are parasitic worms that live within the intestine of the host. Specific details on its diet, schooling behaviour, or predators are not provided in the available records.
Questions people ask about Frigate tuna
Where does the frigate tuna live?
It is found in tropical oceans around the world. It thrives in warm waters across multiple ocean basins rather than being limited to one specific region.
Is the frigate tuna a true tuna?
Yes, it is a species of tuna belonging to the family Scombridae. It shares this classification with other well-known tunas and mackerels.
Are there different types of frigate tuna?
Some authorities consider the population in the eastern Pacific Ocean to be a separate species called Auxis brachydorax, distinct from the main Auxis thazard species.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Frigate tuna", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
Like Frigate tuna
All tunas and mackerels
WorldDogtooth tuna
A large Indo-Pacific bonito prized by sport anglers.Tuna · Coasts and shelves
WorldBullet tuna
Small, slender tuna found in tropical oceans worldwide.Tuna · Open ocean
WorldBlue mackerel
A small, fast pelagic fish found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters.Tuna · Coasts and shelves
WorldSlender tuna
A southern ocean tuna with oily flesh and a slender build.Tuna · Open ocean
More from Scombridae
All of them
WorldAtlantic bonito
A mackerel-like game fish of the Atlantic and Mediterranean.Tuna · Coasts and shelves
WorldLongtail tuna
A slender tropical tuna of the Indo-West Pacific.Tuna · Coasts and shelves
WorldBonito
Medium-sized predatory fish in the mackerel and tuna familyTuna · Coasts and shelves
🇺🇸 United States and 3 morePacific bonito
Striped marine fish of the Pacific coastTuna · Coasts and shelves