Barracuda Attack Photo

[ScubaProAsia]

Thought you fish lovers might enjoy this shot of a Barracuda visiting the dentist. I included an interesting yet quite common sight to divers -- an injured Rabbitfish nursing wounds from a barracuda attack.

Barracuda are strike predators who attempt to disable the gills of a fish by ramming it with their bony lower jaw. If they can't tear it apart at that weak point, they will at disable it's breathing for another attack by it or it's brethren.

This is why barracuda have an 'overbite' and consequently why reef fish use barred coloration near the gills (or false eye-spots). These are stealth adaptations to hide the vulnerable gills. It's pretty obvious this predator either got his timing wrong or couldn't see well in falling light -- a Rabbitfishes best defense.

I sometimes wonder if Barracuda are evolving into something like a Billfish such as the Marlin.

Next time you're looking at reef fishes just try to find the gills ! Obvious exceptions are Surgeon Fish who employ the survival strategy of weaponization ! Something they are happy to show off....

Maybe in another post.

Nicole
Mike's Dauin Beach Resort

[jellyfish]

Nicole, welcome to the forum.
Nice close up of the barracuda.
But why you are so sure this rabbit fish has been hit by a barracuda ?
Not that I don't believe it could be that, but just wonder why it could not be as well from another attack(er).

[ScubaProAsia]

The rabbitfish was shot at Chumphon Pinnacle in Thailand, an area patrolled intensely by huge schools of barracuda. Here's a photo of the large barracuda schools common in the area.

Although I cannot be 100% sure it's the obvious assumption if one were to see the place....