Description:

Dorsal spines: 6; Dorsal rays: 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal rays: 7-9. 

A large barracuda. Maxilla reaching to just below anterior margin of eye. Origin of pelvic fins before first dorsal-fin origin. Last ray of second dorsal fin not elongate in comparison with penultimate ray.  
Caudal fin forked, adults with a pair of small lobes on the posterior margin close to the midline.
 
Colour. Black to bluish-black dorsally, silvery on sides, fading to white ventrally. Many dark bars crossing lateral line on body, each bar oblique in upper half, but nearly vertical in lower half. Caudal fin largely blackish.

Maturity: Unknown. Max Length:to at least 170cm TL, commonly to 80cm TL. 

Found near current-swept lagoon and seaward reefs (depth 1-100 m). Feeds on fish. Usually seen during the day in large semistationary schools which have a tendency to site loyalty. Probably disperses at night to feed.

This species is not protected or subject to foishery regulations.
 

Similar species are Sphyraena jello and S. putnamae, the former has a yellow caudal fin which lacks lobes on the posterior margin, and the latter is distinguishable by the elongated fin ray (most posterior ray) on the second dorsal fin.

Bray, D.J. (2022). Sphyraena qenie in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2554 (06/04/24).
De Sylva, D.P. & Williams, F. (1986). Sphyraenidae. p. 721-726. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. \
FAO. Sphyraena qenie Klunzinger, 1870. https://www.fao.org/3/y0870e/y0870e33.pdf (06/04/24). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2024). FishBase. Sphyraena qenie, Blackfin barracuda. https://www.fishbase.se/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=7939&lang=german (06/04/24). 

Nevill, J.E.G. (2024). Sphyraena qenie, Blackfin barracuda. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/sphyraena-qenie-klunzinger-1870/