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