- The barracuda has a long, slender body, two fins on its back, a jutting lower jaw, and a mouth …
Bold and curious, barracudas are among the most ferocious fish in tropical waters. The species known as the great barracuda has even been known to attack humans. Barracudas live in the warmer parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, including in the Caribbean Sea. Physical featuresA barracuda has a fierce appearance. Its long mouth has a jutting lower jaw and large, knifelike teeth. Its torpedo-shaped body, built for speed, has small scales and two well-separated fins on the back. Barracudas vary in size, but they average 3 to 4 feet (1 meter) in length. The largest type is the great barracuda, which can reach a length of 8 feet (2 meters). BehaviorBarracudas are primarily fish eaters. They prey on smaller fish like mullets, anchovies, and grunts. Sometimes they even bite through fishermen's nets to get at the fish inside. Barracudas travel far in search of food. When they find a school of fish, they circle around it until the fish huddle together in fear. Then the barracudas dive into the group while biting and slashing with their teeth. Barracudas will strike at most moving objects, including swimmers. |