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Sparodon durbanensis (Castelnau, 1861) Musselcracker seabream |
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photo by
SFSA |
| Family: | Sparidae (Porgies) | |||
| Max. size: | 120 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 80 m | |||
| Distribution: | Southeast Atlantic: Cape of Good Hope to Natal in South Africa. Also recorded from Djibouti (Ref. 5450) and from Mozambique (Ref. 5213). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-10. Faint stripes on a greyish body; bluish glow while in water (Ref. 3198). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits shallow coastal waters, mainly off rocky shores down to 80 m depth. Rarely enters estuaries. Young commonly found in tide pools. Feeds mainly on mollusks (Ref. 5213). An important food fish. | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 03 December 2009 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||