The Barracoota of the West Indies (Sphyræna barracuda, Cuv.), is reckoned among the number of marine monsters greedy of human flesh. It is common in the seas that wash those lovely tropical islands, where it attains the length of ten or twelve feet, though it is more generally met with about half that size. The thickness is not in pro-
portion to the length. The mouth is wide, the lower jaw projects beyond the upper, and is armed with formidable teeth, with two larger pointed canines in front; the upper jaw has many large and strong teeth scattered among minute ones. The two dorsals are placed far apart, the first immediately above the ventrals, the second above the anal. The formula of the fin-rays is as follows: D. 5; 1—9; C. 19; P. 12; V. 1—5; A. 1—9. The tail is much forked. The upper parts are dark greyish brown, becoming paler on the sides, the belly white. It is covered with small thin scales.
This formidable and voracious fish is much dreaded in the seas which it inhabits. It not unfrequently attacks and devours men while bathing; Dutertre affirms that it is even more dangerous than the dreadful shark, inasmuch as noise and motion, so far from intimidating it, only excite it
