Body type
Large, predatory, ray-finned saltwater fish.
Barracuda
Barracuda are large predatory ray-finned saltwater fishes of genus Sphyraena found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.
BarracudasSphyraenidae
Species Guide
What to know about barracudas
A clean field guide focused on habitat, identification, behavior, and conservation context without burying the useful parts.
Barracuda are large, predatory, ray-finned, saltwater fishes of the genus Sphyraena, the sole genus in the family Sphyraenidae. The family Sphyraenidae was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815. Barracudas occur in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, including the eastern Atlantic border to the Red Sea, the Caribbean Sea on the western Atlantic border, and tropical areas of the Pacific Ocean. They tend to reside near the surface of the water and are often associated with coral reefs and seagrass habitats. Barracudas are frequently targeted by sport fishing.
Commonly cited pressures include Fishing.
Tend to reside near the top of the water column and are associated with coral reefs and seagrass habitats.
The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Bequia, Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Marsa Alam (Abu Dabbab and Elphinstone) and countries such as Spain, Egypt, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for divers building trips around barracudas.
Identification
How to identify barracudas
The visual markers divers can use underwater, plus the species most likely to cause confusion.
Key identification markers
Taxonomy
Members of the genus Sphyraena, the sole genus in family Sphyraenidae.
