Obtuse barracuda

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Obtuse barracuda
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Sphyraenidae
Genus: Sphyraena
Species: S. obtusata
Binomial name
Sphyraena obtusata
Cuvier, 1829

The obtuse barracuda, Sphyraena obtusata, a barracuda of the family Sphyraenidae, is found in tropical oceans of the world. Its length is up to 55 cm.

The obtuse barracuda is a small similarly-shaped relative of the large tropical barracudas, having an equally impressive set of teeth. It is an elongate fish of almost round cross-section with two small, widely separated dorsal fins. The back is greenish and the belly silver with three indistinct dark brown longitudinal bands, two above and one below the lateral line. The snout is pointed and is dominated by a large mouth filled with sharp, widely spaced teeth.

The obtuse barracuda is a schooling fish and feeds almost exclusively on other fish.

[edit] References

  • "Sphyraena obtusata". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
  • Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8