Stats

Lifespan

10-15 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Herbivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Seagrass meadow

Range

East Atlantic

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Herd Safety

Status

Uncommon

About

A Mediterranean and Atlantic seabream with several vivid golden stripes running the length of its silver-grey body. Consuming its head can trigger potent hallucinations — a phenomenon documented since ancient Rome, where it was nicknamed the 'dreamfish'.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Acanthuriformes

Family

Sparidae

Genus

Sarpa

Species

Sarpa salpa