| Family: |
Sparidae (Porgies) |
| Max. size: |
70 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,000.0 g; max. reported age: 15 years |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 150 - 700 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: Norway, Strait of Gibraltar to Cape Blanc in Mauritania, Madeira, Canary Islands, and western Mediterranean (rare beyond the Sicilian Strait). Reported from Iceland (Ref. 12462). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 11-12. Black spot above the pectoral fin base. Snout shorter than the eye diameter (Ref. 35388). |
| Biology: |
Inshore waters above various types of bottom (rocks, sand, mud) to 400 m (Mediterranean) and 700 m (Atlantic); young near the coast, adults on the continental slope specially over muddy bottoms. Omnivorous, but feed mainly on crustaceans, mollusks, worms and small fish. Protandric hermaphrodites, become females at 20-30 cm length. Adults move towards the coast up to the edge of the continental shelf to spawn from January to June (Ref. 3688). Important foodfish. Marketed fresh and frozen; consumed pan-fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9987). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 17 August 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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