Symphodus cinereus

Size range: 8-10 cm

Common size: 8 cm (max: 12 cm)

Depth range: 5-20 m (max: 40 m)

Habitat: Soft - sand. Mainly on sandy bottoms, almost always near sea grass beds or rocks.

Water column position:

Supra-benthic

Schooling characteristics:

Solitary
Small groups

Colors & patterns: black spot on lower part of caudal peduncle, sometimes faded or absent.

Body is generally pale-beige, more or less mottled or dappled (little drops of color).

Can appear also as light green, with the same mottled/dappled patterns as appears in other colors.

between:

Females
Males - in nupital males, the black spot on the lower part of caudal peduncle is very visible, with a blue shine.

In terminal phase males, one or two oblique pale-blue lines appear under the eyes. Additionally, a dark spot at the start of dorsal fin appears (sometimes it fades).

Males are generally very mottled when taking care of eggs within the nest.

Juveniles
Special patterns: another pattern has two longitudinal black lines, one in the area of the lateral line and the other 'crosses the fish in half', from the snout to about two third body length, posteriorly.

Behavior: ???

Whether the species is:

Cryptic - caves/crevices/overhangs
Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits
Transient - not related to specific sites

2. Activity: ???

Diurnal
Nocturnal
Both
Crepuscular

3. Approach: Indifferent / Easily approached

4. Unique behavior: Females spawn in a nest built and guarded by the male.

5. Feeding characteristic - feed on shrimps, amphipods, isopods, small gastropods and bivalves .

Native/Exotic: native

EM notes: Very rarely seen in visual surveys conducted by the lab in the Israeli coast.