Ahi and Ono: Anatomy and Physiology
The Hawaiian population has many aqua-related activities and fishing is a mainstay activity whether done for commercial or otherwise sport purposes. Ahi and Ono are two of the popular fish in Hawaii that are designed for aquatic movement with specialized anatomy and physiology. They are known for their tough fighting nature and swimming capabilities, and as a result, the two are a high-priced sport-fishing catch. Both fish are characterized by deep red muscle fiber that produces power near their maximum output ability, which enables them to be so agile and with tough fighting instincts (Shadwick & Syme, 2008). The abundance of these dark muscle fibers relative to the light ones is of even greater advantage to these two types of fish with respect to speed.
Ahi and Ono are highly energetic and with good muscle development. According to Shadwick and Syme, Ahi, in their red muscles, have very high myoglobin and mitochondria concentrations, with a total iron concentration that is much higher than concentration in most of the other types of fish, about 32.11mg/kg (2008, p. 1603). Consequently, they have high oxidative and energy output levels. This characteristic is responsible for the tough fighting nature of Ahi, as well as its high speed. Ono exhibits similar characteristics, both physiologically and in anatomy. The high myoglobin content in the muscles of both fish is responsible for their resilient lifestyle and high-speed swimming capabilities. In addition, Ahi and Ono are streamlined fish, a characteristic that also enhances their swimming ability. Shadwick and Syme argued that this adaptation suits these types of fish to their niche as fresh water predators.
References
Shadwick, E. R. & Syme, A. D. (2008). Thunniform Swimming: Muscle Dynamics and
Mechanical Power Production of Aerobic Fibers in Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares). DOI: 10. 1242/jeb.013250: 1603-1611. Retrieved from: http://jeb.biologists.org/content/211/10/1603.long
