| Photo Information |
Copyright: Alfredo Wang (alfhwa)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 10 W: 0 N: 19]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif) (81) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-10-25 |
| Categories: Fish |
| Camera: Olympus Stylus 770SW |
| Exposure: f/3.5, 1/100 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-11-20 6:44 |
| Viewed: 655 |
| Points: 4 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This shot was taken on Trunk Bay, in St. John, close to the underwater trail.
Order - Perciformes
Family - Sphyraenidae
Genus - Sphyraena
Species - barracuda
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.
The great barracuda has a slender, streamlined body that is round in the mid-section. The top of the head between the eyes is nearly flat and the mouth is large, containing many large sharp teeth and a projecting lower jaw. The pectoral fin tips extend to the origin of the pelvic fins. The spinous and soft dorsal fins are widely separated and the double emarginate tail fin exhibits pale tips on each lobe.
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.
Great barracuda are large fish. The record for a hook and line caught great barracuda is 1.7 meters (5.5 feet), 44 kg (103 lbs) and the species is reported to attain a size of 2 meters, 50 kg. Any barracuda over 4.8 feet (1.5 m) in length can be considered very large. 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.
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).
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.
Source: Florida Museum of Natural History
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/greatbarracuda/greatbarracuda.html |
Mikolaj, jrobertop has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 482 W: 0 N: 12]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-s.gif)
(1600)![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 273 W: 0 N: 321]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
(1896)