Gilt-head bream

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Gilt-head bream
Sparus aurata Sardegna.jpg
Sparus aurata.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Sparidae
Genus: Sparus
Species:
S. aurata
Binomial name
Sparus aurata
Sparus aurata mapa.svg
Synonyms [2]
  • Aurata aurata (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Chrysophrys aurata (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Pagrus auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Chrysophrys crassirostris Valenciennes, 1830

The gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) , also known as the gilthead, gilt-head seabream or silver seabream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams or porgies. This fish is found in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It is a highly esteemed food fish and an important species in aquaculture.

Contents

Taxonomy

The gilt-head bream was first formally described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae with its type locality given as the Mediterranean and Venezuela (although this has now been shown to be a specimen of Calamus ). [3] It is the only species in the monospecific genus Sparus. [4] The genus Sparus is placed in the family Sparidae within the order Spariformes by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World . [5] Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Sparinae, [6] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae. [5]

Etymology

The gilt-head bream has the genus name Sparus which derives from sparos and Ancient Greek name for this species. The specific name, aurata, means "gold", an allusion to the gold band on the intraorbital part of the head. [7]

Description

The gilt-head bream has a deep body, with a large, deep head which has its relatively small eyes placed high on the head. The diameter of the eyes is shorter than the length of the snout. The cheeks are deep and covered in scales but the preoperculum has no scales, although the operculum is scaled. It has a long-based dorsal fin which is supported by 11 robust spines and 13 or 14 branched soft rays. The anal fin is short based and is held up by three spines and 11 or 12 branched soft rays. It has large and robust teeth in the jaws with four to six large, pointed canine-like teeth in the front the jaws with 2 to 4 rows of blunt, round teeth laterally. It has a blue-grey back, the sides are silvery with a large dark spot behind the eye, it is red along the margin of the operculum and there is a golden bar on the head between the eyes. [8] This species has a maximum total length of 70 cm (28 in), although a standard length of 35 cm (14 in) is more typical, and a maximum published weight of 17.2 kg (38 lb). [2]

Distribution and habitat

The gilt-head bream is found in the northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean from Great Britain and Ireland to possibly as far south as Senegal, including the Canary Islands. It is found around Madeira but these are escapes from aquaculture. It also occurs throughout the Mediterranean and in the southern and western parts of the Black Sea. [1] This species is found over sandy substrates and in seagrass beds at depths between 1 and 150 m (3 ft 3 in and 492 ft 2 in), with adults in deeper waters than juveniles, the young fish typically going no deeper than 30 m (98 ft). [2] It is a euryhaline species that will enter brackish waters. [1]

Biology

Stintino SardinianFish.jpg
Stintino

The gilt-head bream feeds mainly on shellfish, but also some plant material. [2]

Gilt-head bream are protandrous sequential hermaphrodites, maturing as males by age 2, before some develop ovaries and lose their testes in later life. [9]

The genome of the species was released in 2018, where the authors detected fast evolution of ovary-biased genes likely resulting from the peculiar reproduction mode of the species. [9]

Fisheries and aquaculture

Anatomy (in Spanish)
Capture (blue) and aquaculture (green) production of Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) in thousand tonnes from 1960 to 2022, as reported by the FAO Gilthead seabream total production thousand tonnes 1960-2022.svg
Capture (blue) and aquaculture (green) production of Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) in thousand tonnes from 1960 to 2022, as reported by the FAO

Gilthead seabream is an esteemed food fish, but catches of wild fish have been relatively modest, between 6,100 and 9,600 metric tons (6,000 and 9,400 long tons; 6,700 and 10,600 short tons) in 2000–2009, primarily from the Mediterranean. [11] In addition, gilthead seabream have traditionally been cultured extensively in coastal lagoons and saltwater ponds. However, intensive rearing systems were developed during the 1980s, and gilthead seabream has become an important aquaculture species, primarily in the Mediterranean area and Portugal. Reported production was negligible until the late 1980s, but reached 140,000 metric tons (140,000 long tons; 150,000 short tons) in 2010, thus dwarfing the capture fisheries production. [12] Turkey is the biggest seabream producer in the world, followed by Greece. [13]

One of the biggest challenges facing the sea bream aquaculture industry is the frequency of skeletal abnormalities. [14] This is caused by factors such as high stocking density during larval rearing. [15]

