Home · Acestrorhynchidae · Freshwater barracuda
Freshwater barracuda (Acestrorhynchus falcirostris) — Acestrorhynchidae

Freshwater barracuda

Acestrorhynchus falcirostris
LC · Least Concern

The Freshwater barracuda (Acestrorhynchus falcirostris) is a freshwater fish of the family Acestrorhynchidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The freshwater barracuda is a characin relative (Acestrorhynchidae) from South America. The species has an elongate, slender, silvery body with a pointed head and a mouth full of fine, sharp teeth, and a reddish tail. It lives in clear and blackwater rivers and floodplains and is a fast, voracious predator that preys mainly on smaller fishes from open water, gripping them with its fine teeth. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Freshwater barracuda?

The Freshwater barracuda has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Freshwater barracuda live?

The Freshwater barracuda lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Freshwater barracuda get?

The Freshwater barracuda grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Freshwater barracuda dangerous to humans?

No, the Freshwater barracuda is harmless to humans.

Is the Freshwater barracuda edible?

The Freshwater barracuda is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Roodstaart-zoetwaterbarracuda sourced
English name
Freshwater barracuda sourced
Scientific name
Acestrorhynchus falcirostris
Family
Acestrorhynchidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Acestrorhynchus

More from the family Acestrorhynchidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →