Diagnostic Description
provided by FAO species catalogs
Body oval and compressed. Head profile regularly inclined from nape; eye very large, its diameter greater than snout length; suborbital space narrow; posterior nostril rounded. Cheeks scaly; scales also on preopercle, except at its posterior margin. Mouth low and oblique. Several rows of canine-like teeth, outer row the strongest, with 4 well developed anterior teeth (in upper jaw, visible when mouth is closed) and 10 small anterior teeth (clearly smaller than the upper canines) in lower jaw. Gillrakers in first arch 17 to 20 lower and 9 to 12 upper. Dorsal fin with 11 or 12 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays, the spines increasing in length from the first to the fourth or fifth and subequal thereafter. Anal fin with 3 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays. Scales along lateral line 49 to 55. Colour of body and fins reddish, lateral line more bright red; spinous portion of dorsal fin whitish at base. Anal fin edged with white; inferior margin of lower caudal fin lobe white. The coloration becomes more intense during the spawning season.
- Ananiades, C. - 1950. Contribution á la systématique et á la biologie de l'espèce Dentex macrophthalmus (Bloch) forma opsophthalmus (Anan.) de la mer égée. Praktika ell. Udrobiol. Inst., 4 (1): 5-33, 5 fig
- Bauchot, M.-L. - 1987. Sparidae. In: W. Fischer and M.-L. Bauchot and M. Schneider (eds). Fiches FAO d'Identification des espèces pour les besoins de la pêche (Révison 1). Méditerranée et mer Noire. Zone de pêche 37. Vol. II. Vértebrés: 761-1530.
- Bauchot, M.-L. & J.-C. Hureau - 1990. Sparidae In: J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha. Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT-Portugal, SEI-France, Unesco. Vol. II: 790-812
- Bloch, M.E. - 1791. Naturgeschichte der ausländischen Fische, Berlin, 5: vi+152 p., 36 pl. (CCLIII-CCLXXXVIII).
- Fowler, H.W. - 1925. New taxonomic names of west-african marine fishes. Am. Mus. Novit., 162: 1-5.
- Klunzinger, C. - 1870. Synopsis der Fische des Rothen Meeres. I. Theil. Percoiden-Mugiloiden. Verh. K.-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien v. 20: 669-834. [Also as "Systematische Uebersicht der Fische des Rothen Meeres, als Anhang und Register zur Synopsis." Wien, 1871.]
- Lloris, D - 1986. Ictiofauna demersal y aspectos biogeográficos de la costa sudoccidental de África (SWA/Namibia). Monogr. Zool. Mar., I: 9-432, 228 figs., tab. I-CCI.
- Tortonese, E. - 1973. Sparidae. In: J.-C. Hureau and Th. Monod (eds). Check-list of the fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and of the Mediterranean (CLOFNAM). Unesco, Paris, vol. I: 405-415
Size
provided by FAO species catalogs
Maximum 65 cm; common to 24 cm
Brief Summary
provided by FAO species catalogs
Benthopelagic (demersal behaviour)On the shelf and slope, inhabiting rocky or sandy bottoms from 30 to 500 m (Atlantic), less in Mediterranean (100-200 m Aegean Sea, 250 m Lebanon coast). Large specimens further from the shore than the young. Seasonal migrations to and off the coast according to local hydrological variations and biological cycle. Reproduction in March-April (Atlantic), April-May (southern Mediterranean); maturity at 2 years (about 24 cm); gonochoric; sex ratio: 70% females (Atlantic). Carnivorous (fish and crustaceans), young planktonophagus.
Benefits
provided by FAO species catalogs
Caught with bottom trawls, bottom longlines and on hooks and lines. Catch statistics reported for this species totalled 29 000 t in 1977; most of the catch (about 23 000 t) was taken by the URRS in the southern. Flesh highly esteemed. Marketed fresh or frozen; also used for fishmeal and oil.
Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Body and fins reddish; anal fin and lower part of caudal fin edged with white.
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Migration
provided by Fishbase
Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Inhabits rocky or sandy bottoms; individuals descending to greater depths with growth. The stocks migrate seasonally between the coast and deeper waters in accordance with local hydrographic conditions and their life cycle. Feeds mainly on fish and crustaceans; the young on plankton (Ref. 3688). A zoophage which is confined mostly in the shelf zone at depths ranging from 30-250 m (Ref. 9039).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Inhabit rocky or sandy bottoms; individuals descending to greater depths with growth. The stocks migrate seasonally between the coast and deeper waters in accordance with local hydrographic conditions and their life cycle. Feed mainly on fish and crustaceans; the young on plankton (Ref. 3688). Gonochorists (Ref. 4781).
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
