Spicara smaris
Shahar Chaikin
Size range: 15 - 20 cm (22 cm) Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish Identification guide, Patrick Louisy
Common size: 14 cm FishBase
Habitat:
- Hard - rocky
- Soft - sand
- Vegetation - sea grass meadows
Water column position:
- Pelagic-Neritic
Schooling characteristics:
- Gregarious
Colors & patterns:
- Males - mature males often with golden hue with somewhat broken lines, body deeper than in females but still slender.
Behavior:
- Whether the species is:
- Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits
2. Activity:
- Diurnal
3. Approach:
- Easily approached when feeding in open water
Native/Exotic:
Native
EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.
May be confused with:
A school of Spicara smaris and Boops boops.
A spicara smaris (right) and Spicara maena (left) during a fish survey in Crete.