Zebra Sea Bream

Diplodus cervinus is a species of seabream belonging to the family Sparidae.

Description

The zebra seabream has a high compressed laterally body with a pointed snout and thick lips.It is a medium-sized fish which can reach 55 cm maximum long but its average size is generally around 35 cm. Its background color is silvered with dark vertical bands, the first five ones run across the body from the caudal peduncle to the pectoral fins level, another characteristic dark band cross the space between the eyes while crossing them.

Distribution & habitat

Diplodus cervinus is found in eastern Atlantic Ocean from Gulf of Biscay to South Africa and also in Mediterranean Sea. Youth, it prefers shallow and quiet living areas like rocks, piers and grass beds. Adult, it usually lives rocky slopes and wrecks. Benthopelagic on the shelf, on rocky bottoms from 30 to 80 m depth, but may also occur down to 300 m on muddy bottoms.

Biology

According to the fishing pressure which undergoes on the zebra seabream living area, it has a solitary or gregarious behaviour. Forms schools of 4 or 5 individuals of different sizes. The zebra seabream is carnivorous and its diet consist mainly in benthic food like sea urchins, worms and bivalve molluscs.

Subspecies list

According to World Register of Marine Species:

• Subspecies Diplodus cervinus cervinus (Lowe, 1838)
• Subspecies Diplodus cervinus hottentotus (Smith, 1844)
• Subspecies Diplodus cervinus omanensis Bauchot & Bianchi, 1984