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Blackhead seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) — Sparidae

Blackhead seabream

Acanthopagrus schlegelii
Family: Sparidae

The Blackhead seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sparidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
15.0–? m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The blackhead seabream is a porgy (Sparidae) from coastal and brackish water of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a deep, silver-grey to dark-grey body with fine longitudinal lines. As a bottom-oriented omnivore it searches bays, estuaries and reefs for molluscs, crustaceans, worms and algae. Many individuals change sex during their life. It is an important food and angling fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackhead seabream?

The Blackhead seabream has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Blackhead seabream live?

The Blackhead seabream lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blackhead seabream get?

The Blackhead seabream grows to a maximum of about 50 cm.

Is the Blackhead seabream dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackhead seabream is harmless to humans.

Is the Blackhead seabream edible?

Yes, the Blackhead seabream is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwarte zeebrasem sourced
English name
Blackhead seabream sourced
Scientific name
Acanthopagrus schlegelii
Family
Sparidae
Other names
Black porgy; Black sea bream; Black seabream; Blackhead seabream verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Acanthopagrus

More from the family Sparidae

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