# Barramundi (*Lates calcarifer*) Barramundi are tasty fish that are loved by many. They have a sleek body and can swim very fast! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Also known as:** Giant Sea Perch, Lates Calcarifer ![Barramundi](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425775/objects/4760.jpg) ## Appearance The Barramundi has a large, silver-grey body with big, prominent scales and a distinctive concave forehead. Its eyes are often golden, and it possesses a prominent, upward-slanting mouth. This sleek, torpedo-shaped fish is built for powerful swimming. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Latidae - **Genus:** Lates ## Interesting facts - Barramundi are famous for leaping high out of the water when hooked by anglers! - Barramundi can change their sex, starting as males and later becoming females! - Their name 'Barramundi' means 'large-scaled river fish' in an Aboriginal language. - They can grow over 1.5 meters long and weigh more than a grown-up! ## Special abilities - **Water Wanderer:** Barramundi can live in both freshwater and saltwater because of specialized kidneys that help them adapt to different water types. - **Sound Seeker:** Barramundi has a sensitive swim bladder that helps them hear very well, picking up faint sounds of prey in murky water. - **Quick Striker:** Barramundi can open their large mouth extremely fast, creating a vacuum that sucks in unsuspecting prey in an instant. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-180 cm - **Weight:** 1-60 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Swim Speed:** 35 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 30 m - **Water Type:** Brackish ## Diet & Feeding A fierce hunter, the Barramundi gobbles up smaller fish, crustaceans, and even water insects! - **Age differences:** Young barramundi eat more insects and crustaceans, switching to primarily fish as they grow larger. - **Primary Foods:** smaller fish, prawns, crabs, water insects, frogs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Saltwater Crocodile](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saltwater-crocodile) (*Crocodylus porosus*) — Large crocodiles prey on adult barramundi. - **Eaten by:** White-bellied Sea-Eagle (*Haliaeetus leucogaster*) — Eagles snatch barramundi from the water's surface. - **Hunts:** Giant Tiger Prawn (*Penaeus monodon*) — Barramundi actively hunt and consume prawns. - **Hunts:** Eastern Rainbowfish (*Melanotaenia splendida*) — They prey on various smaller freshwater fish. - **Hunts:** Redclaw Crayfish (*Cherax quadricarinatus*) — Young barramundi consume crustaceans like crayfish. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Barramundi? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Barramundi? 50-180 cm ### How much does Barramundi weigh? 1-60 kg ### How long does Barramundi live? 10-20 years ### What does Barramundi eat? A fierce hunter, the Barramundi gobbles up smaller fish, crustaceans, and even water insects! ### How fast can Barramundi swim? 35 km/h ### How does Barramundi hunt? Ambush ### How deep can Barramundi go? 30 m ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Barramundi: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barramundi)