Spotted seabass

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Spotted seabass
Dicentrarchus punctatus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Moronidae
Genus: Dicentrarchus
Species:
D. punctatus
Binomial name
Dicentrarchus punctatus
(Bloch, 1792)
Synonyms
  • Sciaena punctata Bloch, 1792
  • Bodianus punctatus (Bloch, 1792)
  • Labrax lupus punctatus (Bloch, 1792)
  • Labrax punctatus (Bloch, 1792)
  • Morone punctatus (Bloch, 1792)
  • Perca punctata (Bloch, 1792)
  • Perca punctulata Lacépède, 1802
  • Labrax orientalis Günther, 1863
  • Dicentrarchus orientalis (Günther, 1863)
  • Labrax schoenleinii W. K. H. Peters, 1865

The spotted seabass (Dicentrarchus punctatus) is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Moronidae, the temperate basses. This species is found in the marine and brackish waters of the coastal eastern Atlantic Ocean from the English Channel to the Canary Islands and Senegal, as well as through the Mediterranean Sea.

Contents

Taxonomy

The spotted seabass was first formally described as Sciaena punctata in 1792 by the German physician and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch with its type locality given as the Mediterranean Sea. [2] This is one of two species in the genus Dicentrarchus , the other being the European seabass (D. labrax), [2] and this genus and the genus Morone make up the family Moronidae, the temperate basses. [3]

Habitat

The spotted seabass generally lives in brackish water at depths below approximately 30 m (98 ft). [4] It generally lives in subtropical waters, ranging from the coast of Brittany in the north to the coast of Africa and the Canary Islands in the south and also encompassing almost all of the coastline of the eastern Mediterranean Sea and going as far west as the Azores. [4]

Description

The spotted seabass can grow up to a size of about 70 cm (28 in); however, it usually only reaches a size of about 30 cm (12 in). [4] It is a silver-grey fish covered in black spots and also has a blue back whilst alive. [4] [5] These black spots are only found on the adults; as well, the opercle has a rather large black spot. [5]

Biology

The spotted seabass is almost exclusively carnivorous. Its diet is largely composed of shrimp and molluscs; additionally, it at times eats smaller fish than itself. [4] [5] The spotted seabass breeds at various times based on geography; in the Mediterranean it generally spawns from January until March whereas in the English Channel and other northern areas this range is from March until May. [5]

Utilisation

The spotted seabass is regarded as a highly palatable fish and is commercially harvested using bottom trawls, beach seines, trammel nets and by hook-and-line. It is also a popular as a game fish for angling in the Eastern Central Atlantic. This fish is used for aquaculture frequently being cultured in ponds. The flesh is sold either fresh or frozen. [1]

Related Research Articles

Bass is a generic common name shared by many species of ray-finned fish from the large clade Percomorpha, mainly belonging to the orders Perciformes and Moroniformes, encompassing both freshwater and marine species. The word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch", despite that none of the commonly referred bass species belong to the perch family Percidae.

Sea bass is a common name for a variety of different species of marine fish. Many fish species of various families have been called sea bass.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">European seabass</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted drum</span> Species of fish

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<i>Balistes punctatus</i> Species of fish

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

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

The black scorpionfish, also known as the European scorpionfish or small-scaled scorpionfish, is a venomous scorpionfish, common in marine subtropical waters. It is widespread in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean from the British Isles to the Azores and Canary Islands, near the coasts of Morocco, in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small red scorpionfish</span> Species of fish

Small red scorpionfish is a venomous Scorpionfish, common in marine subtropical waters. It is widespread in the Eastern Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay to Senegal, Madeira, Azores and the Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

<i>Dicentrarchus</i> Genus of fishes

Dicentrarchus is a genus of ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Moronidae, the temperate basses. The two species in this genus are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The species in this genus are economically important food fishes.

<i>Diplecogaster</i> Genus of fishes

Diplecogaster is a genus of fish in the family Gobiesocidae found in Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streaked gurnard</span> Species of fish

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<i>Umbrina</i> Genus of fishes

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<i>Mycteroperca fusca</i> Species of fish

Mycteroperca fusca, the Island grouper or comb grouper, is a species of grouper from the family Serranidae which is endemic to the Macaronesian Islands in the eastern Atlantic. It is classified as Vulnerable in The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

<i>Diplecogaster bimaculata</i> Species of fish

Diplecogaster bimaculata, the two-spotted clingfish, is a species of fish in the family Gobiesocidae found in Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean where it is found on rocks and among seagrass or shell beds.

<i>Aplodactylus punctatus</i> Species of fish

Aplodactylus punctatus, the Zamba marblefish, is a species of marine ray finned fish, one of the marblefishes belonging to the family Aplodactylidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean of the west coast of South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boe drum</span> Species of fish

The boe drum is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Pteroscion. The boe drum is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off western coast of Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parrot seaperch</span> Species of fish

The parrot seaperch, also known as the bird of paradise fish or Eastern Atlantic groppo, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Callanthiidae, the splendid perches and groppos. This fish is found in the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.

References

  1. 1 2 Carpenter, K.E.; Smith-Vaniz, W.F.; de Bruyne, G.; de Morais, L. (2015). "Dicentrarchus punctatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T198671A21913001. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198671A21913001.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Dicentrarchus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  3. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Moronidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Dicentrarchus punctatus". FishBase . February 2023 version.
  5. 1 2 3 4 J-C Hureau. "Dicentrarchus labrax". Fishes of the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Retrieved 28 March 2023.