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Obtuse barracuda (Sphyraena obtusata) - Lembeh, Indonesia

Obtuse barracuda

A small barracuda species found in tropical seas across the globe.

Photo: Rickard Zerpe, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The obtuse barracuda is a marine fish belonging to the Sphyraenidae family. It inhabits tropical waters across the globe and reaches a maximum length of 55 centimetres. This species represents one of the smaller members of its group, thriving in warm ocean environments worldwide.

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  • Belongs to the Sphyraenidae family of barracudas.
  • Reaches a maximum recorded length of 55 centimetres.
  • Inhabits tropical seas distributed across the globe.
  • Is a strictly marine fish living in saltwater.

What it is

The obtuse barracuda is a marine fish belonging to the Sphyraenidae family. It is a relatively small species within its group, growing to a maximum length of 55 centimetres. It is identified as a true barracuda. This fish lives exclusively in saltwater environments, specifically favouring warm tropical seas across the globe. Its streamlined body is typical of the barracuda group, allowing it to navigate open ocean waters efficiently as it moves through its vast habitat.

Where it lives

This species has a widespread global distribution, inhabiting tropical seas across the globe. It is strictly a marine fish, meaning it lives in saltwater rather than freshwater or brackish environments. The obtuse barracuda prefers warm waters, as indicated by its restriction to tropical zones. It occupies a broad presence wherever tropical oceanic conditions exist, spanning multiple global regions without being confined to any single specific sea or coastal area.

Obtuse barracuda
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Questions people ask about Obtuse barracuda

How large does the obtuse barracuda grow?

The obtuse barracuda reaches a maximum recorded length of 55 centimetres. This size makes it a relatively small member of the barracuda family, which contains much larger species.

Where in the world can this fish be found?

This species has a widespread global distribution. It is found living in tropical seas across the globe, preferring warm saltwater marine environments rather than freshwater habitats.

What family of fish does the obtuse barracuda belong to?

The obtuse barracuda belongs to the Sphyraenidae family. This is the biological family that encompasses all true barracudas, distinguishing it from other marine fish groups.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Obtuse barracuda", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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