Canada in-Trust FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FOR FISHERY PURPOSES EASTERN CENTRAL ATLANTIC Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) edit W. Flacher and G. Bianchi and W.B. Scott Marine Resources Service Huntsman Marine Laboratory Fishery Resources and Environment Division Brandy Cove, St. Andrews, NB FAQ Fisheries Department, Rome Canada Italy ‘This publication has been prepared and printed as an integral part of the FAO/Canada Government Cooperative Programme (Project GCP/INT/180/CAN) with the direct support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) ‘end the Scientific Information and Publicatione Branch of t Department of Fisheries and Geeans, Canada VOLUME IV CONTENTS: Bony Fishes Families: Scophthalmidae to Zeidae Chimaeras Sharks Technical Terms and Principal Measurements ised General Remarks Key with Picture Guide to Families Occurring in the Area Families: Alopiidee Published by arrangement with the FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS by the DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS, CANADA Ottews, 1981For biblographic gurpowes this document should Fischers Ws; G. Bianchi and W.B. Scott (eds), 1981 "FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic; fishing areas 34, 47 (in part). Canada Funds-in- Trust. Ottawa, Department of Fisheries end Oceans Canada, by arrangement with the Food ‘and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, vols. 1-7:pag.var. Identification sheets, Taxonomy. Geographic distribution. Fisheries. Vernacular names. Bony fishes. Chimaeras. Sharks, Batoid fishes Lobsters. Shrimps. True crabs. Stornatopod Molluscs. Sea turtles. ASWSCOPH 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) SCOPHTHALMIDAE* Turbots, megrims, brills Flatfishes with both eyes on left side; mouth large, with a prominent lower jaw; preopercular margin free. No sony rays in fine; dorsal ir oFigit- wal infront of upper eyes” bases of pelvic fins elongate and of equal size. Colours eyed side very variable depending i.a. on the colour of the sea bottom; blind side usually whitish. Rather large flat fishes scarcely entering Fishing Area 34, from the north, their main fishing grounds lying in higher latitudes off the Atlantic coasts of Europe and Iceland. These excellent foodfishes are taken by bottom trawls off the coasts of Morocco and Mauritania, as well as around the Canary Islands, although separate statistics by species are not available. pelvic fin ‘Considered as part of the Family Bothidae by earlier authorsBrat FAO Sheets SCOPHTHALMIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in port), SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Peettodidae: dorsal fin with spiny rays anteriorly, ite origin well behind upper eye. Citharidae: bases of both pelvic fins short. Bothidaet bases of both pelvic fins short (cubfamily Paralichthinae) or the left is elongate and the right pelvic fin short (subfamily Bothinae). Cynogloseidae: mouth inferior and preoper~ cular margin not free; no pectoral fins} dorsal ‘and anal fins fused with caudal fin. Pleuronectidae end Soleidae: both eyes on the right side. Subfamily Subfamily Paralichthinas ‘Bothinae Bothidae Seophthalmidae pelvic fine seen feom below (arrows point toward head) Se t ee ermaineae FAO Sheets SCOPHTHALMIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) KEY TO GENERA OCCURRING IN THE AREA: la, Branchial septum entire; scales on eyed side cycloid (smooth-2eged) or replaced by bony tubercles Peotta Scophthalmus 2a, Eyed side with numerous, pointed bony tubercles 2b, Eyed elde without bony tubercles. 1b. Branchial septum with a large opening between lower pharyngeals and urohyals seales on eyed side ctenoid (comb-like) 3a, Scales ctenoid on bath sides of body; vomer (on roof of mouth) without teeth... Phrynorhombus 3b. Scales ctenoid on eyed side and cycloid on blind side of body; voner with Peet vaste Lepidorhombus UST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Cade numbers are given for those species for which Identification Sheets are included Lepidorhombus boscil (Riss0, 1810) Eeplcarhombus Wht fflagonie (Walbaura, 1792) SCOPH Lepid 2 Phrynorhombus regius (Bonnaterre, 1768) Peetta maxims (Linnaeus, 1758) SCOPH Peetta 1 Scophthalmus shombus (Linnaeus, 1758) SCOPH Scoph 1 Prepared by J. Nielsen, Zoologisk Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark.SCOPH Lepid 2 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SCOPHTHALMIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) Lepidorhombus whi is (Walbaum, 1792) (Ec. Atiantic) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None 10 em VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Megrim (= Fluke, Area 37) Fr - Cardine blanche Sp ~ Gallo NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body elongate. Mouth large; diameter of eye less than length of snout. Dorsal fin origin closer to tip of ‘snout than to anterior edge of eye. Dorsal and anal fins terminate just a Tittle on the blind side of the caudal peduncle; bases of both pelvic fins elongate and of equal length; lateral line forms a distinct curve above pectoral, fin. Ctenoid (comb-like) rough scales on eyed and cycloid (smooth) scales on blind side. Colour: yellowish or greyish brown. Dorsal and anal fins with indefinite darker spots posteriorly.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Lepideshombus boscii: diameter of eye greater than Fergth of snout; two distinct. spats posteriorly both on dorsal and anal fins. Other ecies af Scophthalmidse; scales on both sides either cycloid or ctenold, ar the scale are deve- loped as bony tubercles. SWE: Maximum: about 50 ems common to 30 cm. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, from the Straits of Gibraltar to Cape Bojador (26°N); northward extending into the Western Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coast of Europe te 64°N. (On soft bottam dawn to about 400 m depth. Fish forme the main part of the food, but also ‘squids and crustaceans are eaten. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Soft bottoms off Morocco, Sahar and eround the Canary Islands. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. ‘Caught with bottom trawls. Marketed fresh or frozen.SCOPH Peotta 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SCOPHTHALMIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) {E-C. Atlantic) (Linnaeus, 1758) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: — Scophthalmus meximus (Linnaeus, 1758) SEaptthetus mooutebs (Pallas, 1812) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Turbot Fr = Turbot Sp - Rodsbalto NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body almost circular. Mouth large. Dorsal fin origin well in front of eye; bases of both pelvic fing elongate and of equal length. Lateral line forme @ curve above pectoral fin. Bony tubercles (transformed scales) developed on the ocular side, always much smaller than eye, Colour: very variable, but generally greyish or sandy brown.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other species of Scophthalmidae: scales either cyclold (smooth) and/or ctenold (comb-like, rough), never developed as bony tubercles. SHE: Maximum: up to 100 em} common to 50 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, only off Morocco; northward ‘extending into the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts of Europe to the Polar Circle (subspecies maxima maxima). A different subspecies (P. maxima a) occurs in the Black Sea. ‘macotict On sandy and stony bottom down to sbout 70 m depth. Rather commen in brackish waters. Feeds on bottornfish, crustaceans and bivelves. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Taken incidentally off Morocco. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with bottom trawls. Marketed fresh and frozen.SCOPH Seoph 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SCOPHTHALMIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) Eic.'Athnti) ‘Scophthalmus rhombus (Linnaeus, 1758) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Rhombus leevis Turton, 1602 FAO: En - Brill Fr = Barbue Sp - Rémol NATIONAL : DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval. Mouth large. Doreel fn origin well In front of eye} bases of both pelvic fins elongate and of equal Tongtfe- Uateral line forms a curve above pectoral fin. Sipall eycloid (smooth) scales on both sides of body; any tubercles not developed Colour: brownish, or greyish, often with numerous small, dark spots.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Peetta maxima scales transformed into bony tubercles. Body almost circular. Other species of Scophthalmidae: scales on eyed of body ctenoid (comb-like, rough). Up to 75 em; common to 50 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, only Straits of Gibraltar and northern~ most part of Morocco; northward extending along the west coast of Europe to 64°N; also found in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Occurs an sandy bottom on the shallower part of the continental shelf; scarce in brackish water. Feeds mainly on bottom fish and crustaceans. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Incidentally off northern Morocco. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistic are not reported for this species. Caught with bottom trawls. Marketed fresh and frazen.SCORP| 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (EC. Atlantic) SCORPAENIDAE * Scorpionfishes, rockfishes, rosafishes Most are basslike, with a robust bady, othere compressed. Generally small In size, most under 25 om in total length. Head large and spiny, usually with large eyess mouth large, terminal; | emall villiform teeth on premaxitlae, mandibles, and root af mouth (vorer and sometimes palatine bones); no canines; teeth not in rows. Gill rakere short, usually slightly knobby. A ridge of bone (auborbital stay), usually bea ines, under eye extending back to preoperclay. ” prooperculat-tarain-with 5 or tore ping; other spines Seattere@-on head. Fleshy skin flaps or cirri present on head and Gady In some epecies. Dorval fin continuous, with 12 or 13 spines and 9 to 12 soft rays (last soft ray double, appearing as 2 close-set rays but counted as one); anel fin normally with 3 spines and 5 or 6 soft rays (last double}; pectoral fin usually large, fenlike, with 15 to 24 rays, upper rays usually Seanched, iower faye urbranchedy often fleshy" pelvic fas tReracis Th-position, with 1 spine and 5 zott ray caudel fin uavally rounded ar equare-cut, not forked. Scales on sides ctenoid (rough to touch) or cycloid (smooth). Colour: inshore scorpionfishes are mostly brown or variously mottled and barred with dark pigment on a lighter background, sometimes with areas of red or brown or green, and often a reddish belly. Some have a black blotch on the spinaus dorsal fin. Those caught below about 50 m are mostly red and white, often with spots of darker red, brown, or black. Bottom-living fishes (except Ectrepasebastes), found from near chore down to the continental slope (but ‘Trachyscorpia to 2360 m). Some Iive in rocky areas, others on soft bottom. They feed on a variety of Invertebrates and fishes. Of little commercial importance In the Eastern Central Atlantic, since most species are too small, not ‘abundant, or eccur on rocky bottoms (only about 500 t caught in the area in 1978). Larger species are often encountered in local fresh-fish markets and valued as food. A few shallow-water species are caught by sport fishermen on hook and line, some taken by handline and others caught incidentally in trawl fisheries. Species Of Helicolenus, Pontinue and Seorpasna are commonly taken in trawls in the Eastern Atlantic. 12 o¢ 13 dorsal spines dorsal fin continuous, notched ee caudal fin row of spines usually rounded under eye ty most species preopercle spiny 3 anal spines “# Applies to Eastern Atlantic representatives onlyBae FAO Sheets SCORPAENIDAE SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Triglidae (searobins): also have a spiny head, but it Is very bony (almost encased); 2 dorsal fins and 3 lowermost pectoral fin rays free from each other and detached from the remaining fin rays. KEY TO GENERA OCCURRING IN THE AREA: 1 a. Dorsal fin spines 13 ss seme Scorpasnodes 1 b. Dorsal fin spines 12 2a, Dorsal fin soft rays 11 or more (last ray double) 3a. Pectoral fin rays 19 or more; second preopercular spine longest (Fig. 1), 1 fr no spines below eye 3b. Pectoral fin rays usually 18 or fewer (rarely 19); first preopercular spine Tongest (not counting small spine at base) (Fig. 2), row of spines below YE snneene Neomerinthe 2b. Dorsal fin soft rays 10 or fewer (last ray double) 4a, Lateral line @ continuous chen- rel roofed by thin scales; scales tiny, cyclo 5 a, Pectoral fin rays 18 to 20; anal fin with 6 soft rays ast double) Ectreposebastes 5b. Pectoral fin rays 21 to 24; anal fin with 5 soft rays (ast double) Setarches 4b. Lateral line of tubed scales; scales on body ctenoid, or if cycloid then large (easily visible) Fishing Areas 34, 87 (in part) Triglidaeapd FAO Sheets SCORPAENIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) 6a. Pectoral fin with characteristic shape (Fig. 5), longest rays near upper part of fins pec- toral fin rays 20 or MOTE emrseaeeeese ‘Trachyscorpia 6b. Pectoral fin wedge-shaped to rounded, longest rays at about middle of fin; pectoral fin rays usually fewer then 20 Ta. All pectoral fin rays unbranched; gill rakers end rudiments on outside of first arch usually 17 to 22 Pontinus 7b. Some rays in upper half of pectoral branched; gill rakers end rudiments usually 18 or fewer Ba, Usually 5 or more spines an ridge below eye (not counting precper- cular spines} mostly _plain- coloured, no dark brown sr . Idiastion 8b. Usually 4 oF fewer spines on ridge below eye; not plain-coloured, dark brown pigment present Scorpaena LIST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Eetreposebastes ims Garman, 1699 Helicolerus dactyloptorus (Delaroche, 1609) Idlastion op. Eschmeyer, 1969 Neomerinthe folgari (Postel & Roux, 1964) Pontinus aecragnaie Norman, 1935 Pontinus lair owdich, 1625) Pontinus Ieda Eschmeyer, 1969 Paritinas migropunetatue (Ginther, 1868) Scorpaena angolensis Norman, 1935 ‘SEorpestas aneoborae Cechmeyer, 1969 Scorpasna stzetalonie Eschmeyer, 1971 ‘Searbacha canarionsis (Sauvage, 1878) Scorpcneslongate Casert, 345 Septbaaha Insts Thoschel, 1866 Scorers loppel Codenat, 1963 ‘Searpesha madetensie Valenciennes, 1053 Sserpaene melts ‘Glnther, 1958 ‘Searpecha formant Cadenat, Seorpaona notata Refinesas, 1610 corpeena pul! Bloch 1789 eas innaeus, 1758 Segreasna Soret Limaous, 1758 jcorpaera stephanica Cadenst, 1943,500 FAO Sheets SCORPAENIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (In part) Scorpaenades africanus Pfaff, 1935 ‘Searbeshodes sfangatus Cadenat, 1949 ‘Scorpasnodes Inaularis Eechmeyer, 1971 Setarches guentheri Johnson, 1862 ‘Trachysconpie eristulata echinata (Koehler, 1896) Prepared by W.N. Eschmeyer, Department of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, U.S.A,SERRAN 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in part) (Ec. Attantic) SERRANIDAE (Anthiidae included by many authors but omitted here) Groupers, seabasses, hinds, hamlets, creolefishes and combers Heavy-bodied to moderately elongate snd slender perch-like fishes with a deep caudal peduncle. Mouth slightly protractile, large, with its cleft horizontal or moderately oblique; maxilla broad, its posterior end not oct ittorm bars in oth jaws wit ah arterlor ow OF canines That rs slipping beneath the suborbital area; Tiidor ind painted Tr plecivorom @ecios; vorier_and palatine bones (on roof of mouth) usually with patches of villitermn teeth; —opercle with three flat spines (except Centrarchops with Ewo), the lowermost sometimes shore and not Sensis} upper margin oF Gretel free} preopercie without Iateral ridge, its vertical limb generally serrated, the lower (horizontal) limb serrated or undulate, sometimes with strong antrorse (forward-directed) pines; often there is a pronounced lobe at the angle of the preopercles gill membranes separate and not Conneated to the isthmus; peeudobranch (on inner side of gill cover) well developed; gillrakers long or short, Sften bearing strong teeth. Dorsal fin singles doreal fin spines 7 to 12, anal spines 3; pectoral fins rounded to seer eee mintes) pelvic fea sear ths poctordler sightly ahead ar behind the pectoral fin base in some species, ‘and consisting of 1 spine and 5 soft rays, the innermost often connected to the body by & membrane for one fourth of ite length or more; pelvic axillary process not developed, but a fleshy lobe often present at the upper end of the cretoral in bases caudal Tit Torked, Tanate or rounded, with 15 branched rays. Lateral line present, not peretpted and ending at caudal fin base, not curving close to base of dorsal fin. — Seales rather small to Cee ange: STIncS deeply aribedied, ually cranolds Dut nearly smooth Th some species. Head at least partly sealed, snout end preorbital region usually naked; post-temporal bone sometimes serrate. Vertebrac Usually 10 plus 14, occasionally one or two more. 7 to 12 spines er edge of ‘Bole tre-2- FAO Sheets SERRANIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in pact) Colour: variabie with patterns of light or dark stripes, spots, vertical or diagonal bars, or nearly plain. Many species are capable of rapid colour changes. Xanthic (yellow) phases are known in some species and several species have distinctively coloured deep- and shallow-water forms. Colour patterns are generally the mast useful field characters as the morphometric and meristic characters often overlap to a considerable degree. Seabascos and groupers are mostly demersal fishes of tropical and subtropical areas ranging from shallow coastal waters to moderate depths, rarely occurring beyond 300 m. A few species are, however, abundant and Commercially important in temperate waters. Some serranids show preference for seagrass beds and mud or sandy bottom, but most are fishes of the coral and rocky reefs. Juveniles of a few species are common in the lower reaches of estuaries. Except for breeding aggregations, most species are solitary. All are predators on fishes and invertebrates sometimes including crabs and spiny lobsters. Most are either synchronous or transforming hermaphrodites that begin life as females and later become melee; a few have separate sexes. ‘This family Includes a large number of species ranging in size from a few om to over 3m. Many are excellent foodfishes sought in commercial fisheries; others are of local interest to sports-fishermen and in subsistence fisheries. The catch of groupers and seabasses reported from Fishing Area 34 In 1978 totalled about 20 000 tons. Most species are taken in traps, on hook and line, or on longlines, and those inhabiting soft bottoms are caught in bottom trawls. SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Anthiidae: lateral line running close to base of dorsal fin separated by 2 or 3 scale rows (5 or more in Serranidae); often with curved canine teeth at sides of lower jaw. Centracanthidse: upper jaw extremely protrusible eo the mouth can be extended as short tube; pelvic axillary process present. Duleidse: anal fin with more than 14 soft rays. Grammistidset pelvic fins smalls dorsal spines 2 oF 3; no anal spine. 