Common names: barracuda (English), barracuda (Espanol), picuda (Espanol)
 
Sphyraena ensis Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Mexican barracuda


Body very elongate, cylindrical at the front; head long with a long pointed snout; large protractile mouth with a distinctly protruding lower jaw; jaws and roof of mouth with many long sharp-edged teeth of unequal sizes; two widely separated dorsal fins (V + I, 9); small pectorals, 13 rays; pelvics I, 5, small, origin under or slightly behind tip of pectoral fins, before first dorsal fin, anal fins small, II, 8, similar to and under 2nd  dorsal; a forked tail, without central lobes; a well-developed, straight lateral line; small smooth scales,  108-116 on lateral line.


Silvery with series of chevron-shaped bars on upper two-thirds of side; tail grey.


Size: grows to about 137 cm.

Habitat: coastal pelagic.
Depth: 0-25 m.

Southern California to the SW and central eastern Gulf of California to Chile, and rarely at Malpelo.