Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Sphyraenidae (Barracudas)
Etymology: Sphyraena: Greek, sphyraina, -es = the name of a fish (Ref. 45335). More on author: Cuvier.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 20 - 120 m (Ref. 12260). Tropical; 30°N - 32°S
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 55.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9563); common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9768)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 6;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 9;
Anal
spines: 2;
Anal
soft rays: 9. Body elongate and subcylindrical with small cycloid scales; head long and pointed. Mouth large and horizontal, the tip of the lower jaw protruding; intermaxilla non-protractile. Preoperculum rectangular, with wide naked skin flap. First dorsal fin origin slightly before the pectoral fin tip, the first spine equal to the second. Pelvic fins well before the tip of the pectoral, closer to the anal than the tip of the lower jaw. Color is generally green above and silvery below.
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island. Migrated to eastern Mediterranean from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal (Ref. 5385). The exact range is uncertain because of confusion of this species with Sphyraena flavicauda (Ref. 9768).
Inhabits bays and estuaries (Ref. 9768). Found in schools in seagrass beds and rocky reefs (Ref. 9563). Feeds mainly on fishes. Exhibits diurnal behavior. Also caught with set nets (Ref. 9768). Sold fresh, frozen or dried salted in markets.
Rose, J.H., 1984. Sphyraenidae. In W. Fischer and G. Bianchi (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). Vol. 4. FAO, Rome. pag. var.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningFecundityEggsEgg development
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00757 (-0.04120 - 0.05633), b=2.91256 (2.88453 - 2.94059), based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 4.5 ±0.8 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.5-0.9).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100) .