Fish
Gilthead seabream
Sparus aurata
(GSA7) Gulf of Lion, (GSA8) Corsica
Zones de pêche
Wild
Origine
33 cm
Taille minimale
Description
Its body is oval, tall, and laterally compressed. The head is massive with a strongly domed profile. It owes its name to a shiny golden band located on the forehead, between the two eyes, bordered by two dark areas. It has a distinct black spot at the origin of the lateral line, which often extends into a reddish area on the upper edge of the operculum. Powerful and characteristic of grinders, it has incisors at the front and several rows of robust molars at the back, capable of crushing mollusk shells. Its typical size is 35 cm, but it can reach a maximum of 70 cm and weigh about 17 kg.
Habitat
It is a coastal demersal fish. It is euryhaline, meaning it can tolerate wide variations in salinity. It inhabits sandy and gravelly bottoms, Posidonia seagrass beds, and shallow rocky areas. It is generally found between 1 and 30 meters deep, but it can descend to depths of up to 150 meters. It frequently enters coastal lagoons and estuaries during the summer to feed, before returning to deeper waters to spend the winter.
Distribution
It is found in the eastern Atlantic and is very common in the Mediterranean. It is found from the southern British Isles and the North Sea (where it is becoming more common as water temperatures rise) all the way to Senegal, including the Canary Islands and Madeira. It is ubiquitous throughout the Mediterranean basin. However, it is absent from the Black Sea (or very rare).