Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, X + 13-14; A, III + 8; P, 16-17; V, I + 5; LL, 44-48; GR, 26-31  photo : John E. Randall

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body moderately elongated, somewhat compressed. Dorsal fin continuous, third to fifth spines longest. Posterior edge of dorsal fin round. Caudal fin truncated. Pelvic fin origin slightly behind pectoral base. Terminal large mouth. Maxilla slips under preorbital bone when mouth closed. No supramaxilla. A few rows of conical sharp teeth with several distinct large canines. Vomerine teeth in V- shaped band. Operculum edge serrated. A shallow notch in the lower preoperculum. Ctenoid scales. Snout and preorbital area scaled. color : red-brown-bronze with silvery-grey patch on scales. size : common 40-80 cm (max. 120 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Serranidae: three flat spines on the operculum. Sparidae: forked caudal fin; preoperculum smooth. Carangidae: forked caudal fin; no canine teeth. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds mainly on fishes and crustaceans. Eggs and larvae pelagic. habitat : young in shallow-sandy shores often entering estuaries. Adults in deeper rocky or open areas to depths of 80 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Lebanon, 1979. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : wide Indo-Pacific. Red Sea to eastern Africa, including Madagascar to Ryukyu Islands, northern Australia and Samoa. Mediterranean : only a single record, Lebanon (Mouneimne, 1979). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None in the Mediterranean. Commercially important in fishery throughout its distribution. It was tested in several countries as potential species for mariculture.

KEY REFERENCES Mouneimne N., 1979. Poissons nouveaux pour les côtes Libanaises. Cybium, 6: 105-110. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: March 2001 ©ciesm 2002