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St Helena comber (Serranus sanctaehelenae) — Serranidae

St Helena comber

Serranus sanctaehelenae
Family: Serranidae

The St Helena comber (Serranus sanctaehelenae) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–110.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The St Helena comber is a small seabass (Serranidae) that occurs around the remote island of St Helena in the southern Atlantic. The species grows to about 20 cm and has an elongate body with brown crossbars and a pale belly. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters among rocks and seizes small fish and crustaceans. Like many seabasses it is a simultaneous hermaphrodite. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the St Helena comber?

The St Helena comber has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the St Helena comber live?

The St Helena comber lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the St Helena comber get?

The St Helena comber grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the St Helena comber dangerous to humans?

No, the St Helena comber is harmless to humans.

Is the St Helena comber edible?

Yes, the St Helena comber is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sint-Helena-zaagbaars sourced
English name
St Helena comber sourced
Scientific name
Serranus sanctaehelenae
Family
Serranidae
Other names
St. Helena bass; St. Helena comber verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
20 sourced
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
110.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Simultaneous hermaphrodite sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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 Serranus

More from the family Serranidae

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