About 26 species of long, silvery predatory fish with fang-like teeth and an underbite, found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, near the surface, coral reefs and seagrass. They ambush prey with short bursts of speed and often bite smaller fish in half.
Quick answers
What is it?Fish
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?Can be
Bites on swimmers are rare and are thought to happen in poor visibility or when a barracuda mistakes shiny jewellery for prey.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?Yes
A popular food and game fish, usually eaten as fillets or steaks, though big ones can cause ciguatera poisoning.
At a glance
Found inOceans
HabitatOpen ocean, Coast
ColoursSilver, Grey
SizeLarge
LengthGreat barracuda: usually 60–100 cm; exceptionally over 1.5 m
WeightGreat barracuda: usually 2.5–9 kg
LegsNone
Covered inScales
Lives alone
Lives for14–18 years
Can swim
Lays eggs
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, including the Atlantic, Caribbean, Red Sea and Pacific.
- What it eats
- Fish such as jacks, grunts, groupers, small tunas, mullets, herrings and anchovies.
Did you know
Strikes at 27 mph and is drawn to anything shiny, including jewellery.
Larger barracudas have been linked to ciguatera fish poisoning when eaten.
Adults mostly hunt alone, while young and half-grown fish often gather in groups.
Often confused with
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