10 spine Grammistidaeae FAO Sheets SERRANIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) Lobotidae: soft parts of dorsal and anal fins enlarged so thet with the tail they give the appearance of a three-lobed fin No teeth on roof of mouth; no spines on opercle. Lutjanidae: scales large; upper edge of maxilla, slipping under edge of suborbital; pelvic axillary process present. Moronidae: silvery or spotted elongate fishes; 2 7 spines on opercie the lower one largest (3 in Serranidae). ——— Dorsal fins separate. Pomadasyidae: no teeth on roof of mouth; no spines on opercle. Lobotidae Pomatomidae: _slivery fishes with a long second dorsal fin and only 2 spines in anat fin ( in Serranidae). Patches of teeth present on floor of mouth between gil arches. Prigcanthidae: huge eyes, very rough scales, dorsal fin spines increasing regularly in length post eriorly (midéle or anterior spines longest in Serrantdae). Lutjanidae Sciaenidae: only 1 ar 2 anal fin spines; lateral line continuing to end of tails a long soft dorsal fin. Sparidae: maxilla slipping under edge of sub- orbital area when mouth is closed; teeth at sides of jaws molariform in many species and anterior teeth Incisifarm in some; roof of mouth toothless. ‘Moronidae Priacanthidae Scienidae-4. FAO Sheets SERRANIDAE, KEY TO GENERA OCCURRING IN THE AREA: 1a. Body orbicular, compressed; body depth LB to 2.1 times in standard length; oper- cle with 2 flat spines posteriorly; soft anal raye 13 or 14 (Fig. 1) 1b, Body more elongate, not compressed; body depth 2.7 to 3.8 times in standard lengths ‘opercle with 3 spines posteriorly; soft enal rays 7 to 11 2a. Ooreal fin spines 10; no scaly flap of skin at upper end of pectoral fin bases soft dorsal and enal fins mostly naked (Figg 2) sesernree 2b. Dorsal fin spines usually 9 or 12 Garely 10 or 12); sealy flap of skin present at upper end of pectoral fin basos soft dorsal and anal fins mostly covered with seales 3 a. Caudal fin deeply forked (Fig. 3) 3b. Caudal fin truncate or rounded & 4. Dorsal fin spines 9 (Fig. 4)... Cephalopholie Xx 4b. Dorsal fin spines 11 or 12 Garely 10) 5 a. Strong, horizontal, beny Fidge across opereley scales very rough; soft dorsal rays 11 to 15 (Fig. 3) 5b. No bony ridge on oper- cles scales smooth or moderately rough; soft dorsal rays 14 to 17 Polyprion Fig. 5 Centrarchops + Paranthi — Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) Gentrachops Fig. 1 ‘Serranus Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Cephatopholis Fig. 4FAO Sheets SERRANIDAE, Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) Ga. Anal fin rays 10 or 11 (Fig. 6) n Mycteroperca Epinephelue 6b. Anal fin rays 7 or 8 (Fi Myeteroperce LIST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Code numbers are given for those species far which Identification Sheets are included Contrarchops chapini Fowler, 1925 Cephalopholis nigri (Gtinther, 1859) SERRAN Cophal & Cephalopholls taenlops (Valenciennes, 1828) SERRAN Cephal 7 wphelus adscensionis (Osbeck, 1771) Ebinapheus sereut (Guat roy Stair, 1909) SERRAN Epin 3 Epinephelus alexandrinus (Valenciennes, 1828) SERRAN Epin 2 inephelus Caninua (Valenciennes, 1845) SERRAN Epin 25, inephelus (Promicrops) esonue (Ehrenbaum, 1914) SERRAN Epin 24 Epinephelur goreonsts{Valenciennee, 1830) SERRAN Epin 25 Ebinephelue goaza (eimooue, 1758) SERRAN Epin 1 Myeteroperca rubra (Bloch, 1793) SERRAN Myct 6 Paranthias furcifer (Valenciennes, 1828) SERRAN Parent 1 Polyprion americanus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) SERRAN Polyp 1 Serranus accraensis (Norman, 1951) SERRAN Serran 3 Serranus africana (Cadenat, 1960) Serranus atricauda (Giinther, 1874) SERRAN Serran 4 ‘gabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758) SERRAN Serran 1 Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1766) SERRAN Serran 5 SrranUs santashelenae (Boulenger, 1895) “(e Paracentropristis heterurus (Cadenat, 1937)) Serranus seriba (Linnaeus, 17S) SERRAN Serran 6 Prepared by CL. Smith, Department of Ichthyology, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, U.S.A. Draft material reviewed by P. Heemstra, JcL.8. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South AfricaSERRAN Cephal 6 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 3, 47 (in pat) (Ee Aton) Cephalophol (Giinther, 1859) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Petrometopon nigri (Gtinther, 1859) fom VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO! En ~ Niger seabass Fr - Mérou du Niger ‘Sp = Cherna del Niger NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Size rather small. Body robust, maderately compressed; caudal peduncle deep. Bases of soft dorsal, and ‘anal fins covered with scales. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 14 or 15 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft Foye; caudal fn rounded: Lower Hiab of Trst iIraroh with 8 or 9 gileakers. Colour: dark brown, with vertical dark bande on posterior part of the body, becoming indistinct anteriorly; belly reddish ‘of head with 3d pattern of hexagonal reddish arated by dark lines; caudal neither eae we ete Dattern of hexagonal edie pots eparatedby dent toesDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Cophalogholls taenioge: colour pattern spotteds cauel HH SqUEFiany anal TOE rays 9 or 20.8 In Cm Serranus species: 10 dorsal fin spines (9 in Cephalopholis); no scaly flap of skin at upper end of pectoral fin Bases anal fin equare or emarginate. Epinephelus, Mycteroperca and Polyprion spect sie cach argent “LT or 17 doteal fin soeay. leo, @ prominent ridge on opercle in Polyprion americanus ‘Maximum: 30cm; common to 20 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : From Ghana to Zaire. Inhabits sandy and rocky bottoms in coastal waters (usuelly loss than 100 m depth). Carnivorous. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Taken throughout its range, but too small and ‘apparently not abundant enough to be of significant commercial interast. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. ‘Caught on hook and line and in bottom trawhs.SERRAN Cephal 7 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Attantic) (Cephalopholis teeniops (Valenciennes, 1828) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None oO Bem VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Bluespotted seabass Fr - Mérou 8 points bleus Sp = Cherna colorade NATIONAL DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size rather smell. Body robust, moderately compressed, caudal peduncle deep. Bases of soft dorsal and anal ins covered with scales. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 15 or 16 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 or 10 soft aye; caudal finsquarish, leven TOTS gilrakers on lower limb of first arch. Colour: reddish orange, everywhere covered with distinct small blue spots with dark edges; ground colour cf young individuals brown or olDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other species of Serranidae: none has. the pattem of blue spots characteristic of C. taeniops. ‘The only other West African species of the genus, C. ‘igri, has vertical bands on posterior part of body and a Feticulated pattern of hexagonal reddish spots sepa- ‘rated by dark lines on sides of head. to 70.cm; common to 40 cm. C nigri GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR + From Morocco to Cameroon. Inhabits sandy and rocky bottoms between 20 and 200 m dopth, but is essentially a coastal species. Carniverous. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: Taken throughout Senegal and Mauritania. its range, but especially off CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. (Caught on lines and in bottom trawls. Marketed fresh and smoked; also reduced to ishmeal (offshore fleets).SERRAN Epin 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. atlantic) Epinephelus guaza (Linnaeus, 1758) Epinephelus quaza OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Epinephelus gigas (Bridnnich, 1768) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Dusky grouper Fr - Mérou noir (= Mérou sombre, Area 37) Sp ~ Mero (= Mero netuloso, Area 37) NATIONAL DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size moderate to large. Body robust, its depth contained about 4 times in total length. A single dorsal fin of 11 spines end 14 to 16 soft rays; "anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays} caudal fin rounded. Scales small and ‘greatly overlapping, embedded in thick skin. Colours dark grey reddish brown to purplish with scattered irregular white spots, these sometimes form diffuse vertical bars; “lerge adults uniform dark brown; caudal fi witha distinct white targiny "no ConaplCugUs DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other Epinephelus species: either without conspicuous markings or with distinctive colour patterns; also, body less degp.Mycteroperca rubra: anal fin with 11 rays (8 in Trregular wavy dark lines and Epinephelus spect Sdattered unite blotches on lower sides Polyprion americanus: a prominent ridge on unper"pat OF git sovery body ‘with Irregular dark markings. Cephalopholis species: size much smaller; only 9 opines in dorsal fin (11 in Epinephelus species) and distinct colour markings. Serranus species: size much smaller; 10 spines jn dorsal fing scales larger; most species with vertical bars or other distinctive colour patterns. SE: Maximum: 150 em; common to 90 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : ‘Throughout the area, including the Canary Islends. Northward extending into the Mediterranean and to the Bay of Biscay (rare). Also occurring in the Western Atlantic (Brazil and Bermuda). Inhabits mostly rocky and sandy bottoms at depths between 10 and 200 m or more. ‘A voracious predator, feeding chiefly on fishes, cephalopods end crustaceans. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Shelf waters throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: ‘The catch reported for this species from Fishing ‘Area 34 totalled about 200 t in 1978; but actual landings are doubtless higher. The cambined catch of Epinephelus species reported from the area in 1978 ‘exceeded Té 000 t ‘Taken on lines in bottom trawls and trammel nets. ‘Marketed fresh and smoked.SERRAN Epin 2 1981 FAQ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (EC. Atlantic) Epinephelus alexandrinus (Valenciennes, 1828) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Serranus alexandrinus Valenciennes, 1628 VERNACULAR NAMES: FAQ: En - Golden grouper Fr — Mérou badBche (= Abadéche, Area 37) Sp - Faleo sbadejo NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size moderate to large. Body rather elongate, moderately compressed. A single dorsal fin of 11 spines and 16 to 18 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines end 8 soft rays; caudal fin truncate éo-erharginatss Sceles Sell; over 50 in Jateral line, greatly overlapping and embedded In thick skin. Colour: yellowish brown to sepia brown, with a series of longitudinal darker lines on body and 2 oblique, dare Jing Becoming Hnaitinee ta adulis Lange specimen often Rave &DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other Epinephelus species: none has longitudinal strioes on Doaye Er Sanus ie uniform iy colour tke old individuals of E: alexandrinus), but it has 2 usually more rounded caudal fin, larger anterior canines and larger and rougher scales. The other species have distinctive colour markings either on head or body. Mycteroperca rubra: anal fin with 11 rays (8 in Epinephelis srociethy irregular wavy dark lines and Scattered white blotches on lower sides. Polyprion americanus: 2 prominent ridge on upper part of gill caver} body with irregular dark markings: Cephalophoils species: size much smaller; anly 9 spines Tt Gorial- fin (11 in Epinephelus spacion” and distinct colour markings. Serranug species: size much emallery 10 apinee In dorgal fing different colour patterns. Maximum: 140 ems comman to 70 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, from the Straits of Gibraltar south. ward to Nigeria.’ Northward extending Into the Medi- terranean. Bottom-living on sand and rock at depths from 10 to 300 m, but most abundant in the shallower part of its rrange, to about 200 m. A voracious predator feeding on fish end cephalo- pods. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Shelf waters throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Taken on lines, in bottom trawls and trammel nets. Marketed mostly fresh and smoked. Polyprion BmeriesnusSERRAN Epin 3 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) Epinephelus aeneus (Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1809) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Serranus geneus (Geoffroy St Hilaire, 1809) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO En - White grouper Fr = Mérou Blane Sp = Cherna de ley NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size large. Body rather elongate, its depth over 4 times in total length. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 14 to 16 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; caudal fin rounded. Scales small, over 90 in lateral line, ‘greatly overlapping, and embedded in thick skin. Lower limb of gill arch with 12 to 15 gillralers. Colour: generally dark reddish brown or greyish green sometimes with more or less distinct lighter crossbars. Two or three prominent oblique white stripes on the side of the head.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other species of Serranidee: lack the pale oblique lines on sides of head, characteristic of Es SIZE: Maximum: at least 115 ems common to 60 om. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR In the area, from the Straits of Gibraltar south- ward to Angola,” also Ascension Island. Northward extending into the Mediterranean and along the Atlan- tie coasts of Europe to the British Isles. Inhabits mainly sandy and muddy bottoms from the coastline to about 200 m depth, but more commen In the upper part of this range (to 100 m). ‘A voracious predator, feeding chiefly on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Upper part of the continental shelf throughout its ange. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Te catch reported for this species trom Fishing Area 34 totalled 860 tin 1978. Actual landings are daubtiess much larger, but not reported separately: the combined atch of Epinephelua species reported from the area in 1978 exceeded TS-UDD t- Taken on handlines, in bottom trawls and trammel net Marketed chiefly fresh and smoked.SERRAN Epin 25 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 5,47 Gn part) ie Atta) nee, 1843) Epinephetus caninus (Valen OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR. NAMES: FAO: En - Dogtosth grouper Fr = Mérou gris, Sp ~ Mero dentdn NATIONAL : DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size moderate to large. Body moderately compressed, elongate. Caning-like teeth more developed than in other Epinephelus species. