Diagnostic Description
provided by FAO species catalogs
Body fusiform, rather low and very slightly compressed, its anterior part subcylindrical in cross section. Eye large, its diameter greater than snout length; scales on top of head reaching forward just beyond level of posterior eye margins. Mouth small, oblique; lips very thin; all teeth incisor-like, set in a single row in both jaws; cutting edges of upper teeth with 4, of lower teeth with 5 points (the central point largest). Gillrakers on first arch 16 to 20 lower and 7 or 8 upper. Dorsal fin with 13-15 spines and 12-16 soft rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 14-16. Pectoral fins short, not reaching to anus. Caudal fin forked. Scales along lateral line 69 to 80. Colour back bluish or greenish, sides with silvery or golden reflections and with 3 to 5 golden longitudinal lines; a small brown spot restricted to pectoral fin axils; lateral line dark; fins light.
- Fischer, W.; G. Bianchi; W. B. Scott1981, (eds.). Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). Fiches FAO d'identification des espèces pour les besoins de la pêche. Atlantique centre-est; zones de pêche 34, 47 (en partie). Canada Fonds de Dépôt. Ottawa, Ministère des Pêcheries et Océans Canada, en accord avec l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'Alimentation et l'Agriculture, Vol. 1-7: pag. var.
- Bauchot, M.-L & J.-C. Hureau1990Sparidae In: J.C. Quero et al., (eds.). Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). Unesco Portugalvol. II: 790-812 .
- Bauchot, M.-L & J.-C. Hureau1986SparidaeIn: P.J.P. Whitehead et al., (eds.). Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (FNAM). Unesco, Paris. vol. II: 883-907.
- Lloris, D., J. Rucabado, LL del Cerro, F. Portas, M. Demestre & A. Roig.1984 Tots els peixos del mar Català. I: Llistat de Cites i de referències.Treballs Soc. Cat. Ict. Herp. , 1:1-208.
- Lloris, D. ; J. Rucabado . 1998. Guide FAO d'Identification des espèces pour les besoins de la pêche. Guide d'Identification des Ressources Marines Vivantes du Maroc. Rome FAO263 pp.
Distribution
provided by FAO species catalogs
Whole of Mediterranean, rare in Black Sea. Eastern Atlantic from Norway (occasional) to Angola, and oceanic islands (Azores, Madeira, Canary, Cape Verde, Sao Tome-Principe). Common from Bay Biscay to Gibraltar.
Size
provided by FAO species catalogs
Maximum 36 cm; common to 20 cm.
Brief Summary
provided by FAO species catalogs
A demersal, as well as semi-pelagic, species living on all types of bottom (sand, mud, rock, seagrass beds)to 350 m, more abundant in the upper 100 m and sometimes in coastal waters.Moves in aggregations, ascending to the surface mainly at night. Reproduction in February-April (eastern Mediterranean), April-May (western Mediterranean), March-May (Atlantic), summer (Black Sea); hermaphroditic (generally protogynoius).
Benefits
provided by FAO species catalogs
Caught on line gear, with bottom trawls and purse seines; also with beach seines and trammel nets. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 28 211 t. The countries with the largest catches were Greece (4 658 t) and Spain (3 898 t). Marketed fresh and frozen; dried-salted or smoked; also user for fishmeal and oil and commonly as bait in tuna fisheries.
