Distribution:

Eastern Atlantic: Western Norway, English Channel (rare in North Sea) to Dakar, Senegal and the Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Diagnosis:

Head is less steep. Barbels longer than pectoral fin. Body with longitudinal red and brown stripes. First dorsal fin with dark markings.

Biology:

Occurs on broken and rough grounds but also found over sand and soft bottoms at depths less than 100 m. Feeds on benthic organisms such as shrimps and amphipods, polychaetes, mollusks, and benthic fishes. Spawns from May to July, eggs and larvae are pelagic. Marketed fresh and frozen for steaming, pan-frying, broiling and baking.

Max. size: 40.0 cm

Max.weight: 1,000.0 g

Environment: demersal; depth range 5 - 60 m

Climate: subtropical; 55°N - 14°N

Canary Islands country information: Name: Salmonete