Lars Behnke
Info
Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758)
The European barracuda reaches over 160 cm in size under optimal conditions and is at best suitable for large display aquariums.
It is found in nearshore waters and also in open water far from coasts.
This predator lives in shoals and feeds on fish, squid and crustaceans, but it poses no threat to humans.
In many articles and on the web it is often not distinguished from Sphyraena viridensis, but unlike the latter, Sphyraena sphyraena does not have distinctive transverse stripes.
Synonymised names
Esox spet Haüy, 1787 · unaccepted
Esox sphyraena Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted
Sphyraena bocagei Osório, 1891 · unaccepted
Sphyraena spet Lacepède, 1803 · unaccepted
Sphyraena sphyraena bocagei Osório, 1891 · unaccepted
Sphyraena vulgaris Cuvier, 1829 · unaccepted
Direct children (2)
Subspecies Sphyraena sphyraena bocagei Osório, 1891 accepted as Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies Sphyraena sphyraena picuda Bloch & Schneider, 1801 accepted as Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards, 1771)
The European barracuda reaches over 160 cm in size under optimal conditions and is at best suitable for large display aquariums.
It is found in nearshore waters and also in open water far from coasts.
This predator lives in shoals and feeds on fish, squid and crustaceans, but it poses no threat to humans.
In many articles and on the web it is often not distinguished from Sphyraena viridensis, but unlike the latter, Sphyraena sphyraena does not have distinctive transverse stripes.
Synonymised names
Esox spet Haüy, 1787 · unaccepted
Esox sphyraena Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted
Sphyraena bocagei Osório, 1891 · unaccepted
Sphyraena spet Lacepède, 1803 · unaccepted
Sphyraena sphyraena bocagei Osório, 1891 · unaccepted
Sphyraena vulgaris Cuvier, 1829 · unaccepted
Direct children (2)
Subspecies Sphyraena sphyraena bocagei Osório, 1891 accepted as Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies Sphyraena sphyraena picuda Bloch & Schneider, 1801 accepted as Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards, 1771)
