| Family: |
Sphyraenidae (Barracudas) |
| Max. size: |
90 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 20 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, north to southern Japan. Reported from Fiji and Tuvalu (Ref. 12596).The exact range is uncertain because of confusion of this species with Sphyraena jello and Sphyraena qenie (Ref. 9768). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 7-9. Many typical chevron dark markings crossing lateral line on body; caudal fin largely blackish. No gill rakers on first arch, upper and lower gill arch with rough platelets, each platelet not bearing distinct spine.
Description: Characterized further by having close-set teeth, those in lower jaw angled backward; corner of preopercle lacking membranous flap; maxilla reaching below anterior edge of eye; moderate eye size; first dorsal origin over tip of pectoral fins and below or slightly behind base of pelvic fins; deeply forked caudal fin without inner lobes; depth of body 6.9-8.5 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Found near prominent current-swept lagoons or seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Also in bays and inner turbid lagoons (Ref. 9768). Nocturnally active, but occurring in relatively large schools during the day (Ref. 9768). Sold fresh or processed into fish cakes (Ref. 27550). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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