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Striped Barracuda

Striped Barracuda

Sphyraena Obtusata

Quick Facts

Scientific name Sphyraena Obtusata

Other names Dingo Fish, Obtuse Barracuda, Pike, Sennit, Short Finned Sea Pike, Short Jawed Sea-pike, Striped Sea Pike, Yellowstripe Barracuda, Yellowtail Barracuda, Yellowtail Sennit

Size Up to 55 cm (21.65 in)

Weight Up to 1 kg (2.2 lb)

Distribution

Habitat & AU Distribution Bays, estuaries, seagrass beds, coastal & outer reefs

Depth Range

Interesting Info

Striped Barracuda are a predatory fish that are generally found in shallower patches of seagrass, weed & reef areas to depths of 200 m (656 ft).
They tend to be more docile in the day and become active in the evening hunting their prey, which includes smaller reef & baitfish, squid & crustaceans.
Striped Barracuda are a schooling species preferring sheltered inshore waters, mature fish may congregate in deeper waters.
Estimates on lifespan are undocumented, though most of its species can live beyond 10 years.
They are a popular sports fish amongst anglers on light tackle.
The main predators of Striped Barracuda include sharks and larger predatory fish.

Species Interaction

Recreational Fishing

Striped Barracuda are a popular sports fish known for their aggressiveness and strong fight. They are commonly found around inshore seagrass, weed and reef areas. They can be found in large schools or hunting in smaller packs in the evening.

The Australian distribution for Striped Barracuda includes waters from northern Western Australia across the Northern Territory & Queensland down to northern New South Wales.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Scombriformes

Family: Sphyraenidae

Genus: Sphyraena

Species: Sphyraena obtusata

Conservation Status

Striped Barracuda are not evaluated on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) site. However, as its a fast growing species there are limited concerns of over fishing.