In the journal Marine Biology, lead author Dr. Evan D’Alessandro and University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science colleagues Drs. Su Sponaugle, Joel Llopiz and Robert Cowen shed light on the larval stage of this ocean predator, as well as several other closely related species.

In their larval stage, which generally lasts several weeks, barracuda and sennets (a related species) remain in the upper 25 m of the ocean and live on a similar diet. They start out consuming copepods, or small crustaceans, but make an early switch to a diet of fish larvae, much like several larval billfishes and tunas.

“This novel study unlocks important aspects of the barracuda’s life cycle. It also identifies an important size advantage within the larval stage (bigger larvae are more likely to survive) and provides insight that resource managers can use to better manage this species.” said D’Alessandro.

Barracuda are an important element in the marine food chain; they are voracious predators of other fishes as juveniles and adults on reefs and other nearshore habitats. Now we know this holds true for their larval stage before they reach an inch in length, as well.

—Dr. Evan D’Alessandro and University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science.