Southern sennet (Sphyraena picudilla) is found from Bermuda to Florida and the Bahamas and then south to Uruguay. This barracuda can grow to about 18 inches.

The barracuda genus (Sphyraena ) is found almost world wide in warm and tropical marine environments. These are generally aggressive carnivorous fish. Many of the species are important food and game fish.

An interesting case of convergent evolution occurs between the barracudas of the marine oceans and the various freshwater pikes. The elongate shape and eating habits of these two groups are similar. However, the pikes are a group of very primitive fish in their own order. The barracudas belong in the perch order of advanced fish.

The barracuda family contains about 20 species found in warmer and tropical waters around the world. These are usually long narrow fish with two widely separated dorsal fins. The lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw. Most species have sharp teeth.

Perch-like Fish, Order Perciformes, are the largest order of fish in both freshwater and shallow saltwater. Most of the conventional fish belong to this order. The bass, bluegills, perch and crappies of freshwater plus the groupers and sea bass of salt water belong to this order. The fish all have spiny rays in their fins and the tail fin has seventeen rays. There are approximately 150 families. Herein, we have placed the families in alphabetical sequence within this order. (In some instances the typical taxonomic sequence of families is not much help. Consider, for example, that the barracudas are usually placed between the mullets and the threadfins.)

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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