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Common
Names
Great barracuda, barracuda, barra, Commerson's sea
pike, and short barracuda are common English language
names. Other names include alu (Carolinian), amerikanischer
pfeilhecht (German), barkura (Miskito), barrcouda
(French), barracuda bicuda (Portuguese), bicuda
(Portuguese), chai (Palauan), gaviana (Portuguese),
kadd (Arabic), kaku (Hawaiian), kucul (Malay), kupala
(Hawaiian), ono (Tahitian), picua (Spanish), picúa
corsaria (German), picuda (Spanish), seraw (Carolinian),
snoek (Dutch), tenak (Malay), and zub-saalim (Somali)
are common names that refer to this fish.
Geographical Distribution
Occurring worldwide in near shore tropical and subtropical
seas (30°N - 30°S), the great barracuda
is common in the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts
(U.S.) to Brazil. It is also found in the Gulf of
Mexico and the Caribbean Sea as well as the eastern
Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Pacific, and the Red Sea. It
is rare or absent in areas of the eastern Pacific
Ocean.
Habitat
Great
barracuda commonly occur in nearshore coral reefs,
seagrasses, and mangroves. They may also reside
in the open ocean, living predominantly at or near
the surface, although they are at times found at
depths to 325 feet (100m). Barracudas tend to be
solitary but are sometimes found in small aggregations
over reefs and sandy bottoms. Juveniles mature amongst
mangroves and seagrass beds, habitats that offer
cover from predators. During the second year of
life, barracuda move to deeper reef habitats. Juveniles
and some adults have been observed in areas that
receive high amounts of freshwater input, however
adults generally tend to avoid areas of brackish
water.
Dentition
The
great barracuda has a large mouth containing two
sets of razor-sharp teeth, making it an efficient
predator. There is a row of small razor-sharp teeth
along the outside of the jaw with a larger set of
dagger-like teeth within these. The closely set
teeth are flattened and triangular with sharp edges
used to tear the flesh of prey. Long needlelike
teeth fit into their own holes in the opposing jaw,
allowing the great barracuda to close its mouth.
This gives its prey little chance of escape. This
fish grabs its prey, swallowing small victims whole
while larger prey is cut into pieces to be swallowed
separately.
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