| Moronidae (Temperate basses) |
| 70 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range - 30 m, |
| Eastern Atlantic: English Channel (occasional) southward along the coasts of Europe and Morocco to Senegal and the Canary Islands; also southern Mediterranean and the Gulf of Suez. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 9-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10-12. Diagnosis: elongate fish with 2 separate dorsal fins and a rather deep caudal peduncle; vomerine teeth patch anchor-shaped, with the posterior teeth extending to the midline of palate; scales on interorbital space ctenoid; opercle with 2 flat spines; lower preopercular margin with large, forward-pointing spines; caudal fin moderately forked; scales small (Ref. 57391).
Coloration: silvery grey, back bluish in life; juveniles and adults with small dark markings scattered over back and sides; a very distinct black spot on opercle (Ref. 57391). |
| Coastal species (Ref. 4197), found in coastal marine and brackish waters (Ref. 57391). Occurs on various kinds of bottoms, including sand, muddy sand and rocks; occasionally occurring in rivers (Ref. 6916, 57391). Also capable of living in hypersaline habitats (Sine Saloum in Senegal)(Ref. 57391). Feeds mainly on shrimps and mollusks, also fishes (Ref. 5990). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
Abundant in Levrier Bay and Banc d'Arguin where they occur in schools of several dozens around Cape Blanc, often in associated with Mugil monodi and in the access channel of Point-Central (Ref. 5377). Also Ref. 4517. |
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