How to Identify Great Barracuda

Video Transcript

The fish I am going to identify now is the Great Barracuda. Great Barracuda are one of the most common fish found in tropical waters around the U.S. and the Caribbean. In fact Great Barracuda can be found as far north as Massachusetts. It's hard to confuse the Great Barracuda with any other fish due to their distinctive look. They have a long cylindrical body built for short bursts of speed. They are a shinny silver in color, but most also have black markings all over their bodies. They will also get much darker when on a cleaning station. Another distinguishing characteristic of the Great Barracuda is its impressive dental work. Its lower jaw is slightly longer than its, the upper and both are lined with many pointed canine type teeth. Great Barracuda look ferocious because they usually have their mouths slightly open revealing those scary looking teeth. In reality, however, they are fairly shy and will move away if approached. But I've found that they also have a well defined sense of personal space so that if you approach one very slowly, once you hit their personal space comfort zone, which is usually between one and three feet, they will begin to slowly move away at the same rate at which you are moving toward them. Great Barracuda adults are usually solitary animals, although younger ones may travel in small groups. Great Barracuda can often be found hanging out in the shade of a dive or snorkel boat. That's the Great Barracuda.

Watch these related videos

• 
  How to Identify Great Barracuda

  playlist Views: 345

• 
  Creole Wrasse Identification

  playlist Views: 276

• 
  How to Identify French Grunt Fish

  playlist Views: 296

• 
  Nassau Grouper Identification

  playlist Views: 288

Community Members who...

• Favorited this Video
• Rated This Video

Top Tags