The southern sennet, Sphyraena picudilla', is an ocean-going species of game fish in the barracuda family, or Sphyraenidae. It was described by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey. The description was part of a two-volume work, which Poey published in 1860, entitled Historia Natural de la Isla de Cuba or Natural History of the Island of Cuba. Southern sennet are sometimes used as a food fish, and marketed either fresh or frozen.^[1] Although they are generally harmless, Southern sennet have been linked to ciguatera poisoning.^[2]

Description

Southern sennet, like other members of the Sphyraenidae family, possess elongated bodies, pike-like heads, and large jaws.^[3] The lower jaw protrudes slightly from the upper jaw, both of which contain fang-like teeth.^[3] They have two dorsal fins, which are widely separated on their backs. The anterior dorsal fin usually possesses spines, while the posterior only has rays.^[3] Southern sennet have six spines, and 9 rays on their dorsal fins. they have only two spines and 9 rays on their anal fins.^[1] The longest recorded southern sennet was 2 ft long;^[4] the greatest recorded weight was 2 lbs 8 oz.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

Southern sennet are known only from the western Atlantic Ocean from Bermuda, Florida, and the Bahamas south to Uruguay.^[1] They are found in tropical climates from 32°N to 38°S. Southern sennet live in costal waters near reefs, although they are more common over muddy bottoms,^[5] at depths from 1–65 m,^[6] where they often occur in large schools near the surface.^[6] Juveniles are commonly found over beds of seagrasses.^[6]

References