Barracuda Facts

Barracuda Facts The barracuda (Sphyraenidae spp) is sometimes portrayed as an ocean menace, but does it deserve such a reputation? This common fish found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans as well as the Caribbean and Red seas, has threatening teeth and a habit of approaching swimmers, but its not the danger you might think. Fast Facts: Barracuda Scientific Name: SphyraenidaeCommon Name: BarracudaBasic Animal Group: FishSize: 20 inches to 6 feet or moreWeight: Up to 110 poundsLifespan: Varies by species; giant barracudas live up to 14 yearsSpeed: Up to 35 miles per hourDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, Caribbean and Red SeasPopulation: UnknownConservation Status: Not Evaluated Description Even if youre new to  fish identification, youll quickly learn to recognize the barracudas distinctive look. The fish has a long, slender body that is tapered at the ends and thicker in the middle. The head is somewhat flattened on top and pointed in front, and the lower jaw projects forward menacingly. Its two dorsal fins are far apart, and its pectoral fins are positioned low on the body. Most species are dark on top, with silver sides and a clear lateral line that extends from the head to the tail on each side. The barracudas caudal fin is slightly forked ​and curved on the trailing edge. Smaller barracuda species may max out at 20 inches in length, but the larger species can achieve a startling 6 feet or longer in size. Is there anything more unnerving than being approached by a fearless fish with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth? Barracuda have big mouths, with long jaws and a characteristic under-bite. They also have a lot of teeth. In fact, barracuda have two rows of teeth: an outer row of small but sharp teeth for tearing flesh apart, and an inner row of long, dagger-like teeth to firmly grasp its prey. A few of the barracudas teeth point backward, as an extra aid for securing squirming fish. Smaller fish are mercifully swallowed whole, but larger fish are efficiently chopped to pieces in the hungry barracudas jaws. A barracuda can open its mouth wide enough to snatch just about any fish it encounters, from a tiny killifish to a chunky grouper. Image Source/Getty Images Species The name barracuda doesnt apply to one specific fish, but rather an entire family. The Sphyraenidae is the group of fish known collectively as barracuda. The species most people picture when thinking of a barracuda is probably the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), a commonly encountered fish. But the worlds oceans are full of all kinds of barracuda, including the pickhandle barracuda, the sawtooth barracuda, and the sharpfin barracuda. Some species are named for the area where they are found, like the Guinean barracuda, the Mexican barracuda, the Japanese barracuda, and the European barracuda. Habitat and Range Most species of barracuda live in near-shore habitats, such as seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs. Theyre primarily marine fish, although a few varieties can tolerate brackish water at times. Barracuda inhabit the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and are also commonly found in the Caribbean and Red seas. Diet Barracuda have a diverse diet, preferring small tunas, mullets, jacks, grunts, groupers, snappers, killifishes, herrings, and anchovies.  They hunt mainly by sight, scanning the water for signs of prey as they swim. Smaller fish are most visible when they reflect light and often look like shiny metal objects in the water. This, unfortunately, can lead to misunderstandings between barracuda and humans in the water. A swimmer or diver with anything reflective is likely to get an aggressive bump from a curious barracuda. The barracuda isnt interested in you, necessarily. It just wants to sample the object that looks like a shiny, silverfish. Still, its a bit unsettling to have a barracuda come barreling toward you, teeth first, so its best to remove anything reflective before getting in the water. Behavior A barracudas body is shaped like a torpedo and made for cutting through the water. This long, lean, and muscular fish is one of the fastest creatures in the sea, capable of swimming up to 35 mph. Barracuda swim almost as fast as the notoriously speedy mako sharks. Barracuda cant maintain top speed for long distances, however. The barracuda is a sprinter, capable of bursts of speed in pursuit of prey. They spend most of their time swimming slow enough to survey for food, and only accelerate when a meal is within reach; they often swim together in small or large schools. Reproduction and Offspring The timing and location of barracuda spawning are not as yet well-documented, but scientists surmise that mating takes place in deeper, offshore waters and probably in spring. Eggs are released by the female and fertilized by the male in open waters, and then are dispersed by currents.   Newly hatched barracuda larvae settle in shallow, vegetated estuaries, and leave the estuary when they have achieved a length of about 2 inches. They then stay in mangrove and seagrass habitats until they are about one year old.   Great barracuda have a lifespan of at least 14 years, and they typically reach sexual maturity at two years (male) and four years (female).   Fotosearch/Getty Images   Barracudas and Humans Because barracuda are fairly common and inhabit the same waters where people swim and dive, the chance of encountering a barracuda is quite high. But despite their proximity to people in the water, barracuda rarely attack or injure humans. Most bites occur when the barracuda mistakes a metallic object for a fish and attempts to snatch it. The barracuda isnt likely to continue biting once it realizes the object in question isnt food. Barracuda attacks are rare and almost never fatal. Those teeth will do some damage to an arm or leg, though, so victims usually require stitches. While smaller barracuda are generally safe to eat, larger barracuda can be ciguatoxic (poisonous to humans) because they consume larger fish with higher toxin loads. At the bottom of the food chain, toxic plankton known as Gambiendiscus toxicus attaches itself to algae on the coral reef. Small, herbivorous fish feed on the algae and consume the toxin, too. Larger, predatory fish prey on the small fish, and accumulate a higher concentration of the toxin in their bodies. Each successive predator accumulates more toxins. Ciguatera food poisoning is unlikely to kill you, but its not an experience youll enjoy. The biotoxins cause gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms that persist for weeks or months. Patients report hallucinations, severe muscle and joint pain, skin irritation, and even a reversal of hot and cold sensations. Unfortunately, theres no way to identify a ciguatoxin barracuda, and neither heat nor freezing can kill the fat-soluble toxins in a contaminated fish. Its best to avoid consuming large barracuda. Sources Family Sphyraenidae – Barracuda. Fishbase.org, 2012.Martin, R. Aidan. Record-Breakers: Hauling Bass. Biology of Sharks and Rays. ReefQuest Center for Shark Research, 2003.Bester, Cathleen. Sphyraena barracuda: Great Barracuda. Florida Museum, University of Florida.Lawley, Richard. Ciguatoxins. Food Safety Watch, January 30, 2013.Olander, Doug. The Perils of Ciguatera: Will your next fresh-caught fish dinner be a toxic time bomb? Sport Fishing Magazine, May 5, 2011.