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Black Seabream

Distribution : Mediterranean · Atlantic Ocean

Off the south coast of England, black seabream were tagged to track their movements. In autumn and winter, some moved into deeper water as far as the approaches to the French coast. The following spring, several tagged fish reappeared in the area they had used the year before. Underwater, the first signs of their return can be found in the sand.

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Habitat of Black Seabream Habitat
Wreck, Sand, Seagrass meadow, Rocky habitat
Depth range of Black Seabream Depth
5-300 m
Biological group of Black Seabream Group
Ecological role of Black Seabream Role
Predator

Average size

30 cm

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Fine, broken lines can be hard to see against the silvery sides of the black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus). The belly is paler. The body is oval in profile, curving out along both the back and the belly. Viewed head-on, it is narrow because it is flattened from side to side.

A long fin runs along the back. The snout is more pointed in young fish. The colouring is not fixed: at night, broad dark vertical bands appear and transform the silvery pattern.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

The black seabream mainly lives near the coast. It is found between the surface and around thirty metres deep, near rocks, Posidonia seagrass beds or on varied seabeds.

Adults can also live deeper, sometimes down to around 200 metres, on sandy or debris-covered seabeds.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

The black seabream mainly feeds on small animals it finds near the seabed. It eats marine worms, crustaceans, brittle stars, young cuttlefish and small attached animals such as hydroids. It also eats algae, but these are not the main part of its diet. It picks up prey with its mouth on sand, rocks or among seaweed.

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Black Seabream

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Other species — Demersal fish

Gilthead Seabream Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse Two-banded seabream Zebra seabream Mediterranean Damselfish European Conger Brown Meagre Grey Wrasse

Same habitat and depth

Wreck species Sandy seabed species Seagrass meadow species Rocky seabed species

Same ecological role and depth

Predatory species

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What is this species’ ecological role?

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DEPTH HABITAT PHYLA ECOLOGICAL ROLE