Barracudas (Sphyraenidae)

Heller's Barracuda Sphyraena helleri (Jenkins, 1901)

The barracudas (all in the genus Sphyraena) are easily recognized by their very elongate and little compressed bodies, large mouth with protruding pointed lower jaw, very large compressed teeth, and two widely separated dorsal fins, the first of five spines, and the second of one spine and nine soft rays.

As their awesome dentition would suggest, they are carnivorous, feeding mainly on other fishes. The Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) has been known to inflict severe wounds on humans, but nearly all attacks have taken place in murky water where a limb might be mistaken for a fish, or from provocation (as by spearing). In clear water without anything that might be attracting, such as a wounded fish struggling on a spear or a metal object that flashes in the sun, there should be no reason to fear a barracuda.

Some species form schools by day and disperse at night to feed. Others, such as S. barracuda, are diurnal and usually solitary. Only two species are positively known from the Hawaiian Islands, but the author recently observed an adult of S. qenie Kluzinger near South Point on the Kona coast of Hawai'i.

Great Barracuda

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