Barracuda Family
(Sphyraenidae)

Barracuda Family, (Sphyraenidae): The Barracudas are members of the Sphyraenidae or Barracuda Family which are also known in Mexico as Barracudas.

They all have very elongated, cylindrical bodies, long heads, pointed snouts, and a protruding lower jaw with large mouths equipped with awesome, long large pointed teeth. Barracudas are silver in color, with dark bars, saddles or chevron markings generally above the highly visible dark, straight long lateral line.

They have small anal, pectoral and pelvic fins, well aft of the pectorals, and their caudal fins are deeply forked. The dorsal fins are well separated and the first has five spines.

Barracudas are a global species found in all tropical warm waters, with 25 species known globally, of which six are found in the Eastern Pacific and four in Mexican fishing waters.

They are normally found in small to medium-sized schools in the vicinity of reefs and they feed on small fishes. Although "slimy" when held and shunned by many anglers, barracudas are good eating. However, the large specimens should be avoided due to the possible presence of ciguatera toxin.

Among the barracudas found in Mexican waters and represented in the fish identification section of this website are:

Cortez Barracuda, Sphyraena lucasana.
Mexican Barracuda, Sphyraena ensis.
Pacific Barracuda or California Barracuda, Sphyraena argentea.
Pelican Barracuda, Sphyraena idiastes.

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