Sphyraena helleri Jenkins, 1901
Heller's barracuda
Sphyraena helleri
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Sphyraenidae (Barracudas)
Max. size:  54.58 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,812.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 10 - 104 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Hawaii endemic.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-9. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: first gill arch with one gill raker; pelvic-fin insertion is located slightly before vertical through first dorsal-fin origin; pored lateral-line scales 121-127, total lateral-line scales 132-134; scales above lateral line 12-13 and below 14-15; snout comparatively long, its length 15.0-16.4% SL; upper jaw long, the posterior tip reaching to or beyond anterior nostril, but not reaching to below posterior nostril, its length 11.9-12.9% SL; eye large, orbit diameter 4.8-5.9 % SL and depth 4.8-5.6% SL; anal-fin base somewhat short, its length 6.8-7.5% SL; last dorsal- and anal-fin ray lengths 4.2-4.3% SL and 3.6-4.7% SL, respectively; anus is comparatively close to anal-fin origin, its anterior and posterior margins to anal-fin origin 6.5-8.2 % HL and 4.1-4.9% HL, respectively; the head sensory canal pores on suborbital area are simple or sometimes slightly branched, their lowermost parts very close to lacrimal bone margin, large smooth area lacking canal pores absent on mid-margin of lacrimal bone. Colouration: lateral surface of body no stripes or bands; caudal fin gray (Ref. 123366).
Biology:  Mainly nocturnal (Ref. 4887).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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