Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758)
Salema
photo by Patzner, R.

Family:  Sparidae (Porgies)
Max. size:  51 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 5 - 70 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay and Strait of Gibraltar to Sierra Leone, including Madeira, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde; Congo to South Africa. Also present in the Mediterranean.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 13-15. Black spot at the pectoral fin base. Body relatively slender with 10 golden longitudinal stripes (Ref. 35388).
Biology:  Found over rocky substrates and sandy area with algal growth. Gregarious, sometimes forming sizeable schools. Young mainly carnivorous on crustaceans, adults almost exclusively herbivorous (Ref. 4781), feed on seaweeds (Ref. 36731). Protandric hermaphrodite (Ref. 4781). Tasty when fresh, but easily softens and is not much esteemed (Ref. 3198).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 August 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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