|
Name: |
Barracouta (Thyrsites atun) |
Family: |
Gempylidae (Snake mackerels) |
Order: |
Perciformes (perch-likes) |
Class: |
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) |
Alternative Name: |
Snoek |
Max size: |
200 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 3630); max. published weight: 6,000 g (Ref. 6181); max. reported age: 10 years |
Environment: |
Benthopelagic; oceanodromous; brackish; marine ; depth range 0 - 550 m |
Climate: |
Subtropical; 13 - 18°C; 25°S - 58°S |
Resilience: |
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-4; tmax=10) |
Distribution: |
Southwest Atlantic: Uruguay, Argentina and Tierra del Fuego. Eastern Atlantic: Tristan da Cunha and South Africa. Western Indian Ocean: South Africa and the St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands. Eastern Indian Ocean: Tasmania and southern coast of Australia. Southwest Pacific: New Zealand and southern coast of Australia. Southeast Pacific: Southern Peru, Chile, and Tierra del Fuego. |
Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 19-21; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10-12; Vertebrae: 35-35. Body elongate and strongly compressed. Lateral line single, running close to the upper contour of the body below most of the first dorsal-fin base then abruptly curving ventrally. Body is dark blue, slightly paler on belly; first dorsal fin membrane black (Ref. 6181). |