Serranus cabrilla

Size range: 15-30 cm

Common size: 25 cm

Habitat:

• Hard - rocky, coral, artificial - Found on the shelf and upper slope on rocks,
• Soft - sand and mud
• Vegetation - Posidonia beds

Depth:

• 5-90 m

Water column position:

• Benthic
• Supra-benthic

Colors & patterns:

The coloration varies from light brown to dark brown to an intense reddish brown. It is marked with 7 to 9 darker transverse bands along its flanks, these are broken by a longitudinal white to yellowish stripe, running from the head to the tail. There are a few yellow or orange longitudinal lines on the sides of the head. except from the white longitudinal line all other color marking can change

• Juveniles - may have line pattern, two thin dark lines on each edge of the longitudinal white line. back uniformly brownish. this pattern can also be observed for adults though very common.

Behavior:

1. Whether the species is:

• Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits

2. Activity:

• Diurnal (personal exp.)

3. Approach:

• Easily approached - very curious!
• Bold

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary

Native/Exotic: Native

EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.