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 13 ar 14 soft rayat anal fin with 3 spines and W soft rays; caudal tin ttuneate, Scales moderate In size, Vary POUR Colour: uniform somber reddish brown to greyish violet, without prominent markings; belly slightly paler head with 2 oblique dark lines running downward and beckward from the eye across the cheek and gill covers, which Tend to disappear in ofd individuDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other Epinephelus species: all have distinctive colour markings, except old individuals of E. alexandrinus fin which the characteristic longitudinal body stripes may tend to disappear, but this species has s slightly emargl- nate caudal fin, smaller anterior teeth smaller, smoother seales, and 16 to 18 soft dorsal rays (13 of 14 in ganinus). teroperca rubra: anal fin with 11 rays (8 In Epioaboi species irrequar wavy dark lines ond aeattered vite blotches on lower sides. Polyprion ameriesnuet a prominent ridge on upper part of gill covers body with irregular dark markings. Cephalopholis species: size much smaller; only 9 spines itcareal Tir (1th Epinepheiun specieo) and ditinct ‘colour markings. Serranue species: size much emalllers 10 spines in dorsal fing seeles larger; different colour patterns. 140 cen common to 100 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR In the area, from the Straits of Gibraltar to Senegal. Northward extending into the Mediterranean. Bottom-living at depths from about 30 to 300m. Polyprien americanus Carnivorous. es PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Deeper shelf waters throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. The combined eatch of Epinephelus species reported from the area in 1978 excoedar Taken on lines and in bottom trawls. Marketed fresh and smoked.SERRAN Epin 24 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (€c. atlantic) Eplnephsius (Promiorops) esonve (Ehrenbaum, 1914)” OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Promicrops esonue Ehrenbeum, 1914 omlerops ditobo Roux é Collignon, 1954 VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Esonue grouper Fr ~ Mérou ésonue ‘5p - Mero esonué NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size very large. Body moderately elongate, thick (not compressed). Dorsal fin consisting of 11 spines and 14 to 17 soft rays;__ all the spines shorter than the longest soft ray; anal fin with 3 spinaa-ane B sole Faye oavdal Tin rounded Soles rettor small, embedded. Colour: live individuals are greenish to yellow olive with distinct dare, round spots_on_head and_anterlor_part_of body 10 “Srominane i young, Becoming uae i last aniatsy Body with Tn young, Becoming Tn older aniimalsy Body with sal fi + Possibly conspecific with Epinephelus (Promicrops) itajara from the Western Central AtlanticDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES Other species of Serranidse: spiny portion of dorsal fin higher, the longest spine not, distinctly shorter than anterior dorsal fin rays (except in Paranthias which Is easily distinguished by more Streamlined shape and deeply forked caudal fi SIZE: Maximum: 200 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR From Senegal to Congo. Bottor-living to depths of at least 160m. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘Taken incidentally throughout its ranges appa rently not common. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statiaties are not reported for thie species. ‘Taken on lines and in bottom trawls. Marketed fresh. Paranthias furciferSERRAN Epin 25 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34,47) (€-Centeal Atlantic) Epinephelue goreonsis (Valenciennes, 1830) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: sometimes misidentified as £. fasciatus (Forsskél, 1775) y a distinetive species from the RedSea and the Indo-West Pacific region VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Dungat grouper (= Redbanded grouper) Fr - Mérou dungat Sp = Mero de Gores NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Size moderate. Body moderately compressed, rather deep. A single dorsal fin consisting of 11 spines and 35 or 16 soft raves anal fine with 3 spines and Ssoferayes caudal fn truncate Seales small, greatly overlap Geeply embecded in thick sine” Giirsers longer That gil filaments 16 to 18 on lower li of fist arch Colour: pink to bright red or brownish, often with diffuse spots sometimes forming vertical bars; maxilla groove black. * a olDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Epinephelus esonue: vertical bars also present tut ro Gare pots Or Read and anterior part of body, ‘and spiny part of dorsal fin much lower than soft part, the longest spine distinctly shorter then anterior dorsal fin rays. Cephalopholis nigris only 9 spines in dorsal fin (1 ueEe gursemiIDy “sides of head with reticular pattern of Rexagonal reddish spote separated by dark lines. Centrarchops chapini: body very deep and com- pressed IS or mate Sra Tinrays (8 In & gorventls), Serranus speciest many with vertical bars, but size fmuch smaller; 10 spines in dorsal fin; scales, larger, skin at base of vertical fine, thin, and distinctive colour patterns. Other species of Serranidae: no vertical bars; either uniformly coloured, or with distinctive colour patterns. SIZE: Maximum: at least 60. em; common to 50 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Jn the eres, from Angola southward. Also ‘occurring in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Bottor-living, from the coastline to at least 100, 'm dopth. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Taken i tally throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are nat reported for this species. Caught on hook and line and occasionally in bottom trawle. Marketed mostly frosh.SERRAN Myct 6 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS “34, 87 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) ‘Mycteroperca rubra (Bloch, 1793) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Perepinephelus a Bem FAO: En = Comb grouper Fr - Mérou royal (= Baddche peigne, Area 31) Sp = Gitano (= Cuna negra, Area 31} NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size moderate, Body rather compressed; dorsal fin with 11 spines and 16 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 11 soft rays; caudel fn truncate.” Gillekere long and slender 27 fe 32 on Tower Tea of first archy Seal ctenal to touch). Colour: dark reddish brown sbove, lighter below, with irregular wavy dark lines end scattered white blotches on lower sides.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: nephelus species: anal fin rays 8 (11 in Me rubra Fewer than 20 gjliekers on lover limb of TR ‘arch (29 to 32 in M, rubra). Polyprion emericenue: a prominent ridge on upper part OF gill covers only 11 or 12 soft dorsal Finrays (15 to 17 in Me rubra) and only B or 9 anal rayse Cophalopholis species: size smaller; only 9 soines I aataal fin Cth Epinephetus species) and distinctive colour markings. Serranus species: size much smaller; 10 spines in doreal fin (11 In M, rubra); scales lergers distinc tive colour peters. Paranthies furcifer: caudal fin deeply forkeds dorsal spines 9. SHE: Maximum: at least 49 cm, but probably 60 em ‘end 1.34 legs common to about 40 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUI In the ares, from the Straits of Gibraltar to Zaire. Northward extending into the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts of Europe to the Bay of Biscay. Also in tho Western Atlantic aff Brazil, Panama, Cuba, Bermuda and in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Inhabits sandy and rocky bottoms from 15 to 200 m depth, but more common in the shallower part of its range (to'50 m). Carnivorous. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Taken in upper shelf waters throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for thie species. (Caught in bottom trawis and on hook and line. Marketed mostly fresh and frozen.SERRAN Parent 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 38, 87 Gn part) ‘Valenciennes, 1828) (Ec. Atlantic) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Creole fish Fr - Badache créole Sp ~ Cuna lucero NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: ‘Size rather small. Body moderately compressed with dorsal and ventral profiles nearly equally curved. Head short, loos than 359% of standard length. Dorsal fin with 9 aplags and T6 C6 19 soft rays anal fin with 3 spines end Ford soft rayes caudal fin deoply forked. cillrakere-on lower Unb of Mrae och 22 to 25.” aceles ctencid (ough), small. bright reddish overall, only slightly lighter ventrally; often with & contrasting spats along base ofDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: ‘The short head, evenly curved dorsal and ventral outlines, deeply forked caudal fin and bright red colour are unique. Other serranids have the dorsal profile more strongly curved than the ventral and do not have the caudal fin deeply forked. size: Maximum: 35cm; common ta 20 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR In the Eastern Atlantic enly known from the Bay of Biafra and Ascension Island. Also oceurs In the Western Atlantic (from the North coast of South America through the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, te South Carolina) and in the Eastern Pacific. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Probably taken anly incidentally st present.SERRAN Polyp 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY + SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 Gin part) Polyprion americanus (Bloch & Schneider, 101) (Ec. Attantic) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Polyprion americanum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) 0 aeem VERNACULAR NAMES: FAG: En - Wreckfish Fr = Cemier commun Sp = Cherna NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Size large. Bady rather deep and robust, with very rough scales, heavy fin spines and a large head with ¢ wrominent rough bony longitudinal ridge on the upper part of the gill caver. A single dorsal fin with 11 or IZ spines ail; abou 82 ES ‘end I or IZ soft rayg; anal fin with 3 spines and 5 or soft rays} caudal fin rounded. Scales smi Gr ataval Tne} ates of oft dorsal and anol covered with ERICK skin and jedded ecales. Colour: dark reddish brown, often with darker irregular marblings.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other species of Serranidae: none has the distinct ridge on gill cover characteristic of P. americanus. Furthermore, the other large serranids Tn the area (Epinepholue and Mycteroperea species) all have 13 or more dorsal fin rays (I or 12 in P. americanus) ard the smaller Cephaiopholis species ha sniy Fant fin spins 2 oe 12 Pe aneticnrusy se: Maximum: 200 ems common to 80 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR Jn the area, from the Straits of Gibraltar to southern Angola, including Madeira, the Canaries and Cape Verde Islands. Northward extending into the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts of Eurape up to Norway. Also In the Western Atlantic. Inhabits rocky and sandy bottome between 40 and 450 m depth, but Is also often found near the surface. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Shelf and upper slope waters throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: ‘The catch reported for this species from the area totalled 120 t in 1978 (Spain only). ‘Taken on handlines and in bottom trawls.- Marketed fresh, also reduced to fishmeal and oil (offshore fleets). aSERRAN Serran 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 38, 47 Ga part) le" Attntio) Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Paracentropristis cabrilla Linnaeus, 1758 VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Comber (= Cabrilla seabass, Area 37) Fr - Serren chévre (= Serran cabtille, Area 37) Sp ~ Cabrille NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Size ill. _ Body elongate, slightly compressed. Dorsal fin with 10 gpines and 13 to 15 soft raysy_ anal fin with 3 spines and 7 or8 soft rayey caudal fin aquare to eighty emarainate;~ gilifakere on lower limb of fire arch 15 to 16; 72 to 78 scales in lateral line. colour pattern Is reported as varying more or Tess wil less colourful.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other Serranus species: body without longitu- inal stripes. Furthermore, a pattern of prominent dark vermiculations on head in Serranue scriba and a conspicuous dark spat on middle ‘OF soft dorsal fin rays in5. hepatus. Cephalopholis species: body more robust, scales deeply SHBSIET A tisk tiny any > sphce I daeal fin Q0 in S cabvlla) and distinctive colour patterns. Epinephelue, Mycteroperoa and Polyprion species: size mich larger, body heavier bull, Tt oF [2 spines In ‘dorsal fin, scales deeply embedded in thick skin. SE: Maximum: at least 40 er; common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR + Jn the area, from the Straits of Gibraltar to Angola, including the Canary Islands. Northward ‘extending inta the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts of Europe up to the British Isles. Algo in the Red Sea. Inhabits rocky 8 well as soft bottoms from the coastline to about 450 m depth. us predator, feeding on fish, cephalopods PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Mainly shelf waters throughout Its range rather ‘abundant in some localities. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught on hand lines and in bottom trawls and trammel nets. Marketed fresh, dried salted, smoked. Also reduced to fishmeal (offshore fleets).SERRAN Serran 3 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 587 in part) Catton) Serranus, (Norman, 1932) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Ghaneag comber Fe - Serran danéen h Sp ~ Serrano ganés NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Size small. Sody fusiform, rather robust. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 12 or 13 soft rays}_ anal fin with 3 spines and 7 or 8 soft rays; caudal fin emarginate, Lower gillrakers 15 or 16, Scales rather large, 45 to 48 in lateral lines skin thin, scales not deeply embedded. Colour: rather pale brown with 5 or 6 indistinct broad dusky vertical bars that end in dark blotches below the lateral lines a trace of 2 or 3 narrow dark bars running from the eye backward across the opercle. Dorsal fin with a pale ber at its base and a dusky margins anol pale yellowish, caudal fin little darker. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Serranus africana: dark vertical bars on body reatrlated to lower aides (from lateral lis 10 or 11 soft dorsal fin rays (12 of 13 in‘S. hepatus: @ prominent dark spot at front of caft dorsal fine Other Serranus species: scales smaller, more then 50 in Tateral line (about 45 in S. accraensis). Furthermore, a prominent pattern of dark vermicuTs tione on sides of head In 5. soriba. Cephalophalis species: bady mare robust, scales deeply embedded in thick skin, only 9 spines in dorsal ‘fin (20 in S. accraensis) and distinctive colour patterns. size sma rgpe bob Renee but; TTS re dorsal fin, scales deeply embedded in skin. SHE: Maximum: at least 16 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR Off Ghana. Inhabits shelf waters between 25 end 150 m depth. Camivarous. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : nal fisheries throughout regularly off Ghana. ranges reported CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: _ Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught in bottom trawis and on hook and line Marketed frech and smoked.SERRAN Serran 4 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (EC. Atlantic) Serranug atricaude Guinther, 1874 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Paracentropristis atricauda (Gunther, 1874) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Blacktall comber Fr - Sorran 8 queue noire Sp ~ Serrano imperial NATIONAL : DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size rather small. Body elongate. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 15 or 16 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; caudal fin straight to slightly emarginate. Lower gillrakers 10 or I5. Scales small, 80 to 90 in lateral line; skin thin, scales not deeply embedded. Colour: brownish, with 2 series of 4 or 5 larger squarish dark blotches alternating with narrow vertical dar Zor 3 dark oblique stripes on chaskay vertical fine dank WIth Bright Spots} pelvTe Tine dane Gata halt oF ‘nal fin and corners of caudal fin black.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Serranus hepatus: a prominent dark spot at front Of sot ote fing Tor 12 soft dorsal rays (15 or 28 in Other species of Serranus: scales larger, fewer than 80 in Isterel line (60 to 90 In Other species of Serranidae: none has the pattern of squarish blotches characteristic of S. atricauda. Furthermore, Epinephelus, Myeteropen Eid Polfcion pelos ere Buceater Sad Resta badisd, with scales deoply embedded in thiek skin and they also have more spines in dorsal fin (11 or 12 instead of 10). Cephalopholis species which are more timiter in size to-Sratromds have only 9 apnea Th dorsal fin and distinctive colour patterns. SIZE: ‘Maximum: 35.em common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, from the Strate of Gibraltar to Mauritanie, and around Madeira and the Canary Islands. Also in the Mediterranean, off Portugal and round the Azores. Bottom-living, from the coastline to about 90 m depth. Coriverous. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Upper shelf waters. