|
Sphyraena
barracuda
(Walbaum, 1792) |
|
|
Family: |
Sphyraenidae (Barracudas) |
picture (Spbar_uc.jpg) by
Randall, J.E.
|
| Order: |
Perciformes |
| Class: |
Actinopterygii
(ray-finned fishes) |
| FishBase name: |
Great barracuda |
| Max. size: |
200 cm TL (male/unsexed;
Ref. 7251); max.weight: 50.0 kg (Ref. 6949) |
| Environment: |
pelagic; brackish; marine
; depth range 0 - 100 m |
| Climate: |
subtropical; 30°N - 30°S |
| Importance: |
fisheries: minor
commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: show aquarium |
| Resilience: |
Low, minimum population
doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.09-0.11; tm=2-4) |
Distribution:
Gazetteer |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and
east coast of Africa to Hawaii, Marquesas and Tuamotos
Is.; throughout Micronesia. Western Atlantic:
Massachusetts (USA), Bermuda, and throughout the
Caribbean Sea to Brazil (Ref. 9626). Eastern Atlantic:
Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, Senegal
(Ref. 6949); Mauritania (Ref. 5377); St. Paul's Rocks
(Ref. 13121); São Tomé Island (Ref. 34088). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal
spines (total): 6-6;
Dorsal
soft rays (total): 9-9;
Anal
spines: 1-1;
Anal
soft rays: 10-10. Distinguished by the double
emarginate tail fin with pale tips on each lobe, and
(usually) the presence of a few scattered black
blotches on the lower sides (Ref. 1602). Top of head
between eyes flat or concave; mouth large (Ref.
26938). |
| Biology: |
Found predominantly at or
near the surface (Ref. 6949). Juveniles occur among
mangroves, estuaries and shallow sheltered inner reef
areas; adults occur in a wide range of habitats from
murky inner harbors to open seas. Diurnal and
solitary, but can also be found in small aggregations.
Feeds on fishes, cephalopods and sometimes on shrimps
(Ref. 9626). Sold fresh. Utilized also dried/salted
(Ref. 9987). Although this species is ciguatoxic
elsewhere throughout its range, it has not been
reported to be poisonous in the eastern Atlantic (Ref.
6949). Rarely attacks humans, usually with one quick,
fierce strike, which, although serious, is rarely
fatal. The world's record on hook and line is a
5.5-ft. fish taken in the Bahamas that weighed 103
lbs. (Ref. 13442). |
| Threatened: |
Not in IUCN Red List ,
(Ref. 36508) |
| Dangerous: |
traumatogenic ,
Halstead, B.W., P.S. Auerbach and D.R. Campbell. 1990 |
| Coordinator: |
|
| Main Ref: |
Daget, J.. 1986. (Ref. 4339) |