Gilthead seabreams in aquaculture are susceptible to parasitic infections, including from Enterospora nucleophila . [16] [17]

Bronzini eataly.png

Cooking

The gilt-head bream is considered to be the most esteemed seabream for eating, especially in Southern Europe where the mild and sweet flavour of the flesh, which breaks into small flakes, is popular. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sparidae</span> Family of fishes

Sparidae is a family of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Spariformes, the seabreams and porgies, although they were traditionally classified in the order Perciformes. They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters around the world and are demersal carnivores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bream</span> Several species of freshwater and marine fish

Bream are species of freshwater fish belonging to a variety of genera including Abramis, Ballerus, Blicca, Brama, Chilotilapia, Etelis, Lepomis, Gymnocranius, Lethrinus, Nemipterus, Pharyngochromis, Rhabdosargus, Scolopsis, or Serranochromis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common pandora</span> Species of fish

The common pandora, also known as king of the breams, pandorared pandora or Spanish seabream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is an esteemed food fish.

<i>Pagrus</i> Genus of fishes

Pagrus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. These fishes are found in the Western Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. They are esteemed food fishes which are targeted by commercial fisheries and are grown in aquaculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black seabream</span> Species of fish

The black seabream is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish has a wide distribution in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The black seabream is an important food fish, especially in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common dentex</span> Species of fish

The common dentex is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is a highly valued food fish and is an important target species for fisheries and the population has shown large declines leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature to classify its conservation status as Vulnerable.

<i>Acanthopagrus latus</i> Species of fish

Acanthopagrus latus, the yellowfin seabream, grey bream, Houttuyn's yellowfin seabream, Japanese bream or yellow-finned black porgy, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddled seabream</span> Species of fish

The saddled seabream, also called the saddle bream or oblade, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Oblada. This species is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is an important food fish within its range.

<i>Diplodus sargus</i> Species of fish

Diplodus sargus, the sargo, common white seabream, or white seabream is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a target species for commercial fisheries and is grown in aquaculture. D. sargussensu lato was formerly thought to be a widespread species in the eastern Atlantic and western Indian Oceans but the taxa outside of D, sargussensu stricto are now recognised as valid species and are part of the D. sargus species complex.

<i>Archosargus</i> Genus of fishes

Archosargus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, the sea breams and porgies. These fishes occur in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackspot seabream</span> Species of fish

The blackspot seabream, also known as the red seabream and as the besugo, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This is a widespread species in the Eastern Atlantic from Norway to Mauritania, including Macaronesia and the western Mediterranean. It is an important species to fisheries, although overfishing has led to this species being classified as Near Threatened.

<i>Diplodus vulgaris</i> Species of fish

Diplodus vulgaris, the common two-banded sea bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. It is an important species for fisheries and is grown in aquaculture.

<i>Rhabdosargus sarba</i> Species of fish

Rhabdosargus sarba, also known as the goldlined seabream, silver bream, tarwhine, or yellowfin bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Dentex</i> Genus of fishes

Dentex is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. The fishes in this genus are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Sparicotyle chrysophrii</i> Species of worms

Sparicotyle chrysophrii is a species of monogenean, parasitic on the gills of the marine fish. It belongs to the family Microcotylidae. Its type-host is the gilt-head seabream.

<i>Enteromyxum leei</i> Species of marine parasite

Enteromyxum leei is a species of myxozoan, histozoic parasite that infects the intestinal tract and sometimes associated organs, like gall bladder and liver, of several teleostean fish species. Myxozoans are microscopic metazoans, with an obligate parasitic life-style. The parasite stages of this species live in the paracelullar space between fish enterocytes. It is the causative agent of enteromyxosis, or emaciative disease, also known as "razor blade syndrome" in sparid fish. E. leei has a wide host and geographical range within marine fish, and even freshwater fish have been infected experimentally. E. leei initially emerged in the Mediterranean in the late 1980s and it is believed to have been unintentionally introduced into the Red Sea. Its pathogenicity and economic impact depend on the host species. In the gilt-head seabream, it is manifested as a chronic disease that provokes anorexia, delayed growth with weight loss, cachexia, reduced marketability and increased mortality. In other species, it has no clinical signs. In sharpsnout seabream, infection results in very high mortality rates, which have pushed fish farmers to abandon the culture of this fish species.

<i>Diplodus annularis</i> Species of fish

Diplodus annularis, the annular seabream is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the family which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean.

