Sphyraena helleri

Sphyraena helleri
Sphyraena helleri from French Polynesia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Family: Sphyraenidae
Genus: Sphyraena
Species:
S. helleri
Binomial name
Sphyraena helleri
Jenkins, 1901

Sphyraena helleri, the Heller's barracuda, is a schooling species of barracuda in the family Sphyraenidae.[1][2][3]

The species is named in honor of zoologist Edmund Heller[4]

Description

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Sphyraena helleri can reach a length of 40–80 centimetres (16–31 in). The skinny bodies are silvery with a horizontal blue stripe and two yellowish stripes on the sides. These fishes have six dorsal spines and two anal spines. The caudal fin is darkish.[2][5] They are usually seen by day in large schools, while they hunt nocturnally.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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This species is present in the Indian Ocean (East Africa and the Mascarene Islands) and in the Pacific Ocean (north to southern Japan, south to the Coral Sea, and east to French Polynesia; Hawaiian Islands). These fishes inhabit coral reefs and bays.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p.
  2. ^ a b c d Fishbase
  3. ^ Animal Diversity
  4. ^ "Order CARANGIFORMES (Part 1): Families LATIDAE, CENTROPOMIDAE, LACTARIIDAE, SPHYRAENIDAE, LEPTOBRAMIDAE, TOXOTIDAE, NEMATISTIIDAE, MENIDAE, XIPHIIDAE, ISTIOPHORIDAE, CORYPHAENIDAE, RACHYCENTRIDAE, ECHENEIDAE and CARANGIDAE". 8 July 2020.
  5. ^ National Marine Sanctuaries
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