Roberto Pillon, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
About
A species of ray-finned fish in the seabream family. Individuals can reach 28cm, typically 13-20cm. Deep, laterally compressed, oval elongated body, silvery-grey with a slight yellowish tinge and a distinctive, almost ring-shaped dark band on the tail stalk. The pelvic fins are yellowish and the eye is large, adapted for nocturnal activity.
Distribution and habitat
The Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the eastern Atlantic. A coastal species found in seagrass meadows and over sandy and rocky seabeds at 0-50 metres. Solitary and carnivorous as an adult, but juveniles move in small schools. Lives up to 17 years, with repeated egg-laying reproduction.
Diet
Small crustaceans, worms, molluscs and algae.
Danger level
Harmless. Doesn't bite, no venom. A common edible fish.
Photos
Sea Stars
Echinaster sepositus
All year round
Occasional
European Seabass
Dicentrarchus labrax
May - November
Occasional
Two-Banded Seabream
Diplodus vulgaris
April - October
Common
Mediterranean Green Crab
Carcinus aestuarii
April - October
Very Common
Noble Pen Shell
Pinna nobilis
Rare
Mediterranean Moray Eel
Muraena helena
All year round
Occasional
Purple Sea Urchin
Paracentrotus lividus
All year round
Very Common
Mediterranean Horse Mackerel
Trachurus mediterraneus
June - October
Common
Giant Salp
Salpa maxima
Also known as: Πελαγικό Χορδωτό
March - August
Rare
Brown Meagre
Sciaena umbra
June - September
Rare
Wide-eyed Flounder
Bothus podas
Also known as: Γλώσσα, Πλατύ, Wide-eyed Flounder
All year round
Very Common
Pillow Coral
Cladocora caespitosa
Also known as: Pillow coral, Μαξιλαράκι της θάλασσας, Cladocora
All year round, best seen in summer with clear waters
Common
Bogue
Boops boops
May - October
Very Common
Barrel Jellyfish
Rhizostoma pulmo
Also known as: Μέδουσα Βαρέλι
May - October
Common
Garfish
Belone belone
May - September
Common
Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Also known as: Οχταπόδι
All year round, easier during the summer months
Common
Felimare picta (Regal Sea Goddess)
Felimare picta
Also known as: Regal Sea Goddess
Rare
Dusky Grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
June - September
Rare
Fried Egg Jellyfish
Cotylorhiza tuberculata
Also known as: Τηγανητό Αυγό, Μεσογειακή Μέδουσα
June - October
Very Common
Flathead Grey Mullet
Mugil cephalus
All year round
Very Common
Short-Snouted Seahorse
Hippocampus hippocampus
May - September
Rare
Black Scorpionfish
Scorpaena porcus
Also known as: Μαύρη Σκορπίνα, Scorpaena, Black Scorpionfish
All year round. In summer they are more in shallow waters.
Very Common
Sea Cucumber (Holothuria tubulosa)
Holothuria tubulosa
Also known as: Θαλάσσιο Αγγούρι
Occasional
Picarel
Spicara smaris
May - September
Common
Common Cuttlefish
Sepia officinalis
March - May
Occasional
Sea Hare
Aplysia fasciata
Also known as: Κρασάς, Γυμνοσάλιαγκας της Θάλασσας
May - October
Occasional
Flying Gurnard
Dactylopterus volitans
Also known as: Καπόνι, Χελιδόνα, Flying Gurnard
May - October, peak July-August
Common
European Anchovy
Engraulis encrasicolus
June - September
Common
Silver-Cheeked Toadfish
Lagocephalus sceleratus
June - October
Rare
Striped Red Mullet
Mullus barbatus / Mullus surmuletus
Also known as: Κουτσομούρα, Μπάρμπουνος, Μπαρμπουνάκι
May - October - that's when they are in shallow waters and you can see the small schools
Very Common
Salema Porgy
Sarpa salpa
May - September
Common
White Seabream
Diplodus sargus
April - October
Common
Black Goby
Gobius niger
April - October
Common
Mediterranean Damselfish
Chromis chromis
Also known as: Χρωμίδα, Καλογριά, Καλογρίτσα
May - October
Very Common
Mediterranean Hermit Crab
Clibanarius erythropus
Also known as: Κλειτσινάρι, Παγούρι
April - October
Very Common
Nomad Jellyfish
Rhopilema nomadica
Also known as: Nomad jellyfish
July - October
Occasional
Red Scorpionfish
Scorpaena scrofa
All year round
Rare
Compass Jellyfish
Chrysaora hysoscella
April - September
Occasional
Snakelocks Sea Anemone
Anemonia viridis
All year round
Very Common
Peacock Wrasse
Symphodus tinca
All year round, more active May - October
Very Common
Long-snouted Seahorse
Hippocampus guttulatus
Spring - Autumn
Rare
Black Seabream
Spondyliosoma cantharus
April - October
Common
European Pilchard
Sardina pilchardus
June - September
Common
Mediterranean Parrotfish
Sparisoma cretense
May - October
Occasional
Greater Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
Also known as: Τούνα (καταχρηστικά), Ricciola, Lecha
July - September (juveniles in shallow waters)
Common
Mediterranean Mussel
Mytilus galloprovincialis
All year round
Very Common
Gilthead Seabream
Sparus aurata
April - October
Very Common
Common Stingray
Dasyatis pastinaca
May - October
Rare
Sand Steenbras
Lithognathus mormyrus
May - October
Very Common
Saddled Seabream
Oblada melanura
April - November
Very Common
Decorator Crab
Maja crispata
May - September
Occasional
Common Sole
Solea solea
April - November
Occasional
Bucchich's Goby
Gobius bucchichi
Also known as: Γωβιός, Bucchich's Goby, Γκιόζος
All year round, more active in summer
Very Common
Sand Smelt
Atherina hepsetus
April - October
Very Common
Common Pandora
Pagellus erythrinus
May - October
Occasional
Greater Weever
Trachinus draco
May - September
Common
Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse
Coris julis
Also known as: Γαϊτανούρι, Λεμοναριά
All year round
Very Common