Barracuda

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Barracuda
Great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda, with prey
Great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda, with prey
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Sphyraenidae
Genus: Sphyraena
Species
See text.

The barracuda (Sphyraenus, family Sphyraenidae) is a ray-finned fish notable for its large size (up to 1.8 m or 6 ft) and fearsome appearance. The one genus of the family includes about 25 known species.

The barracuda body is elongated, with the lower jaw of the large mouth jutting out, and displaying prominent fang-shaped teeth. The two dorsal fins are widely separated, with the first having five spines and the second having one spine and nine soft rays. The lateral line is prominent.

They are caught as food and game fish (however, barracuda flesh can occasionally contain ciguatera toxin).

Behavior

Scuba diver inside a school of Chevron barracudas in Koh Tao, Thailand.
Scuba diver inside a school of Chevron barracudas in Koh Tao, Thailand.

Barracudas occur both singly and in schools around reefs, but also appear in open seas. They are voracious predators and hunt using a classic example of lie-in-wait or ambush. They rely on surprise and short bursts of speed to overrun their prey, sacrificing maneuverability.

There have been a few isolated cases where barracudas attacked a human thinking that part of it was a fish, but these incidents are extremely rare, especially considering the number of times that barracudas and humans encounter each other.

While barracudas sometimes follow snorkelers and scuba divers across the reef, which can make one feel uncomfortable, there exist no substantiated reports of unprovoked attacks. Known incidents generally involve spearfishing or hand feeding.

Distribution

Barracudas live in subtropical and tropical oceans worldwide.

Species

A school of Chevron barracudas in Bora Bora.
A school of Chevron barracudas in Bora Bora.
  • Sphyraena acutipinnis (Sharpfin barracuda)
  • Sphyraena afra (Guinean barracuda)
  • Sphyraena argentea (Pacific barracuda; Latin literally 'silver')
  • Sphyraena barracuda (Great barracuda)
  • Sphyraena borealis (Northern sennet)
  • Sphyraena chinensis (Striped barracuda; Latin name 'Chinese')
  • Sphyraena chrysotaenia (Yellowstripe barracuda)
  • Sphyraena ensis (Vicuda or Mexican barracuda)
  • Sphyraena flavicauda (Yellowtail barracuda)
  • Sphyraena forsteri (Bigeye barracuda)
  • Sphyraena guachancho (Guachanche barracuda)
  • Sphyraena helleri (Heller's barracuda)
  • Sphyraena idiastes (Pelican barracuda)
  • Sphyraena japonica (Japanese barracuda)
  • Sphyraena jello (Pickhandle barracuda or Indo-malaysian barracuda)
  • Sphyraena langsar (Shortjawed barracuda)
  • Sphyraena lucasana (Lucas barracuda)
  • Sphyraena novae-hollandiae (Shortfinned barracuda; Latin name 'of New Holland', i.e. Dutch Brazil)
  • Sphyraena obtusata (Obtuse barracuda)
  • Sphyraena picudilla (Southern sennet; Latin name 'little woodpecker')
  • Sphyraena pinguis (Red or Brown barracuda)
  • Sphyraena putnamae (Sawtooth barracuda)
  • Sphyraena qenie (Chevron or Blackfin barracuda)
  • Sphyraena sphyraena (European barracuda)
  • Sphyraena tome
  • Sphyraena viridensis (Yellowmouth barracuda; Latin name 'greenish')
  • Sphyraena waitii