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Great barracuda

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Great barracuda
Temporal range: Miocene–Present [1]
Great barracuda hovering in the current at Paradise Reef, Cozumel, Mexico
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Suborder: Centropomoidei
Family: Sphyraenidae
Genus: Sphyraena
Species:
S. barracuda
Binomial name
Sphyraena barracuda
(Edwards in Catesby, 1771)
Synonyms
List
  • Sphyraena barracuda Walbaum, 1792
  • Agrioposphyraena barracuda (Walbaum, 1792)
  • Esox barracuda Walbaum, 1792
  • Esox barracuda Edwards, 1771
  • Sphyraena becuna Lacepède, 1803
  • Sphyraena commersonii Cuvier, 1829
  • Sphyraena dussumieri Valenciennes, 1831
  • Sphyraena picuda Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Sphyraena sphyraena picuda Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Sphyraena barracuda, commonly known as the great barracuda, is a species of barracuda, a genus of 27 species of large ray-finned fish found in subtropical oceans worldwide. In its natural habitat, the great barracuda is an apex predator.[3][verification needed]

Distribution and habitat

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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).[4][verification needed] Juveniles and small adults typically inhabit locations near the shore, such as mangroves and seagrass meadows,[5][verification needed] while adults are typically found further away from shore around artificial structures, reefs, and rock outcroppings.[6][verification needed] These fish use these structures as a form of refuge.[5][6][verification needed] Studies conducted by a research group that tagged and monitored these fish in the Bahamas concluded that a significant proportion of the population stayed in their residential habitats for a long period of time; however, a small portion of the population have traveled outwards, suggesting they are capable of large-scale migration.[7][verification needed]

Description

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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.

School of great barracudas in the Red Sea

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.[8][9][10]

Great barracudas are also large fish, and the largest of its genus.[citation needed] Mature specimens are usually around 60–100 cm (24–39 in) in length and weigh 2.5–9.0 kg (5.5–19.8 lb). Exceptionally large specimens can exceed 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and weigh over 23 kg (51 lb). A record-sized specimen caught on rod-and-reel weighed 46.72 kg (103.0 lb) and measured 1.7 m (5.6 ft), while an even longer specimen measured 2 m (6.6 ft).[8][9][10][verification needed] The largest great barracuda was said to have measured 3 m (9.8 ft).[citation needed]

Behavior and biology

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Great barracuda with prey

Barracudas live in open seas.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] 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.[11][verification needed] The gill covers do not have spines[clarification needed] 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 9 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[clarification needed] 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. The pectoral fins are low down on the sides.[citation needed] The barracuda has a large swim bladder.[citation needed]

Barracudas are more or less solitary. Young and half-grown fish frequently congregate in schools. The great barracuda captures small prey through the ram-capturing method. This is done by opening their mouth and engulfing the prey with just one bite. While with bigger prey, the ram capture method is still used. But requires multiple bites and lateral shaking of the head to reduce the prey to smaller pieces and move towards the anterior portion of the mouth to be eaten.[4][verification needed]

Barracudas can reach at least 14 years of age. The spawning season lasts from April to October. Females can release about 5,000 to 30,000 eggs. The highest spawn rate occurs in July, August, and September, then drops off in the months after (especially in winter).[12] Studies conducted on S. barracuda in Florida have found that females reach sexual maturity as early as 1-2 years of age and males at 3-4 years of age,[5] concluding that females reach maturity about 1 year earlier than males.[12][verification needed]

The diets of these top predators are composed almost totally of fish (such as killifishes, herrings, sardines, gobies, silversides, anchovies, small mullets, and lizardfish), cephalopods, and occasionally shrimp.[citation needed] Large barracudas, when gorged, may attempt to herd a school of prey fish in shallow water, where they guard over them until they are ready for another hunt.[citation needed]

Relationship with humans

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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.[13][verification needed]

Barracuda attacks on humans are rare, although bites can result in lacerations and the loss of some tissue.[14][verification needed] 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.[15][16][verification needed]

