Great Barracuda

Great barracudas are elongated fish with powerful jaws. The lower jaw of their large mouth juts out beyond their upper one. Barracudas possess strong, fang-like teeth that are unequal in size, set in sockets in the jaws and on the roof of the mouth. Their head is quite large, pointed and pike-like in appearance.

The great barracuda is blue gray above, fading to silvery and chalky-white below. Sometimes, a row of darker stripes occurs on its upper side, with black blotches on each lower side. The second dorsal fin, as well as the anal and caudal fins, range from dark violet to black with white tips.

The great barracuda is present in tropical to warm temperate waters, in subtropical parts of the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Primarily found in oceans near the equator, the great barracuda finds refuge in mangroves to deep reefs, and seagrass beds, up to depths of 110 m (360 ft). Juveniles and small adults typically inhabit locations near the shore, such as mangroves and seagrass meadows, while adults are typically found further away from shore around artificial structures, reefs, and rock outcroppings. These fish use these structures as a form of refuge.

Barracudas live in open seas. They are voracious predators and hunt by ambush. They rely on surprise and short bursts of speed up to 36 mph (58 km/h) to overrun their prey, sacrificing maneuverability. The Barracuda's dorsal and anal fin are located in the posterior segment of its body. This is an evolutionary trait that allows the fish to move quickly and have an ambush attack style. The gill covers do not have spines and are covered with small scales. The two dorsal fins are widely separated, with the first having five spines and the second having one spine and nine soft rays. The second dorsal fin equals the anal fin in size and is situated more or less above it. The lateral line is prominent and extends straight from head to tail. The spinous dorsal fin is situated above the pelvis. The hind end of the caudal fin is forked or concave, and it is set at the end of a stout peduncle.

Barracudas are scavengers, and may mistake snorkelers for large predators, following them in hopes of eating the remains of their prey. Swimmers have been reported being bitten by barracuda, but such incidents are rare and possibly caused by poor visibility. Barracudas may mistake objects that glint and shine for prey.

Barracuda attacks on humans are rare, although bites can result in lacerations and the loss of some tissue. They are a popular target for recreational fishing, due to the strong fight they put up when hooked. However, they are also known for the pungent odor they release upon being caught, and their meat has a chance of causing Ciguatera fish poisoning when eaten.