The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species can reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width.^[2] The barracuda is a salt water fish of the genus Sphyraena, the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae, and is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.

Appearance and physical description

Great barracuda hovering in the current at the Paradise Reef, Cozumel, Mexico

Barracudas are elongated fish, pike-like in appearance, with prominent sharp-edged fang-like teeth, much like piranhas, that are all of different sizes which are set in sockets of their large jaws. They have large pointed heads with an under bite in many species. Their gill-covers have no spines and are covered with small scales. Their two dorsal fins are widely separated with the anterior fin having five spines, the posterior fin having one spine and nine soft rays. The posterior dorsal fin is similar in size to the anal fin and is situated above it. The lateral line is prominent and extends straight from head to tail. The spinous dorsal fin is placed above the pelvic fins and is normally retracted in a groove. The caudal fin is moderately forked with its posterior edged double-curved and is set at the end of a stout peduncle. The pectoral fins are placed low on the sides. Their swim bladder is large.

In most cases, they are dark green, dark blue, or gray on their upper body with silvery sides and chalky-white belly. Coloration varies somewhat between species. For some species, there are irregular black spots or a row of darker cross-bars on each side. Their fins may be yellowish or dusky. Barracudas live primarily in oceans, but certain species such as the Great Barracuda live in brackish water.

Some species grow quite large, such as the European barracuda, barracouta or spet (S. sphyraena), found in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic; the Great barracuda, picuda or becuna (S. picuda), ranging on the Atlantic coast of tropical America from North Carolina to Brazil and reaching Bermuda. Other barracuda species are found around the world. Examples are the California Barracuda (S. argentea), extending from Puget Sound southwards to Cabo San Lucas; the Indian barracuda (S. jello) and the black-finned or Commerson's barracuda (S. commersoni), from the seas of India and the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago.

Behavior

Scuba diver inside a group of sawtooth barracudas in Koh Tao, Thailand

Closeup of a great barracuda

Great barracuda and jacks, Saba, Netherlands Antilles

A battery of sawtooth barracudas, Sphyraena putnamae in Bora Bora

Northern sennet, Sphyraena borealis

A battery of yellowtail barracudas, Sphyraena flavicauda off Dayang, Malaysia

Barracudas are voracious, opportunistic predators relying on surprise and short bursts of speed (up to 27 miles per hour (43 km/h))^[3] to overtake their prey.

Adults of most species are more or less solitary, while young and half-grown fish frequently congregate. Barracuda prey primarily on fish (which may include some as large as themselves). They kill and consume larger prey by tearing chunks of flesh.

Barracudas and humans

Like sharks, some species of barracuda are reputed to be dangerous to swimmers. Barracudas are scavengers, and may mistake snorkellers for large predators, following them in hopes of eating the remains of their prey. Swimmers have been reported being bitten by barracuda but such incidents are rare and possibly caused by poor visibility. Barracuda generally avoid muddy shallows, so attacks in surf are more likely to be by small sharks. Barracudas may mistake things that glint and shine for prey.^[4] There has been a reported incident of a barracuda jumping out of water and injuring a kayaker^[5], but a marine biologist at the University of Florida said the type of wound appeared to have rather been caused by a houndfish^[6].

Handfeeding or touching large barracuda in general is to be avoided. Spearfishing around barracudas can also be dangerous, as they are quite capable of ripping a chunk from a wounded fish thrashing on a spear.

Diamond rings and other shiny objects have been known to catch their attention and resemble prey to them. Caution should be taken when swimming near mangrove coastlines by covering or removing such items.

As food

Barracudas are popular both as food and game fish. They are most often eaten as fillets or steaks. Larger species, like the Great Barracuda, have been implicated in cases of ciguatera food poisoning.^[7]

Southern Nigerians smoke them for use in soups. Smoking protects the soft flesh from disintegrating in the broth.

Species

There are 27 known species:

• Sharpfin barracuda, Sphyraena acutipinnis Day, 1876.
• Guinean barracuda, Sphyraena afra Peters, 1844.
• Pacific barracuda, Sphyraena argentea Girard, 1854.
• Great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards in Catesby, 1771).
• Northern sennet, Sphyraena borealis DeKay, 1842.
• Yellowstripe barracuda, Sphyraena chrysotaenia Klunzinger, 1884.
• Mexican barracuda, Sphyraena ensis Jordan & Gilbert, 1882.
• Yellowtail barracuda, Sphyraena flavicauda Rüppell, 1838.
• Bigeye barracuda, Sphyraena forsteri Cuvier, 1829.
• Guachanche barracuda, Sphyraena guachancho Cuvier, 1829.
• Heller's barracuda, Sphyraena helleri Jenkins, 1901.
• Sphyraena iburiensis Doiuchi & Nakabo, 2005.
• Pelican barracuda, Sphyraena idiastes Heller & Snodgrass, 1903.
• Sphyraena intermedia Pastore, 2009^[8]
• Japanese barracuda, Sphyraena japonica Cuvier, 1829.
• Pickhandle barracuda, Sphyraena jello Cuvier, 1829.
• Lucas barracuda, Sphyraena lucasana Gill, 1863.
• Australian barracuda, Sphyraena novaehollandiae Günther, 1860.
• Obtuse barracuda, Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829.
• Southern sennet, Sphyraena picudilla Poey, 1860.
• Red barracuda, Sphyraena pinguis Günther, 1874.
• Sawtooth barracuda, Sphyraena putnamae Jordan & Seale, 1905.
• Blackfin barracuda, Sphyraena qenie Klunzinger, 1870.
• European barracuda, Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758).
• Sphyraena tome Fowler, 1903.
• Yellowmouth barracuda, Sphyraena viridensis Cuvier, 1829.
• Sphyraena waitii Ogilby, 1908.

Notes

References

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Sphyraenidae" in FishBase. January 2006 version.
• Labat Jean-Baptiste (1663–1738) Nouveau voyage Isles de l'Amerique, contenant l'histoire naturelle...l'origine, les mour, la religion Paris 1742.
• Norman JR, F.L.S. and Fraser, FC, D.Sc., F.L.S.Field Book of Giant Fishes G.P. Putnam's Sons New York 1949.
• Rochefort Charles D. (1605–1683) Histoire naturelle et morale des illes Antilles de l'Amerique.
• Sloane Hans Sir (1660–1753) A voyage to the islands of Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica London, Printed by BM for the author, 1707-1725.