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Senegal seabream (Diplodus bellottii) — Sparidae

Senegal seabream

Diplodus bellottii
Family: Sparidae

The Senegal seabream (Diplodus bellottii) is a saltwater fish of the family Sparidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–100.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Cape Verde, Gibraltar, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Senegal seabream is a seabream (Sparidae) from coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic, off West Africa. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a deep, silvery body with strong molars. The silvery body bears a dark shoulder spot and a faint tail band. As a bottom-oriented omnivore it searches reefs and sand and seagrass bottoms for molluscs, crustaceans, worms and algae. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Senegal seabream?

The Senegal seabream has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Senegal seabream live?

The Senegal seabream lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Africa: Cape Verde, Gibraltar, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and others

How big does the Senegal seabream get?

The Senegal seabream grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Senegal seabream dangerous to humans?

No, the Senegal seabream is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Senegal seabream edible?

Yes, the Senegal seabream is commonly eaten.

More photos

Senegal seabream (Diplodus bellottii) — Sparidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Drew, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Senegal seabream (Diplodus bellottii) — Sparidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Thomas Menut, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Easily confused with

These species look like the Senegal seabream and live in the same waters.

Annular seabream (Diplodus annularis) — Sparidae
Annular seabream
Diplodus annularis
Sparidae
 Sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) — Sparidae
Sharpsnout seabream
Diplodus puntazzo
Sparidae
 Common two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) — Sparidae
Common two-banded seabream
Diplodus vulgaris
Sparidae
 Axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne) — Sparidae
Axillary seabream
Pagellus acarne
Sparidae
 Bogue (Boops boops) — Sparidae
Bogue
Boops boops
Sparidae
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Senegal seabream sourced
Scientific name
Diplodus bellottii
Family
Sparidae
Other names
Senegal seabream; Breca verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Cape Verde, Gibraltar, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Diplodus

Bermuda porgy (Diplodus bermudensis) — Sparidae
Bermuda porgy
Diplodus bermudensis
Sparidae
 Banded seabream (Diplodus fasciatus) — Sparidae
Banded seabream
Diplodus fasciatus
Sparidae
 Blacktail (Diplodus capensis) — Sparidae
Blacktail
Diplodus capensis
Sparidae
 Cape Verde seabream (Diplodus prayensis) — Sparidae
Cape Verde seabream
Diplodus prayensis
Sparidae
 Oman seabream (Diplodus omanensis) — Sparidae
Oman seabream
Diplodus omanensis
Sparidae
 Annular seabream (Diplodus annularis) — Sparidae
Annular seabream
Diplodus annularis
Sparidae

More from the family Sparidae

Red pandora (Pagellus bellottii) — Sparidae
Red pandora
Pagellus bellottii
Sparidae
 Southern common seabream (Pagrus africanus) — Sparidae
Southern common seabream
Pagrus africanus
Sparidae
 Angolan dentex (Dentex angolensis) — Sparidae
Angolan dentex
Dentex angolensis
Sparidae
 Arabian pandora (Pagellus affinis) — Sparidae
Arabian pandora
Pagellus affinis
Sparidae
 Bream (Pagrus auratus) — Sparidae
Bream (Pagrus auratus)
Sparidae
 Australian sea bream (Acanthopagrus australis) — Sparidae
Australian sea bream
Acanthopagrus australis
Sparidae
 Baissac's seabream (Polysteganus baissaci) — Sparidae
Baissac's seabream
Polysteganus baissaci
Sparidae
 Bermuda porgy (Diplodus bermudensis) — Sparidae
Bermuda porgy
Diplodus bermudensis
Sparidae
Fin

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