Blotched picarel (Spicara maena)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Spicara maena
- Common name
- Blotched picarel
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Sparidae
- Genus
- Spicara
- Size
- 15–25 cm
- Depth
- 5–170 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sand, seagrass
- Behaviours
- schooling
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Spicara maena reaches 25 cm. Small Mediterranean and East Atlantic seabream with elongated blue-silver body with more or less marked central black spot. Terminal males develop spectacular vivid blue coloration and electric lines on head during reproduction. Protogynous hermaphrodite. Lives in schools from 5 to 170 m on sand and seagrass of Mediterranean. Moderate commercial fishery. Macro photo subject for vivid spawning male colors. Formerly Centracanthidae.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Blotched picarel?
- Blotched picarel (Spicara maena) reaches 15–25 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Blotched picarel?
- Blotched picarel is found between 5–170 m deep.
- Is the Blotched picarel dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Blotched picarel?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Blotched picarel?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Spicara
Other species in the family Sparidae
- Oblada melanura - Saddled seabream
- Boops boops - Bogue
- Spondyliosoma cantharus - Black seabream
- Diplodus puntazzo - Sharpsnout seabream
- Diplodus annularis - Annular seabream
- Pagrus pagrus - Common seabream
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 126828)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2393205)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia