A barracuda is a large, predatory, ray-finned fish known for its fearsome appearance and ferocious behaviour. The barracuda is a saltwater fish of the genus Sphyraena, the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae, which was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815. It is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide ranging from the eastern border of the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, on its western border the Caribbean Sea, and in tropical areas of the Pacific Ocean. Barracudas reside near the top of the water and near coral reefs and sea grasses. Barracudas are targeted by sport-fishing enthusiasts.
The Australian barracuda, arrow barracuda, Australian sea pike, sea pike, snook, or shortfin barracuda, Sphyraena novaehollandiae, is a barracuda of the genus Sphyraena which occurs in the south-western Pacific Ocean.
The yellowtail barracuda is one of the smaller species of barracuda of the family Sphyraenidae, which can be found in Indo-West Pacific oceans. It has also invaded the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea, making it one of the Lessepsian migrants.
The northern sennet, Sphyraena borealis, is an ocean-going species of fish in the barracuda family, Sphyraenidae. It was described by the American zoologist James Ellsworth De Kay in 1842. De Kay's description was part of several volumes he published regarding the fauna of New York from 1842-1849. Northern sennet are also known as northern barracuda. While generally considered a gamefish it has only rarely been used as food by humans.
The Guachanche barracuda is an ocean-going species of game fish in the barracuda family, Sphyraenidae. It was described by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier in 1829. The description was part of the second edition of Le Règne Animal, or The Animal Kingdom. Guachanche barracuda are also known simply as guaguanche throughout much of the Caribbean. When used for food, Guaguanche barracuda are usually sold fresh or salted.
The beaked blind snake, also known commonly as Waite's blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae.
Sphyraena argentea is a predatory species of marine barracuda fish of the family Sphyraenidae. They are found in the northeast Pacific Ocean, from Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur north to Washington State. However, they are not common north of Point Conception in Santa Barbara County, California, usually preferring warmer waters. They can reach a length of about 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) and a weight of about 6.8 kilograms (15 lb). This species of barracuda is a very popular sport fish in Southern California.
Sphyraena sphyraena, also known as the European barracuda or Mediterranean barracuda, is a ray-finned predatory fish of the Mediterranean basin and the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sphyraena viridensis, the yellowmouth barracuda or yellow barracuda is a predatory ray-finned fish from the family Sphyraenidae, the barracudas. It is found in the warmer waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. It is often confused with the European barracuda.
Sphyraena chrysotaenia, the yellowstripe barracuda, is a species of predatory, ray finned fish from the family Sphyraenidae which is found in the Indo-West Pacific region. It has entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal as a Lessepesian migrant and is now an important species in the fisheries of the eastern Mediterranean.
Argentina sphyraena is a species of fish belonging to the family Argentinidae. Also known as the "stargazer", they inhabit the Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, and typically live between 10 and 100 meters in depth. The stargazers are sedentary fish that camouflage themselves in sand or mud in order to prey upon other animals. They are carnivorous, benthic predators, or "bottom dwelling", which means they eat small animal, and are very important to the food chain. These fish mainly feeds on polychaetes and crustaceans.
The bigeye barracuda is a species of the family Sphyraenidae, which can be found in the tropical Indo-West Pacific oceans, excluding Hawaii.
Sphyraena ensis, commonly known as the Mexican barracuda or simply barracuda, is a species of barracuda that inhabits the continental shelf of the Eastern Pacific from southern California to northern Chile. They have a long cylindrical body and are silvery in color, with a protruding lower jaw containing many sharp teeth of unequal size. Often found in schools, they can be found from coastal habitats such as estuaries and mangroves out into deeper water. Due to their abundance they are an important food fish for the region.
Sphyraena arabiansis commonly known as the Arabian barracuda Is a species of barracuda found in the eastern Arabian Sea. Once thought to be a population of great barracuda they are now considered distinct due to morphological and genetic differences.
Sphyraena afra, commonly known as the Guinean barracuda, is a species of barracuda found off the western coast of Africa from Senegal to Namibia. They are not particularly common throughout their range. They are carnivorous, feeding on fish and shrimp. They are found on the continental shelf and are known to occur from lagoons and estuaries out to a depth of 75 m (246 ft).
Sphyraena intermedia commonly known as the intermediate barracuda is a species of barracuda that was only recently discovered in the Gulf of Taranto in the south of Italy. Very similar to the other four species of Barracuda that inhabit the Mediterranean Sea particularly the European barracuda and yellowmouth barracuda. They are distinguished by being intermediate in size between European and Yellowmouth barracudas as well as a few other differences such as different amounts of scales and certain body measurements.
Sphyraena pinguis commonly known as the red barracuda, striped barracuda, brown barracuda, and more names, is a species of barracuda found in the Northwest Pacific, from Southeast Asia up through Japan. It is a pelagic species commonly found in large schools over muddy or sandy rock bottoms from southern Japan to Australia. They can commonly be found inhabiting large estuaries and coastal bays and juveniles can be found in shallow waters. Red Barracuda feed on smaller fish and can get up to 50 cm(20 in) long.
Sphyraena iburiensis is a relatively recently discovered species of barracuda in the genus Sphyraena only being formally described in 2005. Found in the Eastern Pacific most commonly between southern Japan and Taiwan. They can be differentiated from other species of Barracuda by the number and lay out of their scales and the presence of two distinctive longitudinal stripes. The lower of the two stripes are especially distinct stretching from the snout to the base of the caudal fin just below the lateral line. The species is also known for having a completely transparent membrane on the first dorsal fin.
Sphyraena lucasana is a species of barracuda found in the waters around southern Baja California and in the Gulf of California. Also known as the Lucas barracuda and the Cortez barracuda, this species can reach up to 76 cm in length. They are pelagic fish that hunt in open water and they themselves are often food for local fishing communities. This species also has a distinct protruding lower jaw that does not reach under the eye. Their color is silvery with around 20 on the upper side of the body with pale fins.
Sphyraena putnamae, the sawtooth, chevron or military barracuda, is a species of barracuda found in all tropical seas and temperate waters of major oceans with the exception of the eastern pacific. It is found near shores in bays, turbid lagoons, and some reefs. A recognizable feature is the many dark chevron-shaped markings along its side, and its forked caudal fin. It spends its time in the shallow part of the sea off the coast, and stays closers to the surface levels of the open ocean. It can reach an age of 14 years old, and grow up to six feet long and over 100 pounds.
