SPHYRAENIDAE Sphyraena obtusata (photo by Niphon Phongsuwan) Sphyraena obtusata, 9.9 cm SL (from North Sulawesi, Indonesia; photo by Seishi Kimura) Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829 Obtuse Barracuda D V + I, 9-10 (usually 9); A II, 9; P1 11-13; P2 I, 5; GR 2; LLp 78-85. Body elongate, subcylindrical. Snout long, pointed; posterior tip of maxilla just reaching to or extending beyond anterior nostril. Posterior tip of opercle rounded, obtuse above level of pectoral-fin base. Caudal peduncle low, moderately compressed. Pelvic-fin origin anterior to origin of first dorsal fin. Scales on body cycloid, highly deciduous; scales above lateral line 5-7.5; scales below lateral line 8.5-9.5. Color: head and body dark green dorsally, silvery-white ventrally. Two indistinct yellow to brown longitudinal stripes laterally on body. Caudal fin yellow with greenish base. Size: maximum length 55 cm. Distribution: widely distributed in Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa and Red Sea to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan. This species invaded to eastern Mediterranean. Remarks: inhabits shallow coastal waters. Marketed fresh, salted and dried. Sphyraena flavicauda Ruppell is a junior synonym of S. obtusata (see Doiuchi and Nakabo, 2005). (Seishi Kimura)