Christopher Guffey, age 9, of Louisville, Ky., for his question:

IS THE BARRACUDA FOUND IN ALL OCEANS?

 The barracuda is a predatory fish. There are about 20 species which are found in the warmer seas of the world. The fish is not found in all oceans.

A torpedo shaped body three to 10 feet long is a distinctive feature of the barracuda. The fish has strong, sharp teeth that can do a great deal of damage.

You'll find the larger species in the Atlantic Ocean from Brazil to South Carolina and throughout the South Pacific.

A smaller species, which only grows to be one or two feet long, can be found off the Atlantic coast as far north as New England. Another ,small type is common off the coast of southern Europe and off the California coast.

Barracuda skin can be dried and used to polish woodwork.