Dentex dentex

Size range: 30 - 70 cm

Common size: 50 cm

Depth range: 15-50 m

Habitat: Specify the title (Hard, Soft or Vegetation) and the type:

• Hard - especially near headlands and rocky outcrops.
• young's may be found in shallow sometimes near seagrass beds.

Water column position:

• Supra-benthic

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary
• Small groups

Colors & patterns: Focus on unique characteristics which distinguish the species from others, specify differences between:

• Forehead almost straight
• Black speckles and blue spots on upper half of body
• Sides silver, back blue-grey.
• In older specimens slight hump on forehead.
• Juveniles - back beige, pelvic fins sometimes yellow

Behavior:

1. Whether the species is:

• Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits

2. Activity:

• Diurnal

3. Approach:

• Shy

4. Unique behavior: A concise description of any unique behavior (breeding, nesting, cleaning etc.).

5. Feeding characteristic - Feed on fish, mollusks and cephalopods.

Native/Exotic: Native

EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.