Sarpa salpa

Size range: Max 45 cm (Fishes of the Eastern Mediterranean), Max 55 cm (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)

Common size: 15-30 cm (Fishes of the Eastern Mediterranean), 30-35 cm (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)

Depth range: 1-30 (1- 150) m (Fishbase) | 10-30m (1-150) Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)

Habitat: (Fishes of Europe and the Mediterranean , Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)

• Soft - sand
• Hard- rocks
• Vegetation -Found in substrates covered algae, seaweed meadows where it grazes.

Water column position:

• Demersal (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)

Schooling characteristics: (Fishes of Europe and the Mediterranean , Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)

• Large groups
• Small groups

Colors & patterns:

• Body- silvery- grey with 10-12 longitudinal golden- yellow lines (Fishes of the Eastern Mediterranean)
• Dark spot on upper origin of pectoral fin (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)
• Back- bluish- grey (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)
• Young looking brighter and more shiny

Behavior: (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)

• Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits
• Seaweed meadows
• Adults may be found in open water

5. Feeding characteristic - (Fishes of the Eastern Mediterranean)

• Adult- almost exclusively herbivorous
• Young- feeds on small invertebrate, mainly crustaceans

Native/Exotic:

Native

EM notes: (TBC)