BREAM

Family Sparidae

The bream are probably the most distinctive of the large families of fish encountered by divers and snorkellers in the Mediterranean. There are at least twenty species to be found. The eleven most common are listed here as they are the species encountered around the coastline and islands. Most are deep-bodied fish and are strong swimmers, always active and covered in fairly visible scales. The colouring is virtually always metallic and the various species are recognized by the combination of blotches, stripes, bands or the lack of those attributes. Most are found in small shoals in mid water or nearby reefs and only the older specimens are encountered singly.

BOGUE

Boops boops

This is a long, silvery fish with a metallic blue upper body and obvious lateral line. Cylindrical in shape, it can grow to 35cm (1ft 2in). It has a fine tapering tail with yellowish, longitudinal lines on the flanks which are not always obvious. Ecology: Bogue occur in large feeding schools on shallow reefs and near the surface and are usually mixed in with Sand Smelt and Chromis as they all have a similar diet.

COMMON DENTEX

Dentex dentex

This is a large fish growing to around 1m (3ft 3in) and has a muscular body, compressed laterally. It has a large head and steep forehead, which is slightly darker than the rest of the metallic silvery-grey body. It has obvious silvery lateral lines to the body and a long dorsal fin. Ecology: Dentex are usually solitary and are voracious hunters of small fish around shallow reefs, rocky walls and wrecks.

BUMP HEAD BREAM

Dentex gibbosus

Also growing to around 1m (3ft 3in) in length, specimens are normally seen at less than half that size around coastal waters owing to overfishing. Slightly longer than Common Dentex and with a more tapered body, the fish is characterized by a few pale, dotted yellow to golden lines, which run horizontally along its midriff. Ecology: It inhabits coastal reefs and hunts near seagrass meadows and is usually seen on its own. Unusually, the young of the species are always male and adult females develop the hump on the front of the head.

ANNULAR SEA BREAM

Diplodus annularis

Growing to 24cm (10in), this silvery species is more circular in shape with a dark band around the tale and wide vertical, dull shading just behind the eye from the top of the head to the gill covers. Ecology: This fish enjoys coastal reefs and can be found in small groups near sandy bottoms or rocky reefs. The young inhabit brackish waters. Often mistaken for White Bream.

ZEBRA BREAM

Diplodus cervinus

A large bream, up to 70cm (2ft) with four or five distinctive olive-green, vertical bands down the plump body. It has a high arched back and steep forehead with a narrow joint at the tail. Ecology: Usually seen on its own around rocky reefs and near seagrass meadows.

WHITE BREAM

Diplodus sargus sargus

This species is very similar to the Annular Sea Bream for which it is often mistaken. In this fish, there is a black spot at the body side of the tail joint and there are about seven faint, dark, vertical stripes down the body. It grows to 40cm (1ft 4in) and has a high convex forehead with a thick-lipped mouth. Ecology: It occurs in large shoals and is territorial on rocky bottoms or near deep crevices at the seabed. It is able to feed on molluscs, crustaceans and sea urchins with its strong jaws and heavy incisors and large crushing molars.

TWO-BANDED BREAM

Diplodus vulgaris

The most commonly recognized of the bream, this fish grows to 45cm (1ft 6in). It has two distinctive, vertical, black bands, one behind the eyes, the other before the tail. It has a large head and prominent eyes and the mid-section of the broad flanks has golden yellow lines. Ecology: This fish loves seagrass meadows and algae-covered rocks and always occurs in large feeding shoals. It is often associated with other species of wrasse and are unafraid of divers.

STRIPED BREAM

Lithognathus mormyrus

The Striped Bream grows to around 55cm (1ft 10in) and is widely distributed throughout all regions. Silver in colour, it has 13–15 distinct, vertical, light gold lines and an obvious high arched lateral line. Ecology: This bottom-feeder digs into soft sand looking for worms and small invertebrates and is as at home in brackish water as it is in the sea. All the fish are male at first and then change to female with maturity.

SADDLED BREAM

Oblada melanura

This species is much longer than the others in the family, growing to 30cm (1ft), with a large head and prominent eyes. It has a characteristic dark blotch at the tail juncture bordered by a white band on either side. Ecology: They occur in large shoals always facing into the current, where they pick at passing plankton.

PANDORA

Pagellus erythrinus

Commonly found in central and western regions, the Pandora is light tan to light brown in colour and may have some pink and bluish spots on maturity. It grows to over 35cm (1ft 2in) and is elongate with a tapering tale and rather small head. Ecology: It occurs on the lower reef starting off as a female and changing to male at about 16cm (6½in) in size. It feeds on small crustaceans and molluscs and has large crushing molars.

COW BREAM or SAUPE

Sarpa salpa

A large bream growing to 50cm (1ft 8in), it is elongate and instantly recognized by the bright golden, horizontal bands on its flanks and fleshy lips. Ecology: This species is always seen grazing in shoals over the algae-covered reefs. It always appears in large numbers and is constantly on the move. It is a delight for divers to see, as these large shoals always feed close to the shore.