Black Seabream

Overview

The Black Seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) is a gregarious, benthopelagic fish belonging to the Sparidae family. It is widely distributed across the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from Scandinavia to Namibia, as well as throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Distribution & habitat

This species inhabits a variety of environments, including rocky reefs, sandy bottoms, and seagrass beds. While juveniles typically frequent shallower coastal waters, adults are often found at greater depths, sometimes reaching down to 300 meters. During the summer, they frequently move closer to the coast and are known to congregate around shipwrecks.

Appearance

The Black Seabream has a tall, laterally compressed, oval-shaped body with a silvery-gray base color. It is marked by faint, broken longitudinal stripes. The head profile is generally convex in younger fish but becomes concave in mature males. During the breeding season, males undergo a dramatic color change, becoming much darker with vertical bars; in the Atlantic, these bars appear white, while Mediterranean populations may display bluish hues.

Biology & behavior

This species is an omnivore that feeds on a mix of algae and small invertebrates, particularly crustaceans. They are social fish that often travel in schools. A notable aspect of their biology is that they are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning individuals typically mature as females before transitioning into males as they grow older.

Reproduction

Unlike many other sparids that release pelagic eggs, the Black Seabream exhibits unique nesting behavior. During the spring, males excavate oval-shaped pits in the sandy substrate. After spawning, the male aggressively defends the nest and guards the demersal eggs until they hatch.