Fish
Annular seabream
Diplodus annularis
(GSA7) Gulf of Lion, (GSA8) Corsica
Fishing zones
Wild
Origin
12 cm
Minimum size
Description
Oval, laterally compressed, and relatively tall, the body is silvery-gray with a yellowish sheen. Its main distinguishing feature is a large, ring-shaped black spot (hence its name, annularis) located on the caudal peduncle (just before the tail fin). The pelvic fins are often yellowish. The dorsal fin has 11 spines and 11 to 13 soft rays. The typical size is about 13 cm, but it can reach a maximum length of 28 cm. Carnivorous, it feeds mainly on worms, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, and hydrozoans.
Habitat
A marine and benthopelagic species found in coastal waters. It also tolerates the brackish waters of lagoons. It is found primarily in Posidonia (Posidonia oceanica) and eelgrass beds, as well as on sandy bottoms. It is less common on rocky bottoms. It inhabits depths ranging from 0 to 90 meters.
Distribution
Its range extends mainly across the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, from the Bay of Biscay in the north to Portugal, Madeira, and the Canary Islands in the south. It is very common throughout the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.