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate stat species. jes are not reported for this Caught cn handlines and in trammel nets and bottom travis. Marketed mostly fresh.SERRAN Serran 5 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (EC. Atlantic) Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1766) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None FAQ: En ~ Brown comber Fr ~ Serran tambour Sp - Merillo NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS + Size small. Body fusiform, more robust then the other Serranus species. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 1. or 12 eoft raysj anal fin with 3 spines and 6 or 7 soft rajey caixal fin rounded or Trncate-—-Lower gllisers 15-66 T5-"Geales moderate in size, &4 to 50 in lateral lines skin thin, ecales not deeply embeded. Colours brownish yellow with 5 more or less di fin, is broadest and bifureating above; vertical bars of which the fourth, below the soft dorsal round black blotch on anterior soft scimeng; Individuals from shallowDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other species of Serranidse: none has the prominent dark spot at front of soft dorsal fin chat teristic of S. hepatus, Furthermore, helt Myctoropercd ait! Polrion specie are. muh ange ‘and heaty-botied, witi-scalse deeply embedded in thick -skin, and they algo have more spines in doreel fin (11 12 Instead of 9). — Cephalophalis species, which a more similar in size tS. hepatus, have only 9 spines in dorsal fin and very at terent Seloge patterns. SE: Maximum: 25.em; common to 12. em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, from the Straits of Gibraltar south- ward to Senegal, including the Canary Islands. North- ward extending into the Western Mediterranean, and to Portugal. Occurs from 5 to 100 m depth over seagrass, sand, mud and rocks. Carnivorous. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: Taken by artisanal fisheries throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Ceught on handlines, and in bottom trawle and trammel nets. Marketed fresh, and smoked; also reduced to fishmeal (offshore fleets).SERRAN Serran 6 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SERRANIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (EC. Attantie) (Linnaeus, 1758) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Painted comber Fr ~ Serran écriture Sp = Serrano escribano (= Serrano) NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Size rather emall. Body elongate, only slightly compressed. Head rather pointed. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 14 or 15 soft raye; anal fn with 3 spines end 7 or 8 sort rays} caudal fin straight or alighty rounded. Lower gillkers 1215 T8Seeles rather small, & to 75 in lateral lina; skin thin, scales not deeply embedded, Colour: brownish red above, greyish on belly; sides with 5 or 6 vertical bars, some of which split In two below the lateral lines duals these bars fuse to form 2 broad bars, one below the soft dorsal and one below the spiny dorsal; rominent dark vermiculations, and’ dark longitudinal stripe running through the eyo; vertical fine with fed dota, large BISH-VTOEE BIoteN Ts reported on lower sides in live or vety fresh specimens.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other species of Serranidae: none has the prominent vermiculations on head characteristic of 5. seriba. SIE: Maximum: 36 em} commen to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, from the Straite of Gibraltar to Southern Sahare, possibly even to Senegal including the Canary Islands. ‘Northward extending into the Mediter- Fanean and Black Seas, and along the Atlantic coasts of Europe up to the Bay of Biscay. A coastal and sedentary species, inhabiting rocky bottoms from the coastline to 150m. AA voracious predator, feeding on fishes and crus- tacesns. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS + Taken by artisanal fisheries throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for thie species. Caught on hook and lines occasionally in bottom trawle, Marketed mostly froch.SOL 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in part) (Ec. Attantic) SOLEIDAE, Soles Body oval, more ar less elongate, strongly compressed, flattened on left side. Preopercle covered by skin and scales, its hind margin not free, scarcely visible as a shallow, scaleless groove; snout rounded, as a fleshy lobes mouth small Inferior more cr low arched; lips fleshy, smooth or fringed, ceothr mall Rardly visible, sometimes absent; no Eeeth on palatines (roof of mouth); lower jaw never projecting beyond the upper; eyes small, both on the right side (except in rare, inverted individuals); fostfils of eyed and blind sides eymmetrical or ‘nearly a9} Blind ede of head often covered with haislike sensorial fringes- All fine without spiny rays; origin of Geriat Tn placed either at, or mare often before level of upper eye, somotimes even near mouth (eteromycteria) caudal fin distinct, sometimes completely separated from dorsal and snal fins, in other cases united to them by a ‘fine membrane, of the three fins fused together. Lateral line straight on mid-body, wavy, arched, bifurcated or indistinct on head. Scales ctenoid (rough to touch). Colour: normally, the eyed side coloured and the blind side unpigmented (rare exceptions are individuals pigmented on both sides, albinos lacking pigmentation altogether, or specimens showing a colour inversion). The Colour on the eyed side ranges from light to dark brown, sometimes ornamented with derker spots (rather large feyeepots or ocelll, or regular, diffuse dots), wavy transverse bands, et. Small to medium-sized fishes ranging from 7 to about 70 em in total length fram marine or brackish waters 5 inhabit soft, mobile bottoms (mud, sand) mainly near the coast, but also on the continental fs) and even on the slope to depths greater than 1 O00 m ( lea}. Soles are usually taken in battom trawis. Their flesh Is of good quality and the larger species (25 em and more) are of considerable ‘commercial Importance. The catch of soles reported from the area In 1978 slightly exceeded 3 000 t. Although all of the landings are recorded under Solea vulgaris (Salea golog), it Is most probable that this category comprises several different species. caudal fin eyes on ties right side snout rounded mouth Infecior 0 free pre- opercular margineae FAO Sheets SOLEIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: rays Prettodidae: dorsal fin with spiny anterior rays, originating behind level of eyes. Pleuronectoidei (Citharidee, Scophthalmidae, Bothidae): mouth terminal, snout more or less pointed, lower jaw usually prominent, preopercular margin free and well vielble, dorsal fin without spines and origineting at level or before upper eye. Furthermore: Citharidae: eyes on left side, lateral line preopefoular visible on both sides, bases of pelvic fins Prepare! short, but about equal in length. ° eee Scophthalmidae: eyes on left side, lateral line visible on both sides; bases of pelvic fins Jong, but about equal in length. Bothidae: eyes on left side, lateral line visible only on eyed side, pelvie fin base on eyed side much larger than that on left side of both fin bases, equally short. Cynoglossidae: also without @ free pre- opercular margin and a rounded snout, but eyes fn left side of body and caudal fin not distinct. preopefular Scophthalmidae preopefcular ‘margin Bothidee (male) Cynogtoseidaeoe FAO sheets SOLEIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) KEY TO GENERA OCCURRING IN THE AREA: 1.8. Dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal (Fig. 1) sreenee Syeaptura 1b. Caudal fin more or less separated from doreal and anal fins (Fig. 2) Fig. 1 2a, Pectoral fins absent on both sides «+. Heteromycteris 2), At least one of the pectoral fins present 3. Pectoral fin present on eyed side, ‘absent on blind side» (Monochirus 3. Both pectoral fins present (sometimes reduced) 4a. Pectoral fin of blind side less developed than that of eyed side 5a, Lateral line not visible on Fig. 2 postero-dorsal region of head (eupratemporal branch) (Fig 3m Buglossidium 5b. Lateral line visible on postero-dorsal region of head (Fig. 4) 6 All rays of pectoral fin of eyed side simple +++ Bathysolea 6b. Firet ray of pectoral fin of eyed side simple, the athers bifid ‘supratemporal branch of lateral line 7 a, Pectoral fin of eyed side with 8 or more rays; jaws extending backward — beyond centre of lower eye (Fig. 5) seneenes Vanstracionia 7b. Pectoral fin of eyed side with 7 or less sayss jaws not. extending backward to below centre of eye Fig. 6)-4- FAQ Sheets SOLEIDAE, 4b, Both pectoral fins equally well developed Ba. Anterior nostril of blind side enlarged (Figs. 7,8) 9 Enlarged anterior nostril vault-shaped ‘and well separated from posterior nos~ ig. 7) menee Syhapturichthy rasette- nostril shaped, close to posterior nostril (Fig, 9b. Enlarged anterior wee Peguea Bb. Anterior nostril of blind side not enlarged Fig. 10 a. Lateral line describing a smooth, rounded S behind heads posterior margin of pectoral fin of eyed fide mare or lese rounded and symmetrical (Fig. 10) 10 b. Lateral line describing an angu- lar S behind head; posterior margin of pectoral fin of eyed side more of lest obliquely trun- cate (Fig. 11) anterior nostril Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) posterior tril anterior nostri enlarged anterior ogtril<5. FAO Sheets SOLEIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) LIST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Code numbers are given for those species for which Identification Sheets are included Bathysolea lactea Roule, 1916 Bathysolea profundicola (Vaillant, 1888) Buglossidium luteum (Risso, 1810) Dicologogtossa cunesta ([ie la Pylsie] Moreau, 1881) SOL Die 1 Veologoglosss hexophthalma (Bennett, 1831) Heteromycteris proboscideus (Chabanaud, 1925) Micrachirus boseanion (Chabanaud, 1926) ‘Miorochirus frechicopt Chabanaud 1952 cellatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Microchirus theophila (Riseo, 1810) SOL Mie 1 ‘icrochirus variegatus (Donovan, 1802) SOL Mic 2 Microchirus witte! Chabanaud, 1950 Monachirus hlspidue Refinesque, 1814 Pegusa cadenati Chabanaud, 1948 isa lasoaris (Risso, 1810) SOL Pegi ques irophthalmue (Bleeker, 1965) SOL Peg 2 Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858 SOL Sol 3 Solon vulgaris Guerocly 1606 SOL Sel 1 Synaptura cadenati Chabanaud, 1648 9 SOL Syn 2 Synaptura lusitanies Capello, 1868 SOL Syn 3 ‘Synapturichthys kleinil (Risso, 1626) Venstraelenia chirophthalmus (Regan, 1915) SOL Van 1 Prepared by J.C. Quéro and illustrated by J:J: Vayne, Institut selentifique et technique des Péches maritimes, laboratoire d'ichthyologie, La Rochelle, FranceSOL Die 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in part) (EC. Atiantic) Dicologoglossa cuneata (/Be la Pylaig] Moreau, 1681) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Solea cuneate (/ée la Pylaia) Moreau, 1881) 0 Sem VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO! En - Wedge sole Fr ~ Céteau Sp = Acedia NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval, elongated, tapering backwards, Its greatest depth contained more than 3 times in standard length. Snout angulate;’ upper eye separated from upper profile of Head by a diatance emaller than its dlameter; anterior fostrll of blind side nat enlarged; tu terior nostril of eyed side not reaching backward to anterior margin of Syer Dorsal fs WN B1 to BS rays, originating at level af anterior upper eye margin; anal fin with 65 to TO rays; Iset raye of both fing united by a membrane to the base of caudal fin; pectoral fine equally well developed on both sides, with & to IU rays, that on eyed face obliquely truncate end more or Tess triengular In shape. Scales ctenoid Toph; easily detached; tabed scales in lateral line 103 t0-152-—Latoral Tie describing an angular S on posteradorsal (supratemporal) region of head, with the ascending section directed upwards and backwards. Colour: eyed side chocolate brown to grey brown with small bluish spots; blind side whites _pectorel fin of eyed side with an oblong black blotch not reaching hind margin of fin.Dicologoglossa hexophthalma: eyed face orna- monted'withe aye ® eye spots. Micrachirus azevia: symmetrically arranged eye spots present in young, but disappearing in adults; no membrane between base of caudal fin and last dorsal ‘and anal fin rays. Vanstraelenia chirophthalmust no membrane between base of caudal fin and last dorsal and anal fin rays} urinary papilla neer to anus. Soles species (young individuals): lateral line on posterior part of head describing a smoothly rounded 5, with the ascending section directed upward and forward origin of dorsal fin before upper eye. Pegusa species (young individuals) and Synapt richtiveRibinitanterfor nostril of blind side ottargade Other apecies of Soleidae: either one or both Pectoral fins absent, or the one on blind side less developed than that of eyed side, or dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin. SE: Maximum: 30 em; common to 22 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : ‘Throughout the area, northward extending to the Bay of Biscay, and southward to the Cape of Good Hope. Probably also occurring in the Indian Ocean. Inhabits send or muddy sand bottoms from 10 to bout 430 m depthy primarily coastal in the northern part of its range (between 10 to 100m in the Bay of Biscay) but descending to the slope off Mauritant Feeds mainly on crustaceans (mainly amphipods, but also small shrimps and crabs), worms and snails. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘Mainly continental shelf off Morocco and Mauri- tania, where it is very abundant; rather uncommon in the Gulf of Guinea. Pegusa sp. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Taken in bottom trawis. Marketed mostly fresh, the flesh of this small species being highly esteemed.SOL Mic 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in pat) (EC. Atlantic) Micrachirus theophila (Risso, 1810) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: — Solea azevie Capello 1868 Microchiras azevia (Cepelio, 1868) Dicologoglossa azevia (Capetio, 1868) Sotea theoohile Tis, 1610) $DSMKCKLYYK ~ VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Bastard sole Fr ~ Sole-perdix juive Sp - Acevia NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval. Mouth cleft below centre of lower eye; tube of anterior nostril on eyed face directed backwards, reaching anterior margin of lower eye. Dorsal fin with 71 to 86 rays; anal fin with 58 to 68 rays; ast dorsal_and enal fin rays not united to bese of caudal fin by a distinct membrane; pectoral fine with 7 rays, ‘unequal, the one on blind side shorter than that on eyed side; first pectoral ray on eyed side simple, the followin FEWeUIT ds coude! fin truncate, lateral line with 108 to 130 tubed sccles, ls estatamperal prolongation Gowcribing an angular Son posterior region of head with ascending section directed upwards ang Beckwardas Colour: eyed side uniformly greyish to reddish brown in adults, with 5 or 6 light-margined eyespots in young individuals up to 8 or 10 cm in length; blind side white; pectoral fine blackish distally. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Microchirus varlegatus and M, wittel: broad crossbars} caudal Tin rounded.M, frechkopi: light longitudinal lines and 4 ceyespats; caudal fin rounded. Mz boscanion: 5 spots on body along dorsal and anal fing} both these fins with regularly spaced black rays; caudal fin rounded. Mz ocellatus: one large eyespat on midbody and @ pair of eyespats along each, the dorsal and anal fins. ve mouth cleft chirophthar behind Tevel of lower eye centro. Buglossidium luteum: — supraterporal prolonga- tion of lateral line not Visible. Other species of Soleidae: either dorsal end anal fins confluent with caudal fin, or one or both pectoral fins missing, or both pectoral fins equally well deve- oped or all pectoral fin rays on eyed side simple. In the area, from Gibraltar to Seneg ward extending into the Western Modit: along the Atlantic coast of Europe to the Brit Inhabits sand or muddy sand bottoms between 40 ‘and 340 m depth. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Continental shelf and edge of slope off Morocco ‘and Mauri CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistice are not reported for this species. Taken in bottom trawls. Marketed mostly fresh. © Buglosaidium luteumSOL Mic 2 1981 FAQ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in part) (EC. Atlantic) 1us (Donovan, 1802) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: 0 4om FAO: En - Thickback sole Fr - Sole-perdix commune Sp - Goleta NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body aval. Mouth cleft anterior to lower eye centre. Dorsal fin with 63 to 73 rays, originating before the eyes; onal fin with SI 15 €4 raya; laut dorsal and anal fin rays not united to base of caudal Tin by @ diate Tmombroney. "pectoral fins unequel, Hho are oT eyed aide With © or-S rays; the one on blind ove Cleary Tess ‘Sicloped, with Feo 8 Faysy Tin Pectoral ray on syed side simple; the follwing raye bifd; caudal fn rosnded. Lateral line with 70 to 92 tubed scales, its soprateriporal prolongation visbles ne Colour: eyed side brownish red to brownish grey with broad dark brown cross bare on body and vertical fins blind side white; pectoral fins dark brown to blackish. