Black Sea Bream
Spondyliosoma cantharus
Habitat: Rocky and sandy sea bed
Depth: 5-300m
Food: Small invertebrates, especially crustaceans, and seaweeds
Length: Up to 60cm
Lifespan: 15 years
Conservation Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
A common schooling fish, the black sea bream gets its name from the black stripes that appear on the male’s body when he is ready to breed. Black sea bream are all born female and mature at a size of 20cm, laying up to half a million eggs into a nest built by the male. They change sex when they reach about 30cm long and continue life as a male.