Snapping barracuda

[Belmont]

Just to confirm a feeling I had on a recent dive.

I was in the Bahamas last week and we saw many barracudas, some 4 feet long.
A few times I saw a lone one just standing a few feet off the bottom, motionless.
I figured it was waiting to pounce on a prey and I did the same observing it about 15 feet away, and hoping to see some dramatic action.

After a few seconds of that I noticed the fish starting to open it's mouth wider and after a while it started to snap it's jaw.

I figured then it signaled me that I was on his turf and not to stick around. I got the message and since I did not want any issues with an animal that had 4 10 inch long rows of sharp teeth, I moved along.

Was my evaluation of the situation correct or did I misread a normal action of that species?

Thank you.

 

[evensplit]

Barracuda will open and close their mouths when they're still. It can look pretty intimidating but not what I'd call "snapping". I would take actual snapping as a sign as you did.

 

[diver 85]

I know what you mean.....this one 'snapped' @ me right after I 'snapped' him----guess he was just returning the favor....Probably is a territorial thingy but I've never asked one

....lol

 

[seaducer]

I have seen aggitated cudas snapping. Most often I have witnessed this when they were swimming and will snap their heads sideways towards a threat. I even have this behavior on video when a bunch of divers came out of a swimthrough too close to a resting cuda. He sped off and snapped.

Another reason may be that they are yawing to stretch their jaw muscles. The sand tigers we have at the aqaurium do this regularly. However, they are more relaxed, no snapping involved.

If the animal in question snapped, as in shut the mouth really fast, it is indeed a threat display, the animal is stressed, and the next move may be to snap on you, instead of at you.

Best to move away, as you did...