Watch A Barracuda Turn Into A Torpedo And Blindside A Shark

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Written by Angie Menjivar

Updated: November 10, 2023

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Barracuda with prey
© Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary / Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

It’s a gorgeous scene on the beach as the cameraman in this video takes in the beauty of nature. There’s a baby shark just up ahead that catches his eye, and he keeps filming, the water lapping up onto the shore for a series of serene moments — then, this video delivers the kind of jump scare only nature can accomplish.

What Do Barracudas Eat?

Barracuda vs. Shark Which Would Win in a Fight Cover image

Normally, barracudas do not prey upon sharks.

©aquapix/Shutterstock.com

Barracudas are predatory and feed on several different prey, including groupers, anchovies, herrings, small tunas, and grunts. Sharks aren’t exactly on their list of prey animals, considering sharks are apex predators. Barracudas are drawn toward shiny objects, however, which resemble the silvery fish they enjoy munching on.

These ray-finned fish are ferocious, both in their appearance and behavior. Their teeth are extremely sharp, and their mouths open into a large gape. These features allow them to chomp through even larger fish, splitting them in two to enjoy in smaller pieces.

Barracuda vs. Shark — Who Wins?

Great barracuda showing off its teeth.

Ferocious

barracuda

have razor-sharp teeth.

©Focused Adventures/Shutterstock.com

In a fight between a shark and a barracuda, a shark is significantly more powerful. Sharks are faster, have better-developed attack power, and defend themselves well. Even though a barracuda may catch a shark by surprise, it’s ultimately no match for the apex predator.

This clip starts off peacefully on a remote beach. There’s a mound of sand leading up to trees on the left and shallow water just ahead. The man filming is standing close to the water’s edge in the shallow part of the water and has his sights set on a small shark swimming just ahead of him.

The shark makes it a few feet ahead of the man before it rolls its body slightly, revealing its white underbelly. This single moment —when the light catches the lighter color of its belly — seems to attract the predatory barracuda.

Barracudas can swim up to 25 mph in short bursts.

©iStock.com/bbevren

With complete focus on the small shark just ahead, the barracuda roars in like both thunder and lightning at once, rushing across the shallow water from the dark, deeper waters off to the man’s right. The speed with which the barracuda moves is astounding and all you see is a blur of white water amid the commotion.

Understandably, the man lets out an expletive as he takes in the scene in real-time. The barracuda, just as quickly as it attacks, turns around and heads back into the deep blue water.

You might think the shark is a goner at first but then you realize why, even with such a size difference, barracudas are no match for sharks. The man pans the camera over to the shark as it swims away unscathed.

Do Barracudas Normally Attack Sharks?

The Great Barracuda

Barracudas do not usually attack sharks.

©Itstvan Kovacs/Shutterstock.com

While a barracuda might have a chance against a shark, it’s not very likely because sharks have better senses. Usually, barracudas don’t go after sharks. Great barracuda rarely attacks humans. These curious, visually-oriented fish can sometimes be unnerving by following snorkelers and divers.


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About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

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