Based on scale analysis of large specimens, great barracuda have a lifespan of at least 14 years. Sexual maturity is reached at a length of about 23 inches 60 cm.
At this size, males are typically about two years and females close to four years of age. Food Habits Great barracudas feed on an array of prey including fishes such as jacks, grunts, groupers, snappers, small tunas, mullets, killifishes, herrings, and anchovies. Barracudas have a large gape and very sharp teeth, enabling them to feed on large fishes by chopping them in half.
An opportunistic predator, great barracuda feed throughout the water column. Generally a diurnal fish, great barracuda locate their prey largely by sight. The body plan of the great barracuda is designed for speed and it is estimated that top speed for the species may be as fast as 36 mph 58 kph.
Reproduction The timing and location of spawning has not been well documented. It is believed that spawning takes place in deeper, offshore waters.
Evidence exists that barracuda are seasonal spawners and in the Florida Keys they are believed to breed in the spring. During the spawning event, eggs are released and fertilized in open waters and dispersed by the currents. Newly hatched larvae bear little resemblance to adults. Seeking safety from predators as well as a source of food, the larvae settle in shallow, vegetated areas of estuaries. Juveniles become recognizable as miniature versions of the adults at about.
At a length of about 1. These juvenile barracuda spend the remainder of their first year of life within mangrove and seagrass habitats. During the second year of life, they move to deep reef areas where they will spend their adulthood. Predators There are few predators that are large enough and fast enough to feed on adult great barracuda. Sharks, tuna, and goliath grouper have been known to feed on small adult barracuda. Juveniles likely fall prey to a variety of inshore predators.
Parasites In general, the barracuda has few parasites for a fish that has been well studied. The monogean trematode Pseudochauhanea sphyraenae is an ectoparasite occurring on the gills of the great barracuda. Copepods have also been observed around the mouth area of this fish.
Other parasites include protozoans, numerous digenea flukes , monogenea gillworms , cestoda tapeworms , nematoda round worms , isopods, and fish lice. The great barracuda is also parasitized by other fish ectoparasites including the live sharksucker Echeneis naucrates , pilotfish Naucrates ductor , slender suckerfish Phtheirichthys lineatus , spearfish remora Remora brachyptera , and marlin sucker Remora osteochir.
Johann Julius Walbaum first described Sphyraena barracuda in The genus Sphyraena is Latin meaning a pike-like fish. Synonyms include S. Discover Fishes Sphyraena barracuda. The long needle-like teeth fit into holes in the opposing jaw, which allows the barracuda to fully close its mouth.
They are opportunistic predators that hunt mainly by sight. Great barracudas are naturally inquisitive. Because they hunt mainly by sight, barracudas sometimes attempt to steal fish from spear fishers or approach divers, mistaking the glint of a diving knife as a shiny fish.
Adult great barracudas are large fish — some exceeding five feet long and weighing more than pounds — with a lifespan of around 14 years in the wild. Given their size and speed, barracudas do not have many predators capable of catching and eating them. Some anglers value barracudas as a gamefish because of their strength and speed. The great barracuda would begin its strike with a sudden acceleration towards its prey and snapping its jaws shut around its prey.
Then it would use its razor sharp teeth and the vigorous shaking of its head to break the prey in several pieces.
When not attacking, they like to slowly drift through the open water observing its environment in silence and peace. The great barracuda is attracted to shiny objects, such as earrings, necklaces, and belly rings because its prey is usually of shiny grey color. It is wise for any person scuba diving or snorkeling around a group of great barracudas to take off any jewelry that could potentially cause a great barracuda to mistake it for food to attack.
The great barracuda rarely attacks humans but this usually only happens when it is provoked and rarely is a deadly case. Nutrition and symbiosis: The great barracuda typically feeds on herring, shrimp, sardine, puffer fish, octopus, and small tuna. The great barracuda has no threats except the occasional dolphin or shark. While watching its environment when floating around the marine environment, the great barracuda is taking part of a mutualistic relationship with cleaner wrasse.
It generally has its mouth partly open and gills flared out to allow the cleaner wrasse to eat dead skin and parasites off of the surface of the great barracuda. Danger and recent research: The main danger associate with the great barracuda is ciguatoxin, a toxin found in barracuda flesh. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting hours after eating the infested meat.
Research indicates that this toxin is caused from the photosynthetic, toxin-producing algae dinoflagellate species that which the great barracuda eats. The great barracuda has been used in research studies regarding this toxin and has been helpful in understanding ciguatoxin.
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