Snoek (Thyrsites atun)
General data
- Main name: Snoek
- Local names: Barracouta
- Climates: Subtropical
- Habitat: Saltwater
- Native: Africa, South America, Australia & Oceania
- Distribution: Indian ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean
Classification
- Genus: Thyrsites - Thyrsites
- Family: Gempylidae - Snake mackerels
- Order: Scombriformes - Mackerels
- Class: Actinopteri - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Leionura atun, known as the snoek in South Africa and as the barracouta in Australasia, is a long, thin species of snake mackerel found in the seas of the Southern Hemisphere, and a common food fish in South Africa, particularly along the west and southwest coast. Despite its Australasian name, it is not closely related to the barracuda.