Owing to its beastly appearance and behavior, the barracuda fish is also known as the ‘Tiger of the Sea’. There are more than twenty known species of this fish.
Similar but Different!
Except for a difference in the color and size, all types of barracuda fish have the same elongated appearance and are characterized by long, pointy, powerful jaws.
The barracuda may have gotten its name from the Spanish word barraco, that means ‘overlapping tooth’. It is found in oceans all around the world, though its natural habitat includes coastal regions, which are comparatively warmer. However, it prefers a habitat that includes tropical and subtropical oceans where food is abundant. The number of barracuda fish found near coral reefs and ocean coasts is more than those found in deeper oceans.
The barracuda, a saltwater fish of the genus Sphyraena (one and only genus in the family Sphyraenidae), is a huge ray-finned fish, characterized by smooth scales and a long and narrow body. There are more than 20 known species of this genus. Some species like the Great Barracuda grow up to 7 feet long and 12 inches wide. All types of the barracuda fish are elongated and appear similar to a pike. They are sometimes also known as ‘Sea Pikes’.
The barracuda is a opportunistic feeder and a voracious nocturnal predator. It hunts its prey mostly at night by surprise and sudden bursts of attacks. It feeds primarily on different kinds of fish and other marine life. The adult barracuda exists solitarily (except during the mating season). Young barracuda fish exist in groups called a ‘school of barracudas’, or a ‘battery of barracudas’.
Scientific Classification of Barracuda
Kingdom :- Animalia
Phylum :- Chordata
Class :- Actinopterygii
Order :- Perciformes
Family :- Sphyraenidae
Genus :- Sphyraena
Types of Barracuda Fish
Great Barracuda
Yellowtail Barracuda
Blackfin Barracuda
Yellowmouth Barracuda
Mexican Barracuda
Other Types of Barracuda Fish
Common Name Vs Scientific Name
Australian Barracuda –Sphyraena novaehollandiae
Bigeye Barracuda – Sphyraena forsteri
European Barracuda – Sphyraena sphyraena
Guachanche Barracuda – Sphyraena guachancho
Guinean Barracuda – Sphyraena afra
Heller’s Barracuda – Sphyraena helleri
Japanese Barracuda – Sphyraena japonica
Lucas Barracuda – Sphyraena lucasana
Northern Sennet – Sphyraena borealis
Obtuse Barracuda – Sphyraena obtusata
Pacific Barracuda – Sphyraena argentea
Pelican Barracuda – Sphyraena idiastes
Pickhandle Barracuda – Sphyraena jello
Red Barracuda – Sphyraena pinguis
Sawtooth Barracuda – Sphyraena putnamae
Sharpfin Barracuda – Sphyraena acutipinnis
Southern Sennet – Sphyraena picudilla
Yellowstripe Barracuda – Sphyraena chrysotaenia
NA – Sphyraena iburiensis
NA – Sphyraena intermedia
NA – Sphyraena tome
NA – Sphyraena waitii
A barracuda fish is considered one of the most dangerous predators underwater. Its strong jaw and a peculiar placement of its teeth, facing forward and backward, prevents its prey from escaping its strong and painful hold. This is one fish snorkelers and deep-sea divers need to be careful of.