Great barracuda

Great barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
Max. size: 2.5 m

Its streamlined body, large eyes and jaws equipped with sharp teeth do nothing to take away its bad reputation.  

It is a very curious fish but can attack humans if disturbed.
It may be recognised by the black marks on its flanks.
It can swim up to 44km/h and fears nothing apart from sharks.
The young live in shoals and become solitary when adult.
They may be found in all warm seas except in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
When the aquarium’s biologists dive in amongst them to improve their environment or clean the glass, they have to avoid any sudden movements so as not to disturb these magnificent fish.
Fed on fish and cephalopods, the Grand Aquarium’s four barracudas watch our visitors with interest!

This fish belongs to the group known as Actinopterygians, which includes vertebrates with bony skeletons and shiny fins (new classification).

 

Back to the Atlantic collection