Domain |    Eukarya |
Kingdom |    Animalia |
Phylum |    Chordata |
Family |    Sphyraenidae |
Description |    Barracudas |
Environment |    Marine |
Etymology |    Greek, sphyraina = a fish similar to an iron pin, a pike like fish |
Genus |    1 |
No. of Species |    27 |
Order |    Perciformes |
Class |    Actinopterygii |
Reproductive Guild |    Nonguarders |
Distribution |    Tropical and subtropical. Distribution: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Elongated body. Large-mouthed with the lower jaw projecting forward bearing strong fanglike teeth. Upper jaw non-protractile, an adaptation to feeding on large prey. Well-developed lateral line. Gill rakers vestigial. Position of pectoral fins relatively low. Dorsal fins far apart. First dorsal fin with 5 spines; second dorsal with 1 spine and 9 soft rays. Vertebrae 24 (11+13). Usually to 1.8 m maximum length; could grow longer. Voracious predators of other fishes. Attacks on humans have been reported. Pelagic spawning in schools. Food and game fishes, but large specimens may be ciguatoxic. |
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Summary of Distribution: Indian Ocean: East Africa and the Mascarene Islands. Pacific Ocean: north to southern Japan, south to the Coral Sea, and east to French Polynesia; also from the Hawaiian Islands. Common in oceanic islands of the Pacific. The exact range is uncertain because of the confusion of this species with Sphyraena acutipinnis and Sphyraena novaehollandiae. |
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Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org) |
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