European Barracuda Sphyraena sphyraena (Sphyraenidae) in the Black Sea: Comparative Description of a New Find and Naturalization Prospects

The European barracuda Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758) is occasionally recorded in the Black Sea, however its findings in the 21st century have become more frequent. This paper presents the results of biological analysis of a mature female barracuda with a total length of 35.4 cm and weight of 196.4 g, aged 4+ years, caught off the coast of Crimea (Sevastopol) in 2022. Oocytes in the ovaries (weight of 1.999 g) are at the resorption stage. Fragments of the spine of an unidentified fish have been found in the digestive tract of the specimen. Based on literary data, biological characteristics of barracuda individuals previously recorded in the Black Sea are presented. The prospects for the development of the Black Sea waters by this species are assessed; if the climate change trend towards warming persists, the possibility of successful naturalization of the barracuda will increase.