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Microehirus teophila: caudal fin truncate or double-truncate; no crossbars; young with eyespots.M, ocellatue and M. frechkopit eyespots present. in adults; no crossbars. MM. boscanion: 5 spats on body along dorsal end ‘anal fing; both these fins with regularly spaced black rays; no crossbers. M, wittei: crossbars alsa present, but pectoral fin of bjad side with 3 to 7 raye (@ or 5 In Me varlegatus). Buglossidium luteum: — supraternporal prolonga- tion of lateral Tine cot Viste. Vanstraelenia chirophthalrmu mouth cleft behind level of lower aye centre. Other epecles of Soleidae: either dorsal and snal fine confluent. with caudal fin, or one or both pectoral fine missing, or both pectoral fins equally well deve- lped, or all pectoral fin rays on eyed side simple. STE: Maximum: 20 em; common to 18 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, from Gibraltar to Senegaly _north= ‘ward extending Into the Mediterranean and ‘slong the Atlantic coast of Europe to the British Isles. Inhabits mud ot sand bottoms between 80 and 400 m depth. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Continental shelf and edge of the slope of Morocco and Mauritania. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Seperate statistics are not reported for this species. Taken in bottom trawls- Marketed fresh, flesh well esteemed. eelenia chirophthalimusSOL Peg 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Attantie) Pogusa lascaris (Riseo, 1610) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Solea lascaris (Risso, 1910) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAQ: En ~ Sand sole Fr ~ Sole-pole (= Sole verrue, Area 37) Sp = Sortija DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS + Body oval. Blind side of head covered with numerous shart papillae; upper eye separated from dorsal profile of heed by a dltence cleaflygroster then Tes dlameterysnferier nostril of blindside enlarged and rose Shaped, ts outer margin with long fringes; posterior nostri of blind ade clone to anterior nose]. Darcal TH with 700 90 rays, Its origin distinctly in front of eyes on anterior profile of heed; anal fin with 8 to 75 rays; ectoral fins equaliy well aaveloped of Dh sidey, with-T to 10 rayse base of Catal fin united by a membrane to fii Inst ray of dors and anal Tres bot Caudal pedincleetll distinct. Lateral line with 38 to 143 tubed sealesy ts supratemporal prolongation describing a smooth curve on head. Colour: eyed side light yellowish brown to reddish brown with numerous small dark spots and whitish dotsy blind side white; pectoral fins of eyed side with a black spot near fin margin, margined with yellowish white on hides and in frontDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Pequsa triophthalmus: 3 eyespote on late ral lines P. cadenati: a small species (maximum size 18 om eyed side uniformly covered. with humerous brown or black points. Synapturichthys kleinii: a small species (maximum size 10 em); anterior nostril of blind side enlarged and vault-shaped, its outer margin ‘smooth or with short fringes; posterior nostril of blind side well separated from anterior nostril. Other species of Soleidae: anterior nostril of blind side not enlarged. SE: Maximum: 40 em; common to 30 cm. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : ‘Throughout the area, northward extending Pz cadenati Into the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic a coast of Europe to the British Isles, and southward to the Cape af Good Hope. antertor nostril anterior Inhabite mobile bottoms between 5 and nostril 300 ms off West Africa more common between 410 and 50m. posterior osterior rostril fi nostril PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Coastal areas from Mauritania to the Gulf of Guinea. ‘Synaptutichthye Kleinii CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. ‘Taken in bottom trawl. Marketed mostly fresh. \ other Soleidae blind side of headSOL Peg 2 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Attantic) Pequea triophthalmus (Bleeker, 1865) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Pegusa trlophthalma (Bleeker, 1863) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Cyclope sole Fr = Sole-pole & trois taches Sp = Sortija tree ojos NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS + Body oval. Upper eye separated from dorsal profile of head by a distance distinctly greater than its diameter) anterior nestll af blindside enlarged and rototte-shaped, is outer margin with long fringes "posterior ostrllof bil aide lowe to anterior Tosti Dorsal in with-76'to 60 rays, originating almost at tip of Samu; ‘anal fin with 61 to 6% rays pectoral Tins equally well developed on bath sides, with & to IU rays; base of caudal fin united by a membrane vo fast Say of deveel and oa fio, but caudal peduncle still distinct. Lateral line with 90 to 114 tubed scales, its supratemporal prolongation describing a smooth curve on head. Colour: eyed side with 3 eyespots on lateral line and some small black spots scattered on body; blind side whites poctoral in of eyad aide with a lack ape iatally.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Pegusa Jascaris: eyed side without eye- spots; lateral Tine with 98 to 165 tubed scales (90 to 114 in P. triophthalmus). P, cadenati: a small species (maximum size 1B crnlf eyed side without eyespote and covered ‘with numerous brown or black spots. Synapturichthys Kleiniis @ small species (macintn size TO em} anterior nostril of blind side enlarged and vault-sheped; its outer margin smooth or with short fringes; posterior nostril of blind side well separated from anterior nostril. Other species of Soleidae: anterior nostrit of blind side not enlarged. SE: Maximum: 28 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR 2: cadena Off West Africa from Cape Blanc (Mauri- tani) o Cape Lope tat ot Gabea — oo Inhabits sand bottoms, mainly between 15 nostril nostril ee core posterior posterior ay ey peer rene ere Conta aroun off Cotca West Afton CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Oye Syreptntt let Paes Soperate statistics are not reported for thie species. 2 ‘Taken in bottom trawle. Marketed mastly fresh. other Soleidae blind side of headSOL Sol 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. attantic) garis Quoneel, 1806 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Solea solea of suthors (since Linnaeus’ original description is ‘aoubt fal) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAQ: En - Common sole Fr - Sole commune, Sp = Lenguado comin NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval. Blind side of head covered with numerous small hair-like fringes; upper eye separated from dorsal profile of head bya distonce Giathetly Greater than les diameter; anterior nstrl of blind side surrounded by ‘small ridge but not enlarged, distance from this nostril to head profile contained 1.5 to 1.8 times in distance from nostril to mouth clefts anterior nostril on eyed side with tube directed backwards, not reaching anterior margin of eye. Dorsal fin with 72 to 95 raye, Ite origin an dorsal profile of head before the eyes; nel fin with 93 to 80 rays; jectoral fins equally well develaped on both sides, with 7 to 10 rays, the fin on eyed side asymmetrical In shapes Eige oY causal Tin united by-aebvane to last ray of dorsal and anal fins, but caudal peduncle all distinct. Taterat ine with 116 to 163 fabed scales; is suratenporal protonaation doacribing a smooth curve on head. Colour: eyed side greyish brown to reddish brown; blind side white; pectoral fin of eyed side with a black blotch restricted ta distal end of fins hind part of caudal darker than rest of fin-DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Solea senegalensis: pectoral fin of eyed “elde symmetrioal with an almost black membrane and lighter, greyish white rays} caudal fin unifermly coloured. Dicologoglossa cuneata: body more elongated apratsaperal prolengetion of lateral line deseribing an angular S on head. Pegusa and Synapturichthys species: anteriar nostril of blind side enlarged. naptura species: caudal fin fused with dorsal and anal fine Other species of Soleidae: pectoral fin of blind side absent or less developed than the one on eyed side. Maximum: 60 em; commen to 45 em. sea aE 7 ea ‘S senagalenats pectoral fin GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Ih the area, from Gibraltar to Cape Verde (Senegal); " northward extending inta the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coast of Europe to the Farce Islands. Inhabits sand and mud bottoms from the coastline to about 130 m depth. Feeds on small oft-shelled bivalves, ‘worms, crustaceans and small fish. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Continental shelf off Moracea and Mauritania. anterior Peguea sp. blind side of head CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: The catches reported for this species Jn the area slightly exceeded 3 000 t. However, most probably this category comprises severe! different species. The Congo and Liberia, for example, provide statletice for Solea vulgaris although this Species does not exter South of Soneg Taken in bottom trawle. Marketed fresh; flesh highly esteemed. Dicotogoglossa cuneate caudalSOL Sol 3 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (€lc. Atlantic) Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Solea melanochir (Moreau, 1874) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Senegalese sole Fr - Sole du Sénégal Sp = Lenguado senegalés NATIONAL : DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval. Upper eye separated from dorsal profile of head by a distance distinctly greater than its diameter; anterior nostril on blind side not enlarged, distance from this nostril to heed profile contained 2 to 2.5 times in distance from nostril to mouth cleft; anterior nostril on eyed side with tube directed backwards, not Feaching anterior margin of eye. Dorsal fin with 72 to 95 rays, its origin on dorsal profile of head before the eyes; ‘anal fin with 61 to 75 rays; pectoral fins equslly well developed on both sides, with 8 to 12 rays, the fin on eyed side eymmetrically rounded “Ghee of caudal tncnited by rare toi ‘of caudal fin united by a membrane to Tast ray of dorsal and anal fins, but caudal peduncle still istinet. Lateral line with IZU to I5E tubed ecales, its aupratemporal prolongation deseribing a smooth curve on head. Colour: eyed side greyish brown to reddish brown, in life with small blue spots tending to disappear after deaths eyed side whites pectoral fin with an almost black membrane and lighter greyish white raye; caudal fin uniformly coloured.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Soles vulgaris: pectoral fin of eyed sido a seme ena, xsere tn ot erase er beta rel par o cauel tty, ccarker than rest of fin. Dicologoglossa cuneate: body more elon- {gated supratemporal prolongation of lateral line describing an angulate 5 on head. > cerlor nostril of blind side enlarge in Syneptura species: caudal fin fused with ~ doreafandanat fina. Other species of Soleidae: pectoral fin of blind side absent or less developed than the one on eyed side, SIZE: Maximum: 60.em; common to 45 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR + caudal In the area, from Gibraltar to Southern fn Senegal; northward extending to the Bay of ‘anterior caught from the shore line to about 65 m depth. et eee eee os ee blind side of head CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. ‘Taken in bottom trawls. Marketed mostly fresh.SOL Syn 2 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 87 Gn past) Synapture cadenati Chabanaud, 1g] 9 (Ec. Atlantic) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Guinean sole Fr - Sole-ruardon du Golfe Sp = Lenguado de Guines NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body ovally elongated, tapering backwards. Head length 15 to 19% of standard length (without tails eye diameter 15% of head length. Dorsal fin with 75 to 79 rays; anal fin with 59 to 62 rays; pectoral fins with 6 to 8 rays; caudal fin confluent with dorsal and anal fing, its outer rays broadly attached by a membrane to the last ray of each of these fins, which is about equal in length to the preceding raye. Urinary papille near to anus. Lateral line with 105 to 110 tubed scales. Colour: eyed side greyish brown to brownish violet with numerous randomly scattered darker blotches of different sizes and many white spots; lateral line pares white; blind side whitish; vertical fine margined with white.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Synaptura lusitaniea: no white spots on eyed side. dorsal end anal fine ‘caudal peduncle free. Other species of Soleida ‘not confluent with caudal fi Species of Cynoglossidae: eyes on left side. SE: Maximum: 35 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : (Off West Afriea from Senegal to Congo. Inhabits sand or mud bottoms from the coastline to about 50 m depth. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Coastal waters in the Gulf of Guinea. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. ‘Taken in bottom trawle. Marketed fres ~~ other Soleidse CynogtossidaeSOL Syn 3 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Attantic) Synaptura lusitanioa Capello, 1868 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Portuguese sole Fr ~ Sole-ruardon commune Sp - Lenguado portugués NATIONAL DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body ovally elongated, tapering backwards. Head length 15 to 20% of standard length (without tall); eye diameter 15% of head length. Dorsal fin with 71 to 83 rays; anal fin with 38 to 67 rays; pectoral fins with 6 to 10 rays; caudal fin confluent with dorsal and anal fins, its outer rays broadly attached by a membrane to the last of each of Fhese fins, which is sbout equal in Tength fo the preceding rays. Urinary papilla near to anus. Lateral line with 100 to 120 tubed scales. Colour eyed side greyish brown with blackish blotches tending to form longitudinal series; the largest of these blotches are concentrated on the lateral Tine.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: white Synaptura cadenatis white spots present on eyed side. Other species of Soleidse: dorsal and anal fine not confluent with caudal fin; caudal peduncle free. Species of Cynoglossidae: eyes on left side. SE Maximum: 35 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : In the area, from Gibraltar to Congo; northward extending to Portugal; also recorded from the Medi- terranesn. Inhabits mud and send bottoms between the coast~ line and about 60 m depth. other Soleides PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Coastal waters off Northwest Africa. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for thie species. ‘Taken in bottom trawls. Marketed fresh.SOL Van 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SOLEIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) Vanstraelenta chirophthalmus (Regan, 1915) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: — Vanstraclenia insignis Chabsnaud, 1950, enubuglowsis slangatus Cheboncud, 1950 ‘Vanstvasionta chizophthatma (Reger, 1915) 0 fom VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En = Afticen eolenette Fr - Sole-pote Sp - Lenguadilio africano NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval. Mouth cleft posterior to centre of lower eyes interocular space very narrow; anterior nostril of oyed side with tube Slrected Backovards, scarcaly teaching artelar eye margins Coral Tin with él to. 79 thin rays, all of them, but especially the anterior ones, well prolonged beyond the fin membrane;_anal fin with 50 to 63 rays jectoral fin of eyed side with 8 or 9 rays, that of blind side lees developed, with 6 to 6 rays; caudal fin rounded, linfted by a metrbrane to lab ray OF dorsal and anal fine. Lateral line with 63 to €5 tubed soales, is swpratermporal prolongation describing a clearly visible angular 5 on head. Colour: eyed side brownish violet with black blotches arranged more or less distinctly in 3 rows; eyed side whitish.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Buglossidium luteum: supratemporal prolon- sation of lateral Tine not visible. Microchirus species: mouth cleft anterior to centre of Tower eye; | pectoral fin of eyed side with 7 or less rays (B or 9 in V. chirophthalrmus). Other species of Soleidae: either doreat tend anal fins confluent with caudel fin, or pecto- ral fin missing on one or both sides, or both pectoral fins equally well developed on both sides. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Off West Africa, from Sonegal to Angola. Inhabits mud or sand bottoms between 20 ‘and 100 m depth. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Continental shelf in the Gulf of Guinea. