Tuna, n. Anguilla dieffenbachii, the long-finned, and Anguilla austrails, the short-finned freshwater eels, and their varieties. Kua kaheko te tuna i roto i aku ringaringa (P. 63). Nearly a hundred distinctive Maori names are recorded without clue to scientific status, which depends on dorsal-fin length rather than colour of the eel. Tuna heke, migrating eel (both species migrate to spawn in deep sea); tuna kaingara, yellowish variety of eel (Whang.), Gymnothorax prasinus, a salt-water eel = puharakeke; tuna kohau, mud eel (Whang.); tuna korokoro, Geotria australis, lamprey = piharau, nganangana; tuna kuia, variety of eel; tuna ngahuru, variety of eel with large blue and gold eyes (Whang.); tuna pa, variety of eel; tuna paranui, a black eel; tuna pou, large-headed eel, not eaten (tapu); tuna reko, light-coloured eel (Whang.); tuna rere, tuna riri, blue-black eel with blue eyes and large pectorals = putaiore; tuna pouaru, female of large variety of eel = kokopu; tuna tuoro; variety of eel (Whang.). Tuna-roa, fig., the earth. Kihai koe i rehea i te hikanga o Tunaroa (S.).
tūtuna, n. 1. A large variety of inanga. E tere te tutuna, e tere te wawa na roto te wai (M. 183).
2. East Coast name for tuna riki, small eel.
Williams Dictionary
