Tuna (Yellowfin)

# Evolutionary Timeline of Yellowfin Tuna The Yellowfin Tuna (*Thunnus albacares*) belongs to the Scombridae family, with its evolutionary history tied to the broader development of pelagic predatory fishes. Key transitions include the shift from benthic to open-ocean lifestyles, driven by environmental pressures like changing ocean currents, prey availability, and predation. Important ancestors trace back to early perciform fishes. ### Key Milestones: - **Cretaceous Period (145–66 million years ago):** Emergence of early Perciformes, the order including tuna ancestors, adapting to marine environments amid the diversification of ray-finned fishes. - **Eocene Epoch (56–33.9 million years ago):** Origin of the Scombridae family, with proto-tuna species developing streamlined bodies for efficient swimming in warming oceans post-dinosaur extinction. - **Miocene Epoch (23–5.3 million years ago):** Divergence of the Thunnus genus, including Yellowfin Tuna ancestors, influenced by global cooling and the formation of modern ocean currents, promoting long-distance migrations. - **Pliocene to Present (5.3 million years ago–now):** Refinement of adaptations like warm-bloodedness and high-speed swimming, shaped by climate fluctuations, overfishing pressures, and habitat changes in tropical and subtropical oceans.