Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)
Red seabream
Pagrus major
photo by Augustine Chung@114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey

Family:  Sparidae (Porgies)
Max. size:  100 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 9,720.0 g; max. reported age: 26 years
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 200 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: northeastern part of South China Sea (Philippines excluded) northward to Japan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Body with many bluish dots when fresh. Shallow body, body depth 2 or more in SL. Transverse scales 6.5-7.5. All spines of dorsal fin tough and not elongated. Posterior margin of caudal fin black, lower margin white (Ref. 42199).
Biology:  Occurs from 10 to 50 m depths, often on rough grounds, but also on softer bottoms. Also inhabits reefs (Ref. 9988). Adults migrate into shallower parts of their depth range to spawn in late spring and summer; juveniles occur mainly in the shallower areas. It is a popular food fish throughout its range. It is high-priced in Japan and used in various occasions such as wedding and festival. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, including echinoderms, worms, mollusks and crustaceans; also on fishes. Marketed live, fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, pan-fried, broiled, boiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Cultivated in cages (Ref. 9988). Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 December 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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