Common dentex (Dentex dentex)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Dentex dentex
- Common name
- Common dentex
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Sparidae
- Genus
- Dentex
- Size
- 50–100 cm
- Depth
- 2–200 m
- IUCN status
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky, reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, predator, wary
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Dentex dentex reaches 1 m and 14 kg. Silvery blue-grey body with blue spots in juveniles, more uniform in adults. Prominent forehead hump in large males, powerful jaws armed with canines. Solitary predator of fish and cephalopods, very wary of divers. Populations in marked decline, classified Vulnerable by IUCN. Prized spearfishing trophy.
Photo of Common dentex
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Common dentex?
- Common dentex (Dentex dentex) reaches 50–100 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Common dentex?
- Common dentex is found between 2–200 m deep.
- Is the Common dentex dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Common dentex?
- IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU).
- Where can you find the Common dentex?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Dentex
Other species in the family Sparidae
- Sparus aurata - Gilt-head bream
- Diplodus sargus - White seabream
- Diplodus vulgaris - Common two-banded seabream
- Sarpa salpa - Salema
- Pagellus bogaraveo - Blackspot seabream
- Pagrus pagrus - Common seabream
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 273962)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2392679)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia