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Sphyraena qenie — Details

Blacktail Barracuda learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: barracuda (English), barracuda (Espanol), picuda (Espanol)

Sphyraena qenie Klunzinger, 1870

Blackfin barracuda

Body very elongate, slender, cylindrical at the front; head long with a long pointed snout; relatively large eye; 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, 8); small pectorals, 13 rays; pelvics I, 5, small, origin under pectoral fins, before first dorsal fin; anal fins small, II, 7, similar to and under 2nd dorsal; a forked tail, with central lobes; a well-developed, straight lateral line; small smooth scales, 120-130 on lateral line.

Bluey-grey above, silvery below, 18-22 oblique dark bars on back that extend well below lateral line; dorsals, tail and anal fin blackish, last 2 rays of anal pale, contrasting.

Size: 170 cm.

Habitat: coastal and oceanic, nearbottom to surface, often around reefs.

Depth: 0-100 m.

Indo-Pacific; the SE Gulf of California, Guatemala, western Panama, and Clipperton Island, Malpelo Island, and Gorgona Island (Colombia).

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Biology

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Found near current-swept lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Usually seen in large semi-stationary schools during the day (Ref. 9768) which have a tendency to occupy the same site for months or even years at a time. Probably disperses at night to feed (Ref. 1602). Often hooked by trolling between dusk and dawn (Ref. 37816).

De Sylva, D.P. and F. Williams 1986 Sphyraenidae. p. 721-726. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 5491) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5491&speccode=16905

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Distribution

Distribution

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Mozambique, Red Sea, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa (country)

Anon. (1996). FishBase 96 [CD-ROM]. ICLARM: Los Baños, Philippines. 1 cd-rom pp. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=5909
Randall, J.E. (1992). Red Sea Reef Fishes. Immel Publishing. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=6091
Anon. (2000). FishBase 2000 [CD-ROM]. ICLARM: Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. 4 cd-roms pp. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=6542

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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 0 (S) - 100 (S)

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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Global Endemism: All species, TEP non-endemic, Indo-Pacific only (Indian + Pacific Oceans), "Transpacific" (East + Central &/or West Pacific), All Pacific (West + Central + East)

Regional Endemism: All species, Eastern Pacific non-endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic, Continent + Island (s), Continent, Island (s)

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos), Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)

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Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the central Indian Ocean and French Polynesia. Eastern Pacific: Mexico and Panama. The exact range is uncertain because of confusion with Sphyraena jello and Sphyraena putnamae (Ref. 9768).

De Sylva, D.P. and F. Williams 1986 Sphyraenidae. p. 721-726. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 5491) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5491&speccode=16905

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Physical Description

Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 7 - 9

Senou, H. 2001 Sphyraenidae. Barracudas. p. 3685-3697. In K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9768) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9768&speccode=5734

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Size

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Length max (cm): 170.0 (S)

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Size

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Maximum size: 1700 mm NG

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Max. size

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170 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)); max. published weight: 7,140 g (Ref. 40637)

Lieske, E. and R. Myers 1994 Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p. (Ref. 9710) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9710&speccode=13770
IGFA 2001 Database of IGFA angling records until 2001. IGFA, Fort Lauderdale, USA. (Ref. 40637) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=40637&speccode=943

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Diagnostic Description

Description

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Inhabits clear waters near coral reefs (Ref. 9768). Usually seen in large semistationary schools during the day (Ref. 9768).

Anon. (1996). FishBase 96 [CD-ROM]. ICLARM: Los Baños, Philippines. 1 cd-rom pp. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=5909

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Many dark bars crossing lateral line on body, each bar oblique in upper half, but nearly vertical in the lower; caudal fin largely blackish. No gill rakers on first arch; upper and lower gill arch with rough platelets, each platelet not bearing distinct spine.

Senou, H. 2001 Sphyraenidae. Barracudas. p. 3685-3697. In K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9768) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9768&speccode=5734

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Ecology

Habitat

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Depth range based on 3 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 2 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 8 - 65
  Temperature range (°C): 26.525 - 26.692
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.732 - 0.923
  Salinity (PPS): 35.037 - 35.095
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.572 - 4.685
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.121 - 0.122
  Silicate (umol/l): 0.869 - 0.983

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 8 - 65

Temperature range (°C): 26.525 - 26.692

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.732 - 0.923

Salinity (PPS): 35.037 - 35.095

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.572 - 4.685

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.121 - 0.122

Silicate (umol/l): 0.869 - 0.983

Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Marine Only

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Near Surface, Mid Water, Near Bottom, Water column only

Habitat: Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom), Water column

FishBase Habitat: Reef Associated

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Environment

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reef-associated; marine

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Trophic Strategy

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Found near current-swept lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Usually seen in large semi-stationary schools during the day (Ref. 9768) which have a tendency to occupy the same site for months or even years at a time. Probably disperses at night to feed (Ref. 1602). Often hooked by trolling between dusk and dawn (Ref. 37816).

Blaber, S.J.M., D.A. Milton, N.J.F. Rawlinson, G. Tiroba and P.V. Nichols 1990 Diets of lagoon fishes of the Solomon Islands: Predators of tuna baitfish and trophic effects of baitfishing on the subsistence fishery. Fish. Res. 8:263-286. (Ref. 30531) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=30531&speccode=6444

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Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: bony fishes

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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva

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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Sphyraena qenie

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 8
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Conservation

Conservation Status

Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed

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Threats

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Not Evaluated

IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006. http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073

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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Importance

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fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

International Game Fish Association 1991 World record game fishes. International Game Fish Association, Florida, USA. (Ref. 4699) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4699&speccode=2590

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