Spicara maena (Linnaeus, 1758)
Blotched picarel
photo by Patzner, R.

Family:  Sparidae (Porgies)
Max. size:  25 cm SL (male/unsexed); 21 cm SL (female)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 30 - 130 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Portugal, Morocco, and Canary Islands including the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Adults are found in the neritic zone, commonly over Posidonia beds and on sand, muddy and rock bottoms down to about 100 m (Ref. 6518, 124120). They are distributed at depths of 30m to 90m (Ref. 56124). Feed on zooplankton. Are protogynous hermaphrodites. A demersal spawner (Ref. 124120).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 August 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.