Fauna
Species

Yellowtail Barracuda

Sphyraena flavicauda

Also known as Lesser Barracuda, Yellowtail Sea Pike

Yellowtail barracudas form dense, synchronized schools that patrol shallow coral reefs, lagoons, and rocky seawalls during daylight hours. Unlike their solitary giant cousins, these slender predators rely on group coordination and explosive burst speed to corral and strike small schooling fish. As Lessepsian migrants, they have successfully established breeding populations in the eastern Mediterranean after entering through the Suez Canal.

MarineSchoolingCarnivorous
Yellowtail Barracuda reference
Jens Petersen / CC BY 2.5 · CC BY 2.5
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySilversides, Anchovies, Small Squid
Predators
  • Reef Sharks
  • Groupers
  • Large Jacks
ThreatsCommercial netting, coastal development, marine pollution, and targeted inshore artisanal fishing.
HabitatsShallow coral reefs, coastal bays, lagoons, and rocky inshore slopes down to about 50 meters.
Life span4–6 years
Classification
  1. FamilySphyraenidae
  2. SpeciesSphyraena flavicauda
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Sharp teeth can cut fingers if fish are handled while hooked; observe peacefully while diving.
Why it is dangerous
Equipped with rows of razor-sharp, knife-like teeth engineered to slice prey, which can inflict deep puncture wounds or lacerations on human hands.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a slender, silvery torpedolike body with a yellowish caudal fin and a jutting lower jaw filled with visible pointed teeth.
What to do
Never touch or handle a thrashing fish directly; use gloves and dehooking tools to manage any hooked individual safely.
Responsible observation
  • Diving Etiquette: Maintain neutral buoyancy and allow the school room to maneuver without encircling it.
  • Safe Angling: Use long-nosed pliers to unhook catches to prevent lacerations from razor-sharp teeth.
Related species
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