Guachanche barracuda facts for kids
The Guachanche barracuda (Sphyraena guachancho) is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. It's part of the barracuda family, called Sphyraenidae. A French scientist named Georges Cuvier first described this fish in 1829. People in the Caribbean often call it simply guaguanche. If you eat it, it's usually sold fresh or salted.
Quick facts for kids Guachanche barracuda |
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What Does the Guachanche Barracuda Look Like?
Guachanche barracudas have long, thin bodies. They have heads that look a bit like a pike fish. Their jaws are very big. The lower jaw sticks out a little more than the upper jaw. Both jaws have sharp, fang-like teeth.
These fish have two dorsal fins on their backs. These fins are far apart. The front dorsal fin has stiff, bony parts called spines. The back dorsal fin has softer parts called rays. Guachanche barracudas have six spines and nine rays on their dorsal fins. Their anal fins, which are on their underside, have two spines and eight rays.
Guachanche barracudas can grow very long, up to 200 cm (about 6.5 feet). However, the heaviest ones recorded only weighed about 1.75 kg (around 3.8 pounds).
Where Does the Guachanche Barracuda Live?
In the western Atlantic Ocean, you can find Guachanche barracudas from Massachusetts all the way down to Brazil. They also live in the northern Gulf of Mexico and across the whole Caribbean Sea. In the eastern Atlantic, they are found from Senegal to Angola, including the Cape Verde islands. You can also spot them near the Canary Islands.
Guachanche barracudas like to live in cloudy, coastal waters. They can be found at depths up to 100 meters (about 330 feet). They often hang out near muddy bottoms and are common in estuaries, which are places where rivers meet the sea.
These fish usually swim together in schools. They eat other smaller fish, like anchovies, herrings, snappers, and lizardfish. They also enjoy eating squid.
