| Sphyraenidae (Barracudas) |
| 205 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 50 kg |
|
pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 75 m |
| Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Namibia (Ref. 57401). Also reported from Mauritania (Ref. 5377). |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Diagnosis: 122-140 (generally 125-132) scales in lateral line (Ref. 57401). Sides marked with about 20 dark, largely backwards open chevrons (Ref. 57401), which become less distinct in large specimens (Ref. 5491).
Description: body elongate, slightly compressed; head large with a long and pointed snout; interorbital space flat or concave; hind edge of opercular bone with two spines; mouth large, lower jaw prominent without any skin appendage; hind end of premaxillary reaching or nearly reaching anterior border of eye; teeth strong, pointed, close to one another; teeth of lower jaw straight, never turned backwards; teeth on roof of mouth; 1st dorsal fin begins clearly behind the insertion level of ventral fins; longest rays of 2nd dorsal and anal fins, when folded back, reach the extremity of the last rays; distal edge of pectoral fin stands behind insertion level of ventral fin (Ref. 57401).
Coloration: back and upper part of flanks bluish or greenish grey, lower part of flanks and belly silver white; sides marked with about 20 dark chevrons, largely open backwards; very distinct in medium-sized individuals, these chevrons remain obvious in maximal sizes; 2nd dorsal fin and caudal fin uniformly dark, without a white edge; anal fin dark with a distal rim clearer (Ref. 57401). |
| Commonly enters lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 4339, 57401). Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 36731). Feeds on fish and shrimps (Ref. 28587). Never reported to be ciguatoxic. Good food and recreational value. |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| traumatogenic |
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