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Sphyraena flavicauda Rüppell, 1838 Yellowtail barracuda |
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photo by
Cook, D.C. |
| Family: | Sphyraenidae (Barracudas) | |||
| Max. size: | 60 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 25 m | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref.80050); Red Sea to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. The exact range is uncertain because of confusion of this species with Sphyraena obtusata (Ref. 9768). Mediterranean: Lessepsian migrant (Ref. 50345). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Body with two brown or brownish yellow longitudinal stripes which may disappear in old specimens; caudal fin yellowish (Ref. 9768). S. flavicauda is more elongate than S. obtusata and differs in dorsal fin height pectoral fin length (Ref. 37816). Description: Characterized further by silvery green to yellowish body color dorsally; upper side of body with row of short bars; gill rakers 2; large eye; erect teeth, each separated by space about equal to tooth width; prominent membranous flap at corner of preopercle; maxilla reaching within half eye diameter of anterior edge of eye; forked caudal fin; depth of body 6.8-8.3 in SL (Ref. 90102). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits lagoon and sheltered seaward reefs (Ref. 9710); also found in bays (Ref. 9768). Often schools on coastal reefs (Ref. 48637). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||