Large School of Heller's Barracudas Sphyraena helleri, Tuhei Ava Passage of Tikehau, Tuamoto Atoll, French Polynesia - stock photo

Heller's Barracudas sphyraena helleri occurs in the tropical and subtropical Eastern Pacific, mainly in Hawaii, but even here in the Tuamotos in a depth range from 10 to 104m. The species gathers in very dense schools during the day like on this photo and disperses at night in search of food. It prefers areas exposed to a slight current (channels and their approaches, reef points and coral pinnacles). The species is rarely found in lagoons. A lot of Yellowmask Surgeonfishes Acanthurus mata follow the school. Tuhei Ava Passage of Tikehau, Tuamoto Atoll, French Polynesia 15°0'31.422 S 148°16'51.378 W at 14m depth