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White seabream (Diplodus sargus) — Sparidae

White seabream

Diplodus sargus
Family: Sparidae
LC · Least Concern

The White seabream (Diplodus sargus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sparidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–50.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The white seabream is a deep, silvery-grey sea bream of the family Sparidae reaching about 45 cm. The oval, laterally compressed body bears several narrow dark cross-bars and a conspicuous black spot on the tail base. The mouth has flat incisors at the front and molar-like teeth at the back, suited to crushing shellfish and sea urchins. The species forms schools over rocks, sandy bottoms and in the surf of the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, usually in shallow water. It is an omnivore eating worms, shellfish, crustaceans and algae. Like many sea breams it is a protandrous hermaphrodite. The white seabream is a popular and valued sport and food fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the White seabream?

The White seabream has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the White seabream live?

The White seabream lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the White seabream get?

The White seabream grows to a maximum of about 45 cm. On average the species is around 22 cm.

Is the White seabream dangerous to humans?

No, the White seabream is harmless to humans.

Is the White seabream edible?

Yes, the White seabream is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witte zeebrasem verified
English name
White seabream verified
Scientific name
Diplodus sargus
Family
Sparidae
Other names
White sea bream; White seabream verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Average length (cm)
22.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore verified
Social behaviour
Schooling verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protandrous (male first) verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified
levensduur_max_jaar
10.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten verified
Fishing method
Vanaf rotskust en in de branding met aas van zeepier, krab of schelpdier sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Diplodus

More from the family Sparidae

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