Conservation Status

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Great barracudas are reportedly declining in Florida, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering imposing catch limits.[11][verification needed][needs update] Studies have proven that fishing-related stressors can reduce the barracuda’s physical capability of evading to a refuge for protection.[17][verification needed] Having impaired cognitive or visual acuity limits their ability to locate their refuge areas, increasing their chances of being preyed upon.[17][verification needed] There have been some instances of sightings and catches of great barracudas outside their normal subtropical and tropical habitats, such as the Canadian oceans[clarification needed] and the North-East Atlantic.[18][verification needed] One can assume this can be caused by factors like global warming habitat destruction and other factors that could affect these fish to swim offshore toward new deeper waters seeking new refuge or prey.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Purdy, Robert W.; Schneider, Vincent P.; Applegate, Shelton P.; McLellan, Jack H.; Meyer, Robert L.; Slaughter, Bob H. (2001), "The Neogene Sharks, Rays, and Bony Fishes from Lee Creek Mine, Aurora, North Carolina", Geology and Paleontology of the Lee Creek Mine, North Carolina, III, Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology, vol. 90, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, pp. 71–202, doi:10.5479/si.00810266.90.71, retrieved 2024-08-29
  2. ^ Aiken, K.A.; Dooley, J.; Marechal, J.; Pina Amargos, F.; Russell, B.; Singh-Renton, S. (2017) [errata version of 2015 assessment]. "Sphyraena barracuda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T190399A115319634. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T190399A15603115.en.
  3. ^ "Sphyraena barracuda". Discover Fishes. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  4. ^ a b Barcelos, Luís M. D.; Barreiros, João B.; Barreiros, João P. (2024). "First record of the great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda ( Perciformes, Sphyraenidae ), in the Azores, north-east Atlantic". Journal of Fish Biology. 104 (4): 1255–1257. Bibcode:2024JFBio.104.1255B. doi:10.1111/jfb.15655. hdl:10400.3/7076. ISSN 0022-1112. PMID 38240296.
  5. ^ a b c Brownscombe, Jacob W.; Nowell, Liane; Samson, Emma; Danylchuk, Andy J.; Cooke, Steven J. (2014). "Fishing-Related Stressors Inhibit Refuge-Seeking Behavior in Released Subadult Great Barracuda". Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 143 (3): 613–617. Bibcode:2014TrAFS.143..613B. doi:10.1080/00028487.2014.880744. ISSN 0002-8487.
  6. ^ a b Habegger, M. L.; Motta, P. J.; Huber, D. R.; Deban, S. M. (2011). "Feeding biomechanics in the Great Barracuda during ontogeny". Journal of Zoology. 283 (1): 63–72. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2010.00745.x. ISSN 0952-8369.
  7. ^ Blaber, S. J. M. (1982). The ecology of Sphyraena barracuda (Osteichthyes: Perciformes) in the Kosi system with notes on the Sphyraenidae of other natal estuaries. South African J. Zool. 17: 171–176.
  8. ^ a b Florida Museum of Natural History
  9. ^ a b Marine Bio
  10. ^ a b Animal Spot
  11. ^ a b IUCN (2013-01-29). Sphyraena barracuda: Aiken, K.A., Dooley, J., Marechal, J., Pina Amargos, F., Russell, B. & Singh-Renton, S.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T190399A115319634 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2015-4.rlts.t190399a15603115.en.
  12. ^ a b Maxwell, Erin E.; Wilson, Laura AB (2013-12-05). "Regionalization of the axial skeleton in the 'ambush predator' guild – are there developmental rules underlying body shape evolution in ray-finned fishes?". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 13 (1): 265. Bibcode:2013BMCEE..13..265M. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-265. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 3867419. PMID 24314064.
  13. ^ Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department
  14. ^ The Nature Conservancy, Great Barracuda, archived from the original on 2016-09-02, retrieved 2013-12-29
  15. ^ Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
  16. ^ The Human Evolution Blog: "That time I ate a barracuda and got ciguatera poisoning"; Professor Nathan H. Lents
  17. ^ a b 1.    Balkwill, D., Coad, B. W., Galvez, I., & Gilhen, J.(2006). First record of the great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda from Canada. The Canadian Field-Naturalist,  120,  241.
  18. ^ Maxwell, Erin E.; Wilson, Laura AB (2013-12-05). "Regionalization of the axial skeleton in the 'ambush predator' guild – are there developmental rules underlying body shape evolution in ray-finned fishes?". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 13 (1): 265. Bibcode:2013BMCEE..13..265M. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-265. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 3867419. PMID 24314064.
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