Barracuda

[denise]

Barracuda probably have the worst reputation of all fish, which is not helped by their villainous look with fearsome fangs and darting eyes!


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Barracuda under a boat, Marathon Key

There are 26 types of barracuda, all live in warm tropical waters worldwide. All are fast and powerful nocturnal predators, well armed with a set of very sharp teeth. Barracuda use their excellent vision to detect and track prey, and are capable of swimming at speeds of more than 30 miles per hour to catch fish. They will take out almost any type of fish including groupers (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=437), wrasse, grunts (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=436), herring and mullet.


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Barracuda swimming amongst a school of yellow tail snappers (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=425), Key Largo

The most common barracuda in Florida is the Great Barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda. These occur both alone and in schools, around coral reefs, and they also cruise through open seas. Larger barracudas tend to be more solitary than their schooling younger counterparts. While resting, they open and close their month, flexing their jaw muscles to assist in respiration. This along with their formidable set of teeth, and a habit of curiously following divers and snorkelers, has given barracuda a bad name. Although their have been “attacks” on humans, most these were isolated incidents,related to spearfishing, bad visibility, and/or provocation by humans. Barracuda are drawn to shiny objects and wounded fish, but if/when they do bite humans, it is generally a single bite, and then they leave go, as we are not their normal food source.


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Solitary great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda, Sombrero Reef, Marathon Key

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Barracuda getting his teeth cleaned at a wrasse cleaning station!

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Barracuda circling the Captain Tony Shipwreck, Boynton Beach

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Barracuda in the Vandenburg Wreck, Key West
Photo by Sandra Garmon

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Barracuda at Blue Heron Bridge
Photo by Patricia Simone