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Great Barracuda

Great Barracuda line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Great Barracuda illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Great Barracuda was completed on 6.15.2010. I recall my friend warning me about swimming out too far in Hawaii, that he was scared of sharks and barracuda. I laughed. But, of course, on one swim I ran into one of these impressive fish - not a particularly large one, but big enough to give me pause. Needless to say, the fish just kept an eye on me and didn't get very close. Thankfully! The drawing is based on a photo by Spencer Finn.

Information about the Great Barracuda:

Great Barracudas are ray-finned member of the order of Perciformes. They are large predatory fish, growing up to six feet in length, living in and around the edges of coral reefs, but they can also be encountered occasionally in the open ocean. Barracuda are quite fast but not terribly agile, using bursts of speed up to 25 MPH to surprise and capture prey. Their diet is comprised almost entirely of other fish. Despite their size and fearsome reputation, attacks on humans are not common, and rarely fatal.