Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758)
Salema
Sarpa salpa
photo by Patzner, R.

 Family:  Sparidae (Porgies)
 Max. size:  51 cm SL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  benthopelagic; depth range 5 - 70 m, oceanodromous
 Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay and Strait of Gibraltar to Sierra Leone, including Madeira, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde; Congo to South Africa. Also present in the Mediterranean.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 13-15. Black spot at the pectoral fin base. Body relatively slender with 10 golden longitudinal stripes (Ref. 35388).
 Biology:  Found over rocky substrates and sandy area with algal growth. Gregarious, sometimes forming sizeable schools. Young mainly carnivorous on crustaceans, adults almost exclusively herbivorous (Ref. 4781), feed on seaweeds (Ref. 36731). Protandric hermaphrodite (Ref. 4781). Tasty when fresh, but easily softens and is not much esteemed (Ref. 3198).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Papasissi, Christine - 17.10.90
 Modified by: Reyes, Rodolfo B. - 18.07.13
 Checked by: Agustin, Liza Q. - 04.08.94

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