Home · Kyphosidae · Buff bream
Buff bream (Kyphosus sydneyanus) — Kyphosidae

Buff bream

Kyphosus sydneyanus
Family: Kyphosidae

The Buff bream (Kyphosus sydneyanus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Kyphosidae that grows up to 80 cm.

Length
80 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
1.0–20.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The silver drummer is a sea chub (Kyphosidae) from the waters around southern Australia and New Zealand. The species has a robust, oval, silver-grey body with a small mouth. It forms large schools in comparatively shallow water near rocky reefs. As a herbivore it grazes large brown algae, which it digests with the help of a long gut and gut flora. It is a valued sport and food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Buff bream?

The Buff bream has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Buff bream live?

The Buff bream lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Buff bream get?

The Buff bream grows to a maximum of about 80 cm.

Is the Buff bream dangerous to humans?

No, the Buff bream is harmless to humans.

Is the Buff bream edible?

Yes, the Buff bream is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zilveren zeebrasem sourced
English name
Buff bream verified
Scientific name
Kyphosus sydneyanus
Family
Kyphosidae
Other names
Buffalo bream; Common buffalo bream; Drummer bream; Silver drummer verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
80.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Kyphosus

More from the family Kyphosidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →