Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
by Leo Shapiro
The Great Barracuda is found in warm waters nearly worldwide. Slight changes in water temperature can bring subtropical fishes such as Great Barracuda northward (e.g., off southern California when water temperature increases from an average of around 15° - 17° C).
Great Barracuda, which may reach 2 m and 48 kg in size. Markings differ sufficiently among individuals that they can be used to distinguish individuals in behavioral or other studies. The fusiform (torpedo-shaped) body, with a large caudal (tail) fin and posteriorly positioned dorsal and anal fins, allows barracuda to capture prey with a sudden burst of speed.
Young fish live in inshore seagrass beds, but adults range from inshore channels to open ocean. Although Giant Barracuda have a well-deserved reputation as fierce predators, attacks on humans are not common (and very rarely fatal) and generally involve unusual circumstances such as wading or swimming in turbid water while wearing bright objects or carrying speared fish.
In at least some regions, the flesh of some barracuda, especially larger ones, is quite poisonous as a result of concentrating toxins originating from certain marine dinoflagellates farther down the food chain.
(via: EOL) (photo: Yeang H. Ch’ng/Nature’s Best Photography)
