Anthias anthias

Distribution : Mediterranean · Atlantic Ocean

Marine region

A fish that gave divers confidence: such was the curious reputation of the “anthias” in certain ancient accounts. Athenaeus, quoting Aristotle, described sponge divers who sought it out, believing predators kept away from its waters. The identity of that ancient anthias remains disputed; the name may have referred to very different fish. In the sixteenth century, Guillaume Rondelet associated it with the Mediterranean swallowtail seaperch, the pink, long-finned fish now seen near steep rocky walls.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

The anthias (Anthias anthias) has a deeply forked tail and an oval body that is flattened from side to side. Its colour ranges from pink to orange.

Outlines differ between the sexes: males have more developed fins than females.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

The water above drop-offs, rocky seabeds and coralligenous formations supports groups of swallowtail seaperch. The fish remain associated with the structure without resting on it. In the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, occurrence generally extends from around twenty to over a hundred metres, including habitats beyond ordinary diving depths.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

The swallowtail seaperch’s mouth extends during the capture of small prey. This movement explains its feeding more accurately than the image of a fish filtering the current. Its animal food includes small crustaceans, annelid worms and young fish.

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