Barracuda

Sphyraena viridensis, the yellowmouth barracuda or yellow barracuda is a predatory ray-finned fish from the family Sphyraenidae, the barracudas. It is found in the warmer waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. It is often confused with the European barracuda.

Distribution

The exact distribution of S. viridensis is unclear because of confusion with the European barracuda; however, it is known that it occurs in subtropical areas of the eastern Atlantic (around the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde Islands and the Canary Islands). It has also been recorded in the Mediterranean, including off the coasts of Lebanon, Israel, Algeria, Corsica and Sicily, in the Adriatic Sea, the Aegean Sea, and even as far north as Cornwall in the United Kingdom.

Behaviour

In summer, S. viridensis may form schools of up to 200 fish (although most schools only number 30-40 fish) in areas where there are strong currents. These schools are predominantly made up of sub-adults, with the smaller fish nearer to the surface and the larger ones, usually female, at the bottom, at depths of up to 30 m (98 ft). In winter, the only aggregations are small groups of juveniles in shallow bays. No territorial behaviour has been observed. Schooling is thought to be an anti-predator defence, to facilitate mating (with the smaller males being attracted to the larger females), and to increase the success rate of hunting. This species does not appear to mix with other barracuda species in mixed schools, but there are reports of these fish associating with whale sharks in the Azores and an instance of them actively swimming towards a manta ray.