<i>Pagellus acarne</i> Species of fish

Pagellus acarne, the axillary seabream or Spanish seabream is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

<i>Diplodus puntazzo</i> Species of ray-finned fish

Diplodus puntazzo, the sharpsnout seabream, sheephead bream or puntazzo, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. This omnivorous fish is an important species for aquaculture and fisheries, despite the flesh not being highly esteemed.

<i>Evynnis tumifrons</i> Species of fish

Evynnis tumifrons, the yellowback seabream, crimson seabream, goldentail or red seabream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean off the coasts of East Asia. This species is an important food fish in the East China Sea and Japan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Russell, B.; Carpenter, K.E. & Pollard, D. (2014). "Sparus aurata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T170253A1302459. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170253A1302459.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Sparus aurata". FishBase . October 2023 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Sparidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Sparus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  5. 1 2 Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 502–506. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN   2015037522. OCLC   951899884. OL   25909650M.
  6. ↑ Parenti, P. (2019). "An annotated checklist of the fishes of the family Sparidae". FishTaxa. 4 (2): 47–98.
  7. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (12 January 2024). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 6): Families GERREIDAE, LETHRINIDAE, NEMIPTERIDAE and SPARIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  8. ↑ Alwynne Wheeler (1992). The Pocket Guide to Saltwater Fishes of Britain and Europe. Parkgate Books. p. 103. ISBN   1855853647.
  9. 1 2 Pauletto, Marianna; Manousaki, Tereza; Ferraresso, Serena; Babbucci, Massimiliano; Tsakogiannis, Alexandros; Louro, Bruno; Vitulo, Nicola; Quoc, Viet Ha; Carraro, Roberta (2018-08-17). "Genomic analysis of Sparus aurata reveals the evolutionary dynamics of sex-biased genes in a sequential hermaphrodite fish". Communications Biology . 1 (1). Nature Portfolio: 119. doi:10.1038/s42003-018-0122-7. ISSN   2399-3642. PMC   6123679 . PMID   30271999.
  10. ↑ "Fisheries and Aquaculture - Global Production". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  11. ↑ FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2011). Yearbook of fishery and aquaculture statistics 2009. Capture production (PDF). Rome: FAO. p. 163. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-19.
  12. ↑ "Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758)". Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department . Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  13. ↑ "The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture".
  14. ↑ Boglione, Clara; Gisbert, Enric; Gavaia, Paulo; E. Witten, Paul; Moren, Mori; Fontagné, Stéphanie; Koumoundouros, Giorgos (May 2013). "Skeletal anomalies in reared E uropean fish larvae and juveniles. Part 2: main typologies, occurrences and causative factors". Reviews in Aquaculture. 5 (s1). doi:10.1111/raq.12016. hdl: 10400.1/11709 .
  15. ↑ Dellacqua, Zachary; Di Biagio, Claudia; Martini, Arianna; Mattei, Francesco; Rakaj, Arnold; Williams, James C.; Fabris, Andrea; Izquierdo, Marisol; Boglione, Clara (April 2024). "Skeletal anomalies in gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ) larvae reared in different densities and water volumes". Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 55 (2). Bibcode:2024JWAS...55E3056D. doi:10.1111/jwas.13056. hdl: 10553/130566 . ISSN   0893-8849.
  16. ↑ Han, Bing; Pan, Guoqing; Weiss, Louis M. (2021). "Microsporidiosis in Humans". Clinical Microbiology Reviews . 34 (4). American Society for Microbiology (ASM): e00010-20. doi:10.1128/cmr.00010-20. ISSN   0893-8512. PMC   8404701 . PMID   34190570.
  17. ↑ Palenzuela, Oswaldo; Redondo, María José; Cali, Ann; Takvorian, Peter M.; Alonso-Naveiro, María; Alvarez-Pellitero, Pilar; Sitjà-Bobadilla, Ariadna (2014). "A new intranuclear microsporidium, Enterospora nucleophila n. sp., causing an emaciative syndrome in a piscine host (Sparus aurata), prompts the redescription of the family Enterocytozoonidae". International Journal for Parasitology . 44 (3–4). Elsevier BV: 189–203. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.10.005. ISSN   0020-7519. Australian Society for Parasitology.
  18. ↑ "Whole Gilt Head Bream (400-600g)". Gofish.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
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