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Taken in bottom trawl. Marketed fresh. Buglossidium luteum Microchirus spp.SPARID 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. atlantic) SPARIDAE Bogues, dentex, hottentots, pandaras, porgies, salemas, seabreams, stumpnoses Body fusiform to oval, more or less deep and compressed. Head often larges snout and suborbits! region scaleless, cheeks scaly, preopercle with or without scales, its posterior edge without spines or_denticulations; Fa a reer auepincay mouth omell, horizontal or olighe, slightly protrsible; Upper jaw fever extending backward beyond a vertical line through middle of eye; maxilla concealed under the preorbital bone when mouth is SE path well Uevoloped, differentiated i conical (canino-like), flattened (incivor-ke) or rounded, forming @ pavement (molar-like); roof of mouth (vomeF and palatines) toothless. A single dorsal fin with 1U to 15 spines and Sto 17 soft rays, the epiny and soft partions not separated by a notch; first two spines sometimes very short, the 2 of 3 following ones occasionally prolonged and filamentous; pectoral fins usually long and pointed; pelvic fins inserted on, or just behind, a vertical line through pectoral fin bases, with 1 spine and > soft rays and an axillary scale at their bases; anal fin with 3 spines and 7 to 16 soft rays; caudal fin more or less deeply forked. A single, ell developed and continuous lateral line extending backward to base of caudal fin. Scales cycloid or slightly ctenoid. Colour highly variable: more or less dark pink, red or grey, often with silvery reflections, dark spots, lines, bands ar bars. Yellow spots on head often appear during the spawning season. no scales here axillary scaleaie FAO Sheets SPARIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) Epon A \ tke ev ‘yaa tte Yen Dentex lateral tooth ‘molars We pointed Yate I~ | Diplodus Oblada Boope Main types of dentition Fishes from troploal and temperate waters, only exceptionally found in cold waters and rarely entering brackish areas. They are demersal inhabitants of the continental shelf and the slope, gradually descending to deeper waters toward the equator in the northern hemisphere; the young usually occur in waters shallower than the adults. The smaller species, as well as the young of large species usually form aggregations, while the adults are solitary. Many species are hermaphroditie, although hermaphroditism is never simultaneous: at the age of fret sexual maturity, the majority of individuals are males (protandric hermaphroditisin) or females (protogynic hermaphroditiem). The Importance of thie family for fisheries is based rather on its richness in food species than fon the abundance of any species in particular. Since the best yields are obtained on fishing grounds between 30 ‘and 100 m depth the sparid fisheries along the West African coast have been very intensive and this has led to a drop in the catches. The annual catch of speride reported from the area Is well above 100 000 metric tons. In 1977, it totalled bout 134 000 t, of which 73 000 were taken in the northem part of the area (56°N to 9®N), 19 000't from the equatorial waters (9°N to 7®S) and 42 000 t from the southern pert (7°S to 23°S). Foreign fishing fleets operating in the area have taken 94 000 t of the 1977 catch, while coastal West African countries landed only 40 000 t. The rotor part of the catch (85 O00 In 1977) i broken down to genera and species. The species dominating in the Feported landings (1977) ares _Dentex macrophthalmus (30 000 t), Pagellus bellottii (19 000 t), Sparus pagrus (13 000 8), and Dentex angolensis (é 000 UJ, These figures are doubtless under-estimates, since many species are recorded In Jargar categories such as "sparids not elsewhere identified", or "marine fishes not elsewhere identified". The CECAF Working Group on Resources Evaluation has recently recommended that all countries fishing in the area keep separate landing statistics for Dentex macrophthalmus, D. angolensis, all coastal sparids (Dentex species not Sloowhere reported), Pagelius acarhe; Py bellow, P- exjtftinus, Pagsiive spp., Spondyllosoma cantharus and Sftohore species (genste: other than’ Daiok not elsewhere. reported). Furthermore, the working Graup has recommended that length-frequency distributions be taken for the following species: Pagellus erythrinus, beliottii (= P. coupei), P. acamne and Dentex macrophtheimus.Jo FAO Sheets SPARIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Lethrinidae: cheek and preopercle scale- less (cheek always scaled in Sparidae) Centracanthidae: mouth strongly protru- sible (very little so in Sparidae). Kyphosidae: fing covered to a large extent (except the spinous portion of dorsal. fin) with Very small scales (scalelese in Sparidao)s ‘ontracanthidae suborbital space very narrow, leaving the maxilla naeead largely exposed characteristic teeth shaped like hockey-sticks. Lutjanidae: edge of preopercie denticu- lated; teeth usually present on roof of mouth (cheeks never scaled and roof of mouth toothless in Sparidee). Pomadasyidae: edge of preopercle at least 2 mental pores and a depres ‘groove behind the symphysis of lower jaws. Serranidae: suborbitel region entirely scaled (acaleless in Sparidee); maxilla com- pletely free (largely concesied by the suborbital Done in Sparidae); oparele with 1 £0 3 spines (none in Sparidae). pores = depression ee sroove y \ scales present Pomadasyidae SerranidaeFAO Sheets SPARIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) KEY TO GENERA OCCURRING IN THE AREA: La, Lateral teeth cutting or pointed (no molars) 2a. 4 to B strong canines, sometimes fang- like, anteriorly in each jaw (Fig. 1) 3 es Jaws subequal, chin indistinct; scala tion interrupted between cheek and preopercle (Fig. 26) sn 3b. Lower jaw prominent, chin promi- nent; scalation continuous from cheek to preopercie (Fig- 2b) suum Virididentex 2b. Numerous incisors (Figs. 3,6) or at least 10 conical teeth (Fig. 8) anteriorly in each jaw 4.2. A single row of incisors in both jaws (Fig. 3) Sa. Dorsal fin with 11 or 12 spines; body oblong (Fig. 4) ssw Sarpa 5b. Dorsal fin with 13 ta 15 spines; body fusiform (Fig. 3) sreeenntnne 4b. Several rows of teeth in each jaw Fig. 6) b. Vinididentex Fig. 2 Aor 12 ‘spines jaws end teeth Fig. 3 Ob right half of Upper jawFAO Sheets SPARIDAE ba bb. Each jaw anteriorly with one outer row of incisors flanked posteriorly by small granular tooth (Fig. 6); a black blotch ‘margined with white on caudal peduncle ig. 2) nme Oblada Esch jaw anteriorly with an outer row of pointed teeth followed by cardiform teeth (Fig. &); no blotch on caudal pedun- cle 7 a, Bases of soft portions of dorsal and anal fins unsceled but inserted in a 1 ‘Spondy liosoma 7b, Bases of soft partione of dorsal and anal fing scaly, not inserted in a sheath (Fig. 10); no longitudinal lines on sides Pachymetopon scaly sheath (Fig. 9);_longitud yellow-golden lines on sides 1b. Lateral teeth molar-like (Figs. 11,12) Ba. Anterior teeth incisor-like (Fig. pti) 9a 4 to 6 medial incisors in upper Jaw 9b. 8 to 12 medial incisors in upper jaw (Fig. 11) 8b. Anterior teeth not Inolear-like (Fig. 12) iplodue Jaws and teeth jaws and teeth, scaly base of dorsal fin Fishing Areas 34, 47 (In part) Spondyliosoma lower Jaw Fig 8 Spondyliasoma Fig. 9 posterior region of dorsal fin i Miah Pachymetopan Fige 10 posterior region of dorsal finree FAO Sheets SPARIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) 10. 4 to 6 stronger canines anteriorly in each JaW (Flge 12) ren sprue a 10. Nurmerous small and pointed teeth (et least Z 11a. Posterior nostril slitsike (Fig. 158 rumerows grey crossbars LLithognathus a. Lithognathus Lb. Posterior nostril cirouler or aval (Fig. ‘L4b); no permanent cross bars (excep~ tionally faint pink cross bars corres- a Ponding to a fright pattern) Pagellus a >. Pagellos Fig. 15 KEY TO SPECIES AND SUSSPECIES : x Camus Dentox \ ‘La. Firet and second dorsal fin spines very short, the following more or less filamentous ‘and anarionsis, D. givboaus decreasing In length from the third. to the spiny portion of dorsal fin Fig. 2 fourth (Fig. 1); a dark blotch at end of dorsal fin base (Fige 2,3) 2 a. A small black spot just behind dorsal tin (Fig. 2) D. gibbosus 2b. A large, dark red blotch on bases of last dorsal fin rays (rig 3) 3 a 10 to 13 lower gill rakers snes 3b. 1é to 16 lower gill rakers 2b. Dorsal fin spines Increasing in length trom firet to tourth or fifthyequal in length there- afters no spot or blotch on base of soft portion of dorsal fin (rig. 4) ile 1D. maracoanus other Dentex species Fig» 4 D. bamerdi Fig. 3<7. FAO Sheets SPARIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) 4a 62 to 68 scales along lateral line; 11 dorsal D. dentex 4b, Less than 62 scales along lateral lines 12 dorsal fin spines (exceptionally 11) 5 a 17 to 20 lower gill rakers; lower canines clearly less well developed than uppers ig. 5) D: macrophthalmus 5 bs Lees than 15 lower gill rakers; upper and lower canines equally developed (Fig. 6) 6a. Fork of caudal fin margined with dark red (Fig. 7) D. maroccanus 6 b. Caudal fin uniform reddish 7a. 12 to 14 lower gill rakers on first arch; dorsal profile of head convexs euboroital space narrow (22 to 14% of head length, Fig. Ba); interorbital space wide (27 macrophthalmus Fig. 5 to 32% of head length) .D. congoensis 7b. 9 oF 10 lower gill rakers on first arch; dorsal profile of head straight; suborbital space wide (27 to 21% of head length, Fig. 8); interorbital space. narrow (21'to 25% of head length) «.. D. angotensis ‘other Dentex species Fig, a. Decongoensis bs D. angolensis Fig. 8 2 maroceenusFAO Sheets SPARIDAE, Fishing Areas 34, 87 (in part) Genus Diplodus La. 10 to 12 upper incisors; no small molars behind the row of incisors (Fig. 1); more or less wide, dark cross bars on sides (Figs. 2,3) 2.8. Background colour dari, with light cross bars on upper two thirds of sides (Fig. 2; 15 to 21 total gill rakers on first arch atus 2 b. Background colour light, with dark cross bare on aides (Fig. 3); 15 to 19 total gill rakers on first arch. 1 b. 8 (exceptionally 10) upper incisors (Figs. & to 6); small molars behind the incisors (except in D. puntazzo}; sides with or without dark cross Bares these bars, when present, much nar- rower than lighter interspaces 3 a Molare very rudimentary (Fig. 4) puntazzo 3b, Molare well developed (Figs. 5,6) 4a. A single row of molars behind the row of incisors (Fig. >); scales along lateral line 48 to 54; 10 or 11 dorsal fin spines D. bellottii 4b. More than one row of small molars behind the row of inci- sors (Fig. 6); scales along late ral line 48 to 715 11 or 12 dorsal fin spines: Dz cervinue several rows of molars a single row ‘of molars D. prayenais D: bellottii D. puntazza ‘upper jaw Upper jaw ‘upper jaw Fig. 6 Fig. 5 Fig. & ‘® Diplodus sarqus ascensionis and D. s. helenae excludedaor FAO Sheets SPARIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) 5 a. Nuchal band present (Figs. 7,8) 6 a. Nuchal band large, triangulars hind edge of branchiostegal membrane light coloured (Fig. 7) wu 6b. Nuchal band faints hind edge of bran- chiostegal membrane black. Restricted ta the Cape Verde Islands (Fig. 8) sx. 5b. Nuchal band abeent, 7a. Pedurcular bar annular (Fig. 9) scales in lateral line 48 to 565, dor- sal fin spines 11 7b. Peduncular*bar saddle-shaped (Fig. 10); lateral line scales 57 to 71s real fin epines 1 o 12 vulgaris fa. 4 or 5 very distinct cross bars on sides (Fig. 11). Restricted to the Cape Verde Islands D. sargue lineatue 8b. 8 or 9 cross bars on sides (Fige. 12,13) Da. Cross bars uniform in colour tone (Fig. 12). South of Angola su D. sargus capensis 9 b. Cross bare alternately light and dark (Fig. 13). North of Cape Verde + Dz sargue cadenati Deennuleria Fig. 9 D. sargue cadenati Fig. 10-10- hing Areas 34, 47 (in part) FAO Sheets SPARIDAE anterior Genus Pagellus Limit of scaletion La. Scalation cn top of head ending behind a traneverse line through middle of eyes (rigs 1,2); interior of mouth orange red 2a. 11 or 12 anal fin rays; eye diemeter greater than length of snouts a dark blotch at origin of lateral line (Fig. 1) bogeraveo 2b. 9 or 10 anal fin rays; eye diameter ‘amaller than, or equal to length of snouty fa very dark red blotch at upper level of pectoral fin insertion (Fig. 2) P. bogaraveo Figs 1 soo Py acarne anteri 1b, Sealation on top of head ending in front of @ limit of tranaverse line through middle of eye (rig. 3)5 scalation interior of mouth whitish or greyish 3a. Length of anal fin base greater than distance from snout tip to posterior margin of eye (Figs 4); 10 soft enl fin rays, ever Ba bellottii 3b. Length of anal fin base shorter than distance from snout tip to posterior margin of eye (Fig. 3)} 8 or 9 soft ‘anal fin pays. exythrinus anterior limit of scalation Fig.3 bellotti-n- FAO Sheets SPARIDAE Genus Sparue La. First 2 dorsal fin spines very short, third to fifth long and filamentous In young (Figs 1,2) Za, Pelvic fins wine red, their first soft ray hon-filamentous; edge of opercle dark; 4 or 5 dark cross bars, especially well visible in young (Fig. 1) cr 2b, Pelvic fins greyish white, their first soft rays filamentous; edge of opercle light- coloured; no dark crose bars, but large, blue-black spots on back and sides (Fig. 2) a . S: cacruleostictus 1b. First 2 dorsal fin spines not much shorter than the following, none of the latter fila- mentous 3a. A golden band present on front; large black blotch at origin of late- ral line (Fig. 3); more than 70 scales along lateral Line sw 3b. No golden bend on frant or black blotch at origin of lateral line; less than 70 seales along lateral line 4a. Tips of caudal fin whites no inct spot at pectoral’ fin axl; first soft ray of pelvic fins not filamentous; 54 scale rows between upper profile (at mid- point of spinous dorsal fin Dase) ‘and lateral line 4b. Caudal fin without white tips; a large, dark red blotch at bases of pectoral fing; first soft ray of pelvic fins filamentous 4 seale rows between upper pro- file (at midpoint of spinous dor- al fin base) and lateral line. pagrus africanus Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part)-2- FAO Sheets SPARIDAE Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part) LIST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Cade numbers are given for those species for which Identification Sheets are included Boops boope (Linnaeus, 1758) SPARID Boop 1 + Chysoblophus gbbloeps (Valenciennes, 1850) Dentex angolensis Poll é& Maul, 1955 SPARID Dent 5 Dantex barnaral Cacenat, 1970 SPARID Dent 6 DDentek Sanarieels Steindachner, 1801 SPARID Dent 7 Dentex sangasmis Pol, 1958 SPARID Dent 8 Dantex dente tUtnaets, 1758) , SPARID Dent 2 Dantes gibbcu (Rafinesque, 1810 SPARID Dent 2 Bantex macropithalmus Bloch, 1791) SPARID Dent 3 Dentex marecbanus Valenciennes, 1630 SPARID Dent & Diplodus annulars (Linnaeus, 1758) SPARID biplod 5 Dibledks Galati Steindachner, 1082) SPARID Diplod 6 Diptadus cerviniscervinue (Love, 1858) SPARID Diplod 7 Dipodus Fastatus WValentiennes, 1830) SPARID Diplod 8 Dias prayensis (Cadenet, 1968) SPARID Diplod 9 plague puntazze (Cetti, 1/77) SPARID Diplod 10 Diblodis sarge sscencionis (Valenctennes, 1830) Diploiks sarais cadenatl dé la Par, Bauchot & Daget, 1974 SPARID Diplod 1b Diptadus sarqus capensis (Smith, 1546) SPARID Diplod le ‘Diplodus sarais Reforae (Sauvage, 1876) Diblodus sargusIneatis (Valenciennes, 1830) SPARID Diplod 1d Diplo vulgaris: Geottroy Seine Fale, 1617) SPARID iplod & Litngrat aut Smithy 1952 ClehaSoathag marteus(innaeus, 1756) SPARID Litho 1 [ithoonathis oliveri Penrith & Penrith, 1959 blada molanura (Linnaeus, 1758) SPARID Cola L Pachyretopon blocil (Valenciennes, 1830) SPARID Pochy 1 Pagellus cane (Risso, 1826) SPARID Page 2 PPagells bells Steindechner, 1882 SPARID Page & apellg Bageraveo (rUmich, 1769) SPARID Page 5 Pagells erjtiras (imeeus, 1758) SPARID Page 1 Rhabdosargue globizepe (Valonctennes, 1830) SPARID Rhab 1 Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758) SPARID Sarpa 1 ** rus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 SPARID Spar 1 Grae auriga(Volenciennes, 1643) SPARID Spar 3 aris EaerUleostctus (Valenciennes, 1830) SPARID Spar 4 aru pogrus africans Akaraki, 1562 SPARID Spar 5a Spars pagrus pogros (Linnaeus, 1758) SPARID Spar 5b Spondyliosoma cantharus (Linnaeus, 1758) SPARID Spond 1 Viriidentex seromegalue (Osorio, 1908) SPARID Vir 1 Prepared by M.L- Bauchot, 3.C. Hureau, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Ichtyologie générale et appliquée, Parle, France, et J.C- Miquel, Station Marine dEndoume, Marseilles, France “ Presence doubtful in the area #2 Code modified after the publication of Identification Sheets for Mediterranean end Black SeaSPARID Boop 1 1981 FAQ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, &7 Cin part) (E-C. Atlantic) Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Box boops (Linnaeus, 1758) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Bogue Fr = Bogue Sp = Boga NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body fusiform, rather low and very slightly compressed, its anterior part subeylindrical_In cross-section. ye large, its dla- meter gfeater than snout length; scales on top of head reaching forward just beyond level of posterior eye margins; mouth small, oblique; lips very thin all teeth incisor-like, set in a single row inboth Jaws; cutting edges oF upper teeth with 4, of Tower taeth itr points (the central point lenges gil rakers on et arch 16 to 20 lower and 7 or 8 upper. Dorsal fin with 13 to 15 gpineg and 12 to 16 soft rays; anel fin with 3 opines and 18 to Te soTe rays} pectoral fins short, not reaching to snus caudal fin forked. Seales along lateral line 69 to 80. Colour: back bluish or greenish, sides with silvery or golden reflections and with 3 to 5 golden longitudinal lines; a small brown spot restricted to pectoral fin axils; lateral line dark; fins light. jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA Pagellus acarne: pectoral fins Jong, reaching to fenusy got at pectoral fin axils extending over fin base} anterior ‘teeth canine-like and lateral teeth malar-like. Other species of Sparidae: body deep, its ant erfor part oval in eross section. Furthermore, denti- tion rather different (except in Sarga salpa). Species of the family Emmelichthyidae: mouth strongly protrusible (only slightly so In 8. boops); no incisor-like teeth; some species with a large black spot on caudal peduncle or more anteriorly on sides. SE: Maximum: 36 em; common to 20 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR + Coast of West Africa from the Straits of Gibraltar to Angola and around Madeira, the Canary, Cape Verde and Sao Tomé-Principe islands. Also ‘occurring in the Mediterranean and the Nerth Atlantic up to Norway. ‘A demersal, as well as semi-pelagic, species living fon all typee of bottom (sand, mud, rock, ‘seagrass beds) ‘over the continental ehelf and upper slope to depths of 250 m, more common in the upper 100 m and sometimes: in coastal waters. Moves in aggregations, ascending to the surface mainly at night. In the northern part of tthe area, spawning takes place from March to May. ‘Omnivorous, feeding on crustaceans and plankton. