Great barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
Sighting evidence at Basse-Terre Wall, Guadeloupe
Photo: Christian Amador Da Silva · © all rights reserved
Great barracuda are apex visual predators that occupy mid-water station points near walls and current lines, using exceptional eyesight to ambush prey fish. Solitary adults typically exceed a metre in length and will hover motionless for extended periods before striking. Their apparent curiosity toward divers — often approaching and hovering at close range — is likely an investigation of a perceived larger predator rather than aggression. Barracuda accumulations near wall edges are a reliable indicator of productive upwellings that concentrate forage fish.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Great barracuda is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.