S. Chaikin

Diplodus auriga

Size range: 10 - 80 cm

Common size: 30 cm

Depth range: 10 - 170 m

Habitat:

  • Hard - rocky, artificial

Water column position:

  • Benthic/ Supra-benthic

Colors & patterns:

  • Body shape: body oval, deep and compressed. Head profile nearly straight, except for a slight hump above eyes.
  • Colors: body color pink with silvery reflections and 4 or 5 dark red, alternatingly broad and narrow cross bars.
  • Adults color more intense wine red with the cross bars less well visible than in juveniles
  • Dorsal fin with the third to fifth spine very long and filamentous.
  • Often confused with Pagrus caeruleostictus which has silvery reflections and large bluish black spots on back and sides but may have very pale cross bars.

Behavior:

  • Reef-associated
  • Shy/keep distance

Schooling characteristics:

  • Solitary

Feeding: - Carnivorous - bivalve molluscs, cephalopods, sometimes crustaceans.

Native/Exotic: Native

EM notes: Not common, mostly found in the northern area