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS + ‘A rather abundant species, but not intensively fished in this areas scarcely exploited in the Gulf of Guinea. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistice for this species are reported by Romanlat 660 t, Portugal: 50 t and Greece, less than 50 t (for 197). Caught on line gear, with bottom trawls and purse eines; also with beach seines and trammel nets. Marketed fresh frozen, dried-salted or smoked; also used for fishmeal and oil and commonly as bait in tuna fisheries B.boops _ other Sparidse anterior section of bodySPARID Dent 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) ienaeus, 1758) (Ec. Atlantic) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Dentex vulgaris Valenciennes, 1830 VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Common dentex Fr = Denté commun : Sp = Denton comun (= Dentdn) ssed. Head profile smoothly rounded in adults but almost straight in young; ® slight frontal hump in very large individuals; eye small, suborbital epace wide; checks scaly; scales also present fon preopercie except at its posterior margin; mouth low, slightly oblique; several rows of canine-like teeth, outer row by far the strongest with 4 to 6 very well developed anterior teeth in each jaws gillrakers on firet arch 9 or 10 Tower and 8 or 9 upper. Dorsal fin with TT spines and TI oF UF aoRt Taye, the sigas ineeeasing in ena fons th firet tothe fourth or fiftvand subequal Wereattery anal fn with 3 spines and Tt SOF rape, oalos lone TatSral neste. ine 62 to Colour: the young are greyish, spotted with black on back and upper sides, becoming pink with sexual jnaturity; old individuals are bluish grey and the Gant spats Bacar trare Orie fface with age, ‘Some indiviguals ave a yellow tinge behind the mouth and on the gill cover.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Sparus castuleostictus: first 2 dorsal fin spines very short (comparatively long in Dentex species); molar teeth present in both jaws (dbeent in Dentex species). Other Dentex species: never numerous dark spots on back and upper sides (these spots always visible in D. 12 doreal fin spines (1 In D. dentex Other species of Sparidae: either more than one type of teeth present, or all teeth incisor-like (only ccanine-like teeth in Dertex species); lower jaw pro- jeeting in Virididentex). SHE: Maximum: 100 em; common to 50 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : ‘Along the West African coast north of Cape Blanc (exceptionally further south) and around the Canary Islands and Madeira. Also present in the Mediterranean ‘and in the Narth Atlantie to the British Isles. A demersal species inhabiting hard bottoms (rock for rubble) down to 200m depth. Adults solitary, the young gregarius. A camivare feeding on fish, molluscs and cepha- lopods. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS Of limited Importance to fisheries along West Africa. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Within the area, separate statistics for this species are reported only by Spain (about 1 100 t in 1977). Caught with bottom trawls, lines, traps (young) ‘and sometimes trammel nets. Marketed fresh or frozen (flesh highly esteemed); ‘also used for fishmeal and oil- A molars + WN. S. caeruleostictus Sparus sp.SPARID Dent 2 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in pact) (€lc. Atiantic) Dentex gidbosus (Rafinesque, 1610) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Dentex filosus Valenciennes, 1843 VERNACULAR NAMES: : 0 A2em FAQ: En ~ Pink dontex Fr - Gros denté rose Sp ~ Sama de pluma NATIONAL + compressed. Head profile regularly convex in the young, but older individuals develop a conspicuous hump on fronts eye diameter about asl to Width oT suboral spacer checks ay ‘amotimes also small scales present on entire height of preopercie; mouth low, slightly oblique; jews subequal; several rows af canine-like teeth, outer row tmuah the stforgoar wisn & to ¢ better developed anteriar teeth eash Jam stor 8 to 10 lowor onde fo 8 pore Corea Hn wich TS gillrakers on first arch 8 to ‘to & upper. spines and 10 or 11 soft rays; first_two dorsal spines very short; those ‘Gitowing very long end flamentdue- Tr You. dN iGaals ant decreesing Te “ih fos the thr bck anal Mth eno im the th ‘ward; anal fin with 3 spines and 7 to 9 soft rays; head of adult rst soft ray of pelvic fine filamentous. Scales along lateral line 52 to 62.Colour: reddish with bluish silvery reflections; belly lighter and head darker; a small black spot behind jor end of dor brownish Black pot at pectoral iss, © dark area st uppst angle-of operclsy 1 Or $Faare lines on eof part of dorsal inj caudal fin red edged with block. Large individuals are often tinged wine red ‘and spotted with black an head (males) or greyleh (female). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Dentex canariensis and D. bamardi: 2 large dark red ot on base of posterior soft dorsal fin rays (@ ‘small black spot just behind dorsal fin in D. gibbosus). species: no black spot behind dorsal fing dorsal Tin spines regularly increasing in length up to the fifth spine (decreasing from third spine backward in. gibboous). Other species of Sparidae: either more than ane type of teeth present, or all teeth Incisor-like (only Canine-like teeth in Dentex species lower jaw pro- jecting in Virididentex). SHE: Maximum: 100 em common to 60 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Along the West African coast from the Straits of Gibraltar to Angola, and around the Canary and So ‘Tomé-Principe Islends. Also present off Portugal and in the Mediterranean. ‘A demersal fish inhabiting rocky and rubble bottoms 5 well as sand around racks, from 20 to about 220 m depth. The young are found close to the share, while the adults occur In offehore waters in the vicinity Of the continental slope. A protandric hermaphrodite (the majority are males up to 50 cm length, trans- forming into females thereafter). Carnivorous, feeding chiefly on crustaceans, fish ‘and cephalopods. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Mainly In the central region of its distributional range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Soparate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with line gear (adults), bottom trawls and traps (young on the Canary Istands). Marketed fresh, frozen or dried salted (flesh highly 5 also used for fishmeal and oll-SPARID Dent 3 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) Dentex macrophthalmus (Bloch, 1791) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR. NAMES FAO: En ~ Large-eye dentex Fr = Denté & gros yeux Sp = Cachuche NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER: Body oval and compressed. Head profile regularly inclined from nape; eye very large, its diameter greater than snout lenght; suborbital space narrow; posterior nostril rounded; cheeks scaly; sceles also on preopercle, ‘except at its posterior margin; mouth low and oblique; several rows of canine-like teeth, outer row the strongest, with 4 well developed anterior teeth (in upper jaw (visible when mouth la closed) and 10 small anterior teeth (clearly smaller than the upper canines) in lower jaw; gillrekers in first arch 17 to 20 Tower and 9 to 12 Upper: Dorsal Tin with 11 or 12 spines and 10 oF 11 soft rays, the spines increesing in length from the first to the fourth o fifth and subequal thereafter; anal fin with 3 spines and 6 soft rays. Scales along lateral line 49 to 55. Colour: body and fins reddish, lateral line more bright reds spinous portion of dorsal fin whitish at base; anal fin edged with white; inferior margin of lower caudal fin lobe white. The coloration becomes more inteneo during Jie spawning season.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other Dentex species and Virididentex acrome galust canines equally well developed in both jaws Tower canines less developed in D. macrophthalinus). Furthermore, lower gillrakers lees than T7 in all other Dentex epeciess fork of caudal fin margined with red in 1D. mareecanus and lower jaw projecting in Virididentex. acromeglus. Other species of Sparidae: either more then one type of teeth present, or all teeth incisor-like (only canine-like teeth in Dentex species). SWE: Maximum: 65 em} common to 24 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: —— p, macrophthalmus pene ‘Along the West African coast from the Straits of Gibraltar to Cope Verde Including the Canary Islands, and from Congo to Namibia. Also off Portugal and in the Mediterranean. A demersal species inhabiting rocky or sandy bottoms from 30 to 500 m, the Idividuals gradually descending to greater depthe with growth. The stocks migrate seasonally between the coast and deeper waters In accordance with local hydrographic conditions and their life cycle. Reproduction takes place from the second year onward, with intermittent spawning acti- vity from October to April north of Cape Verde over the edge of the continental shelf and the slopes of canyons (cold waters). Adults are camiverous, feeding chiefly on fish and crustaceans; the young ere plankton-feeders. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Throughout its range; in the northern part of the trea this is the most abundant among the species of Dentex. A seasonal fishery takes place at the time of "Dawning concentrations. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATIOM Within the area, catch statistics reported for this species totalled 29 000 t in 1977} most of the catch about 25 000 t) was taken by the USSR in the southern part of the area. Caught with bottom trawis, bottom longlines and on hodle and line. Marketed fresh or frozen (flesh highly esteemed); leo used for fishmeal and ail.SPARIO Dent 4 1981 FAQ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (EC. Atlantic) Dentex maroccanug Valenciennes, 1830 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: Fao: En - Morocco dentex Fr = Denté du Maroe Sp = Sama marroqut (= Sama) NATIONAL DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval and compressed. Head profile rather regular, steeper In front of eyes cheeks scaly; scales preopercie except at its posterior margin; mouth low, very slightly oblique; several rows of car ‘outer row much the strongest with 4 ta 6 very well developed anterior teeth ‘mouth i laced; gllrkors on tise anch Sto? Tower and te 9 uppers Dorsal ecw ep aye, the spines Inciedsing-inIength Op To the Taurine fifth and subequal theseaTior Verges ane At to 51s af head length); anal fin with 3 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays. Scales along lateral line 46 to 51. Colours light red with silvery reflections; head darker and fine pinkish; diatal part of dorsal and anal fins ‘pore intensely reddish; "fork of caudal fin edged with dark reds a very small dark spot above pectoral fin Frooreions. Males cleplay a rnore Intense coloration uring the spawhing season.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Dentex macrophthelmus: lower canines less deve~ loped than’ uppers Cequaly well developed in D. meroceanus); lower gill rakers 17 to 20 (9 to 12 in ‘faroccanus). 1. angolensis: caudal fin uniformly red (edged with dark red in D. marcecanus); longest dorsal fin spine 33 to 44% of head length (4 to 51% in OD. maroccanus). 0. congoensis: caudal fin uniformly red lower gill- rakera IZ ta 16, D. dentex: doreal fin spines 11 (12 in De meroceanus). Other Dentex species: first two dorsel fin spines eo very short, those following often filamentousy a dark spot Ron posteriorly on dorsal fin base or on body behind dorsal fin. i smacrophthaimus Other species of Sparidse: ether more then one ae type of teeth present, or all teeth Inclsor-ike (only Jaw and teeth canine-like teeth in Dentex species); lower jaw projecting f WL Maximum: 45 em; common to 25 cm. 1D. barnardi, D. canariensis, poe D. gibbosus GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : ‘anterior part of dorsal fin fn_— ‘Along the West African coast from Gibraltar to the Guif of Guinea, possibly even further south. Northward extending to the Bay of Biscay (occasionally further orth) and into the southwestern Mediterranean. A demersal species inhabiting various types of bot~ tom but preferring gravel or rubble, from 20 to about 500, m depth, abundance varying with depth according to the latitudes, Seasonal spawning activities between 50 and 100 rm depth with @ peak from May to August north of Cape Verde. Camivorous feeding chiefly on crustaceans, fish, ‘and secondarily on molluscs PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Fished south of Agadir, particularly south of Cape Blanc. Together with D. mectophthalmus, this is the most abundant among the Dentex species on the northwest African coast. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this ep Caught with bottom trawls and on line gear. Marketed fresh or frozen (flesh highly esteemed) also used for fishmeal and oileSPARID Dent 5 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 3a, 67 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) Dentex angolensis Poll & Maul, 1953 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Dentex polli Roux, 1954 VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Angols dentex Fr = Denté angolais Sp = Dentén angolés NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval, rather deep and compressed. Head profile straight; interorbital space narrow (21 to 25% of head lengthy ouborbial space wide (Lr to 21% ST Read angi) ocalad Power Oe SROULS ah. antaror port of proopercley mouth Taw, sIighty oblique; several rows of canine-lice teeth, outer row the strongest with to 6 better developed anterior tooth in each Jaw, the uppers vials when mouth fs closed; llrakers on frit arch 5 ar Soowor and to tppors Dorsal firth 12 apres erasing In to the fourth oF fifth and subequal Thereafter, and 9 or 10 aft rays; anal fin with F spines ond 7 oF 6 soft rays. Scales along lateral line 45 to 49. Colour: red with silvery reflections, head darker and belly lighter; a small dark area above the insertions of pectoral fina; doreal and anal fine red except on their bases; pelvic fins light-coloured; pectoral fins and caudal fin reddish.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Dentex congoensis: head profile rounded, inter orbital space wide, ZB to 32% of head length (21 to 25% fn D. angolensis); subarbital space narrow, 12 to 14% of head lenge lower gillrakers U7 to 21% in D. engolens Teto 12 0 or 10 ine angolensis 1D. maroceanus: fork of caudal fin margined with ork red} longest dorsal fin spine 44 to 51% of head Tength (33 te 4i% in D. angolensis). . macrophthalmus: lower gilrkers 17 to 20; lowor cates lar developed than uppers equally well veloped in Ds angolnai Other Dentex species: first two dorsal fin spines very short, the following often filamentous; a dark spot Boserionty on corel fn base or body behind dorsal Other species of Sparidae: either more than one type of teeth present, or all teeth incisor-like (only ‘eanine-like teeth in Dentex)s lower jaw projecting in Virididentex). SE: Maximum: 350m} common to 24 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR + Along the West coast of Africa from Morocco (339N) to Angola. Inhabits various types of bottoms on the conti- rental shelf and the slope, from 15 to 300 m depth; the ‘old individuals occurring In the deeper waters. A protogynic hermaphrodite (the majority of individuals fre first females and become meles at 18 to 23 em length). In the Gulf of Gulnea there are two spawning seasons, the most Important extending from May to Duly. Camivorous, feeding chiefly on crustaceans} also (on fish, sometimes on molluscs and worms. