Animal Profiles
Fish

Barracuda

Sphyraenidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Barracudas are streamlined predators with conspicuous teeth. The great barracuda described here lives in warm seas and hunts smaller fishes around reefs and nearby coastal habitats.

Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), the representative described here.

Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), the representative described here.

Diego Delso · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Sphyraena barracuda is the representative used here. It occurs widely in warm Atlantic and Indo-Pacific waters. Adults often use reef margins, while sheltered coastal areas are important to young fish.
Habitat
Coral reef, Coast
Diet
Piscivore
Food
Great barracudas capture fishes using both waiting and active hunting.

Classification

Common name
Barracuda
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Sphyraenidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Perciformes
Family
Sphyraenidae
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It has two separated dorsal fins.
  • Large pointed teeth grip fish.
  • Adults can occur alone or in groups.

Habitat and range

Sphyraena barracuda is the representative used here. It occurs widely in warm Atlantic and Indo-Pacific waters. Adults often use reef margins, while sheltered coastal areas are important to young fish.

Appearance and adaptations

The long silvery body has two widely separated dorsal fins. A projecting lower jaw and large pointed teeth surround the broad mouth. Dark patches and bars vary with age.

Diet and behaviour

Great barracudas capture fishes using both waiting and active hunting. They may occur alone or in schools. Their narrow outline and reflective sides can make an approaching predator difficult for prey to detect.

Sources

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