BARRACUDA

Max. size: 170 cm TL max. published weight: 7,140 g

Environment: reef-associated; marine

Climate: tropical; 3oA°N – 24A°S

Importance: fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Resilience: Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years

(Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Distribution: Gazetteer Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the central Indian Ocean and French

Polynesia. Eastern Pacific: Mexico and Panama. The exact range is uncertain because of

confusion with Sphyraena jello and Sphyraena putnamae (Ref. 9768).

Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 6 – 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 – 9; Anal spines: 2;

Anal soft rays: 7 56“ 9. Many dark bars crossing lateral line on body, each bar oblique in

upper half, but nearly vertical in the lower; caudal fin largely blackish. No gill rakers on

First arch; upper and lower gill arch with rough platelets, each platelet not bearing distinct

spine.

Biology: Found near current-swept lagoon and seaward reefs. Usually seen in large

semi-stationary schools during the day which have a tendency to occupy the same site

for months or even years at a time. Probably disperses at night to feed. Often hooked by

trolling between dusk and dawn.