Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758)

Young specimens seeking for food at the surface of coastal waters. Photo by MCH/Andreas I. Iliopoulos

Photo by MCH/Evaggelos Demestichas

A♀ freshly caught animals measuring 68 cm of (TL) length. Photo by MCH/Andreas I. Iliopoulos

On both photos you may see details of the mouth and the impressive teeth of the animals

Details of the female gonads. Photos by MCH/Andreas I. Iliopoulos

Original drawing in "Guid d'identification des poissons marins Europe et Mediterranee" by Patrick Louisy

Family: SPHYRAENIDAE

Order: Perciformes

Class: Actinopterygii

Distribution: Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, east Atlantic Ocean (from bay of Biscay to Mossamedes, Angola and Canary islands, Azores and Madeira), west Atlantic Ocean (Brazil and Bermuda), although its distribution is not clarified because the species usually is not separated from its relative S. viridensis.

Depth: Up to 100 m.

Common names: Mediterranean barracuda

Size: usually from 60 cm (SL) length, but larger individuals, measuring up to about 170 cm have been recorded.

Natural environment: Pelagic species.

Artificial environment: Large tanks with a lot of open space.

Temperature: 18° C με 22° C

Food: They feed upon cephalopods, crustaceans, but mainly prey on fishes. In captivity – when well adapted – may take almost any artificial kind of foods (freeze dried, prepared, frozen or live ones) based on fish and invertebrate matter.

Breeding: Unknown

Behavior: It is a voracious predator and it must be housed with proportionally large species.