What term describes the shared trait of bluefin tuna maintaining body temperature above ambient water?
Answer
Endothermic
The characteristic of maintaining a body temperature above the temperature of the surrounding water is termed endothermy, and all members of the tuna family are generally considered warm-blooded or endothermic. While this trait is shared across Scombridae, the bluefin tuna possesses the most highly developed ability for thermoregulation among its relatives. This physiological advantage is directly supported by their high blood-hemoglobin concentrations, which maximize oxygen delivery, allowing them to sustain high activity levels and exploit colder, prey-rich oceanic waters over vast distances, cementing their status as apex predators.
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