Sargo

Geißbrasse ( Diplodus sargus )

The Geißbrasse ( Diplodus sargus ), also banded seabream or Large Geißbrasse ( subspecies D. sargus sargus ) called, is a Meerbrassenart that in several sub- species in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, in the eastern Atlantic, in the central Atlantic Ocean to the islands of Madeira, St. Helena and Ascension, as well as the Indian Ocean in the south occurs.

Features

The Geißbrasse is flattened high backs and sides. Most specimens of the species are about 22 cm long, the largest measured length is 45 cm, the maximum weight of 1.9 kg. The body is light to silvery gray colored, the posterior margin of the caudal fin black. Show 8-9 horizontal stripes, of which 4 to 5 are more strongly developed on the sides. The strips are particularly clearly visible at night. Characteristic of the type is a black oval spot on the caudal peduncle. The distance between the front edge of the eye and the tip of the instrument is in the Geißbrasse larger than the eye diameter. From the similar Spitz seabream ( Diplodus puntazzo ) the Geißbrasse can be distinguished by the steeper head profile and the less sharp mouth. The Geißbrasse may be ten years old.

  • Fins formula: Dorsal XI-XII/12-15; Anal III/11-14.

Way of life

Diplodus sargus lives in small, loose groups in coastal rocky reefs or in seagrass beds of Posidonia species at depths of 0 to 50 meters and also goes into the surf zone and in brackish water. It feeds on molluscs, crustaceans, bristle worms, sea urchins and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates, juvenile fish and algae. Like all sea bream are the white seabreams hermaphrodites. In the eastern Mediterranean to spawn from January to March, in the western March to June.

Subspecies

  • Diplodus sargus Ascensionis ( Valenciennes, 1830); Ascension
  • Diplodus sargus cadenati ( De la Paz, Bauchot & Daget, 1974); South Africa
  • Diplodus sargus helenae ( Sauvage, 1879); St. Helena
  • Diplodus sargus kotschyi ( Steindachner, 1876), western Indian Ocean
  • Diplodus sargus lineatus ( Valenciennes, 1830)
  • Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758); Mediterranean, Black Sea
Genus Ascension Island Fish fin FishBase
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