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS From Agadir to Angola; a seasonal fishery te upwellings (maximum landings from June to October). CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics for thia species are reported by Ghanm only (about 4 300 in 197 Caught with bottom trawls and bottom longlines. Marketed fresh or frozen, sometimes dried salted (flesh highly esteemed); also used for fishmeal and oil. D. gongoensis ©. maroceanue D. angolensis Virididentex acromegalus Ma 2. macrophthalmus oes enttion AE, anterior part of dorsal fin Dennard, eanarensleSPARID Dent 6 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) Dentex barnardi (Cadenat, 1970) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Bamard dentex Fr - Denté austral _ Sp - Chacarona surefia NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval, rather deep and compressed. Head profile regularly inclined from nape downward and more abrupt. below eye; a frontal hump developing with age; eye diameter greater than width of suborbital space in large idividuals;. 5 to 8 scales on cheeks, some scarcely visible scales on lower part of preopercie; mouth low, slightly oblique, Jaws subequal; several rows of canine-like teeth, outer row the strongest with 4 to 6 better developed antatiot tecth in eseh jy gil Takers On Hree seh T8 to 16 lower and to Ll uppers Dorel ti wth i? pines sed Sor 10 soft rave; the Firat two spines extremaly short, the following long and more or less filamentous, eapecially in the youra, end Gocreasing Ir ength trom the thin or fourth backward anal An wth spitwe and § sate {figstsoft Fay of pelvic fin fiamentous,.Seates slong lateral line 58 to 53. Colour: more or less bright red with silvery reflections; a dark red spot posteriorly on dorsal fin base well beyond the scaly sheath a dark area af pectoral fin axisy- more or Tees aligned Gavk apots OF oofe exter fartion of dorsal fing caudal fin red with a fine black edge,DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Dentex canariensis: lower gillrakers less than 14 D. gibbosuss a deep black spot on body behind dorsal fir fa daik red spot posteriorly on dorsal fin nD. barardi) Other Dentex species: no dark red spot post- eriorly on dorsal fin; dorsal_fin spines regularly Increasing in length up to the fifth (decreasing from third backward, and first two spines very short in D. barnardi). Other species of Sparidae: either more then ane type of testh present, or all teeth incisor-like (only Canine-like teeth in O. barnardi)s lower jaw projecting in Virigidontes). SHE: Maximum: 49 emg common to 25 em. -canariensis, D. gibbosus D ance dt anterior part of dorsal fin other Dentex GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : ‘Along the West African coast from Gabon (525) to Angola (1785). ‘A demersal fish inhabiting trawlable bottoms {ror 40 to 100 m depth. Camivorous. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS + Throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with bottom trawis. Marketed fresh; flesh highly esteemed.SPARID Dent 7 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) Dentex canariensis Steindachner, 1681 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Dentex nufar Valenciennes, 1830 (sensu Poll, 1971) VERNACULAR. NAMES: FAO: En - Canary dentex Fr - Denté 8 tache rouge Sp - Chacarona de Cenarias NATIONAL DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval, rather deep end compressed. Head profile regularly convex except for a slight hurnp on front eye diameter smaller than width of suborbital space in large individuals; cheeks scaly (7 to 9 rows); some small, scarcely visible scales also present on preoperele throughout its heights mouth low, slightly obliques jave sivecuals several rows of eanine-liee teeth, outer row the strongest with 4 to 6 very well developed anterior teeth in each ‘Ee lakers on first arch 10 to 15 lower and 6 to Y upper. Doreal fin with 1Z-epines and 9 or IO sovt raysy_firat two spines wort, the following more or lees filamentous and decreasing in length from the third or fourth ‘kara anat fr wiEh S opines GATE GET CGTE raya, Tt sak roy of pelvic fine flomentovsr Seslen along laterl line 61 to 68. Colours reddish with silvery reflections; belly lighter and head darker; a dark red eriorly on base of dorsal fin extending well beyand tho sealy seathy & dar area at pectoral fi Sls mare or les aligned dane pots Shoot portion of dorsal fi Caudal Tin dank ted, very finely edged with black,’ In some individcais, a greeniah yellow band between eyes.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Dentex barnardi: lower gillrakers 14 to 16 (10 to 13 in D. canariensis). D, qibbosus: a small, very distinct, black spot on body Sohind dorsal fin (a larg, Gark red epot posteriorly ‘on dorsal fin in D. canariensis). Other Dentex species: no dark red spat post- eviorly on. dorsal fin dorsal. fin. spines regularly Inczeasing In length up to the fifth (decreasing from the third backward in D- canariensis) Other species of Sparidae: either more than one type of teeth present, or all teath incisor-like (only canine-like teeth in Dentex species); lower jaw pro- jecting in Virididentex). 100 em; common to 35 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : ‘Along the West African coast from Cape Bojador to Angala; absent araund islands, ineluding the Canaries. ‘A demersal fish inhabiting various types of bot= tom, but especially rocky substrate usually to depths ‘of about 150 m (rarely reported to 450 m), the depth range increasing with age. Sexual maturity’ is reached in the second year, and in the northern part of the Gulf of Guinea, Intermittent spawning occurs from July to September, with a second, shorter spawning period in january. Carnivorous; the young are plankton-feeders, the ‘adults feed particularly on fish, crustaceans and cepha- lopods. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : A seasonal fishery linked to upwellings- CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with bottom trawls, trammel nets and on line gear. Marketed fresh or frozen (flesh highly esteemed); algo used for fishmeal and oil. —— D. gibbosus D. bamardi OD taining 6. barnardi, D. gibbosis Demeoninas autres Dentex anterior part of dorsal fin Virididentex acromegalusSPARID Dent 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 Gin part) (Ec. attantic) Dentex congoensis Poll, 1954 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None En - Fre Sp NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval and compressed. Head profile regularly convex; interorbitel space wide (27 to 32% of head lengt suborbital space narrow (12 to 14% of head length); cheeks scaly;_scales also present on preopercle except at its osterlor margins mouth low, slightly obliques jaws subequal; several raws of canine-like teeth, outer row much ‘the strongest, with 4 to 6 better developed anterior ich Jaw, the uppers visible when mouth is closeds illrakors_on firot ‘and & 0 9 upp al fi-with 12 spines and 9 or 10 soft rays, the spines {fereasing Ir length op to the Tour or fifth, the following subequel; onel fin with’ apines and ot 6 waft raya, Seales along lateral line &5 to 47. Colour: red with silvery reflections, head darker and belly lighter dorsal and anal fins red distally, whitish at bases; pectoral fins and caudal fin pinkish red; pelvic fins whitish. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA Dentex angolensis: head profile straight; inter arbital space narrow, Z1 to 25% of head length (27 to 32% in D. congoensis); suborbital space wide, 17 to 21% of Tength (12 to 14% in D. congoensis); lower Gillrakers 9 or 10 (12 to 14 in D. eongoensisy ah A (@) we — D. angolensis(D, macrophthalmus: lower canines less developed than dppare toqually woli developed in D. congoonsis) 17 to 20 lower gillrakers. D. maroceanus: fork of caudal fin edged dark reds Tower gillrskers 10 or 11. Dz dentex: 11 dorsal fin spines (12 in D. gongoansi- Other Dentex species: first two dorsal fin spines very short, those following often filamentous; a dark spot posteriorly on dorsal fin or on body behind dorsal fin. Other species of Sparidae: elther more than one type of teeth present, or all testh incisor-like only Maximum: 30 em; common to 20 cm. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : ‘Along the West African coast from Senegal to Angola. Inhabits various types of bottoms on the conti rental shelf and upper slope, down to at least 200 m, older individuals occurring at’ greater depths. A camivore feeding chiefly on fish, and to lesser extend, on tunicates and molluscs PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘Throughout its range. A seasonal fishery linked to upwellings (peak fram July to Oetober). CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION Separate statistics aro not reported for this species Caught with bottom trawls, bottom longlines and on other line gear. Marketed fresh or frozen, rarely smoked (flesh highly eteemed)s also used for fishmeal and oil. dentition ll D. congoensis WL 0; bernard, D. conarienss, aD. aibbosus ‘anterior part of dorsal finSPARID Diplod 1b 1981 FAQ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 Gin part) (Ec. atlantic) 974 Diplodus sarqus cadenati de la Paz, Bauchot & Dag OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Diplodus sargus typicus Cadenat, 1964 VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - White soabream incisors Fr ~ Sar commun dy Maroc Sp = Sargo marroqut NATIONAL + smokers DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval rather deep. Mouth slightly protrusible, lips thiny 8 Incisorclike testh (exceptionally 10)” in upper, and. 0 in lower followed by molars sat iS or & Garely S)rows Tupper and Tors Gaehe Eprows in Tower law? glaere on fre areh 9 te lower ond 6 to 9 ippersDarsal fnuith 11 or 12 (earely 13) spines and 12 to 15 soft raysy anal fin with 3 spines and IZ to 1é soft raya} caudal fin forked. Scales along lateral line 58 to 67 (scales on caudal Tin base excluded). background colour silvery grey, interorbital space and Colours snout darker; 9 alternating dark and attenuated vertical bars on bod) covering about two-thirds af body depth from the dorsal profile: down’ Srard Ur juveniles only the > danvor bars are VsDID)-¢ sasdle-Iiks dani Biotch on caudal peduncle, just behind end of dorsal fing dare Tongitu- ‘inar Tinea on sidst running along scale rows throughout the entire oath of the body; pectoral fin axils black; doreal and anal fins grey, darker distally; pectoral and pelvic fins more or less dark; caudal fin grey, ‘margined with black ™ grey, Jaws and toathDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Diplodus sargus capensis: (from Angola to South Africe): all crossbars on Body equally dark. D. sargue ascensionis (the only Diplodus from Ascension Island-tnknown elsewhere): very similar in shape and colours vertical crossbars sometimes absent. D. sargus helenae (the only Diplodus from St. Helena, unknoWws lbowherelr Hhe-9 vertice! erossbars dlappear completely in large individuals. ‘D. sangus linestus (only known from the Cpe Verde Islands): only #ar°5 crossbars G in O. sargus cadenati). D. puntazzer malar teeth very rudimentary (well developed In ali subspecies of O. saraus). Other Diplodus species: crossbars less than 9 or absent. Species of Sparus, Lithognathus and Pagellus: anterior teeth rot incisor-like- Other species of Spaticae: lateral teeth cutting or pointed (molar-like in Diplodus species). siz Maximur 45 em} common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Common along the West African coast from the Straits of Gibraltar to Cape Verde, and around Madeira and the Canary Islands, but. absent from’ the Cape Verde Islands. Northward ‘extending up to the Bay of Biscay; In the Mediterranean it is replaced by the subspecies D. sargue sergue. A coastal, schooling species inhabiting rocky bottorns down to depths of 150 m, but especially abundant in the surf zone. The young occur in Zostera seagrass beds. Probably a protandric hermaphrodite (first male and then becoming female). Omniverous, but prefers small crustaceans and molluscs; also feods on seaweeds and may attack small cor PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘Throughout its range, mainly exploited by artisanal fisheries. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with trammel nets, beach seines and on hook and line on the Canary Islands; also with trawis. Marketed fresh or frozen (but the flesh is not very highly esteemed); also used for fishmeal and oil. rudimentary molars D: puntazzo upper Jaw and teeth 20SPARID Diplod le 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS $347 (in pare) re Atti ‘Diplodus sarque capensis (Smith, 1846) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - White seabream (Cape) Fr = Sar commun du Cap Sp - Sarge del Cabo NATIONAL DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval and deep. Mouth slightly protrusible, lips thin; 8 incisor-tike teeth in each jaw; 3 rows of molars In woper and 2 rows i lower jaws lakers on fn ech to Tomer and Ota uppers Dota tn with 12 (rrely 1) spines and 13 to 16 soft rayes anal fin with 3 spines and 13 or 14 soft rays; caudal fin forked. Scales along lat {61 to 68 (acales on caudal fin base excluded). Colour: background colour silvery grey; 9 narrow, equally dark crossbars running from dorsal profile to about two thinde of bouy depth (lending to tleeppeat it OH Tnividualoyy “6 Tange, dark, saddle-shaped bloteh on caudal peduncle; vertical and pelvic fins greyish.Diplodus sargus ascensionis (the only Diplodus found around Ascension Island unknown elsewhere) dare ‘grey longitudinal lines on sides following scale rows; 4 Fows of molars in upper and 3 in lower jaw (5 and 2, respectively, in D. sargus capensis). D. sargus helenae (the only Diplodus found around Ascension Tsang, uriknown eleewiiereyr dav longitudinal lines on sides throughout their depth; the 9 vertical bars disappearing completely in large individuals; snout blunt. D. sarqus cadenati (north of Cape Verde): vertical crossbars alternatingly dark and attenuated. 1. sarqus lineatus (only from the Cape Verde Islandayt only 4 oF 5 dark crossbars (9 in De sargus ccapensie)- D: puntazzor molars very rudimentary (well deve~ doped in sara). Other Diplodus species: dark crossbars either lose than 9, or absent. Species of Sparus, Lithognathus and Pagellus: ant~ rior teeth not inelsorciiges Other species of Sparidae: lateral teeth elther pointed or with cutting edges (molar-like in Diplodus species). SE: Maximum: 35 ems common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR + Rather restricted within the area, from Angola southward to South Africa, Inhabits rocky bottoms to about 50 m depth. Cmnivorous, feeding on seaweeds and benthic invertebrates. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Throughout its range, mainly in artisanal fish- CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported far thie species. Caught mainly on line gear- Marketed fresh, the flesh is not highly esteemed. puntezzo Upper jaw and teethSPARID Diplod 1d 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. attantic) (Valenciennes, 1830) Diplodue sargue OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Diplodus sargus insularum Cadenat, 1964 VERNACULAR. NAMES: FAO: En - White seabream (Cope Verde) Fr - Sat commun du Cap Vert ‘Sp ~ Sargo de Cabo Verde NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body aval and deep. Mouth slightly protrusible; lips thin; 8 Incisor- Luke teeth in each jaws 3 (rarely 2) rows of molar teeth in upper, and Zor 3 Fows ir wor lan 1a Gidliony 7 or 3 iopular rows OT email molars behind Ehe Tnclsorsy gill rakers on first arch 9 to 12 lower and 6 to 9 upper. Dorsal fin with 11 or 12 spines (every second spine strong and silvery) and 13 to 15 aoft raya; anal Tin with 3 spines and 12 or 13 soft rays; caudal fin forked. Scales along lateral line 57 to 65 (scales on caudal fin base excluded). Colour: background colour a light greyish silvers 4 to 5 narrow black crossbars running from dorsal profile to bellys a large, black saddleshaped blotch on caudal peduncle; pelvic fing black except distally; dorsal and anal fine darks pectoral fins light-coloured. Jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other subspecies of Diplodus sargus: 9 vertical crossbars or sometimes ‘none (D. éargue ascensionis) (4 or 5 crosbare in D. sargus lineatus). ~ Diplodus cervinus and fasciatus: 10 to 12 incior-like teeth in upper Jaw (@ in subspecies of D. sargus); no molars. behi the incisors; dark crossbars broader than light inter- spaces. 0 mélars here D. cervinus D: puntazzo: molars oes very Fudimentary. 9 single row of emall molars (Geveral rows in D. sargue). D. prayensis and D. vulgaris: a dark nuchal band present absent in B:Sangao D. gnnularis: @ dark annular peduncular bar present (@_saddle-shaped blotch In D. sarque)s Sealer along lateral line 48 to 56 (57 te 6S ih Dy sergus lineatus) Species of Sparus, Lithognathus and Pagellus: anterior testh “not _incieor-like (6 Inéleor-like teeth In each jaw in D. sargus). D. bellotei behind the incl Other species of Sparidee: lateral teeth either pointed or with cutting edges (molar-like teeth in Diplodus species). D. vulgaris SWE: Maximum: 25 ems common to 20 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : This species is endemic to the Cape Verde leland Inhabits rocky bottoms interspread with sand in nearshore waters to about 30 m depth or slightly more. Omnivorous, feeding on seaweeds and benthic invertebrates. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Throughout its range; mainly landed in artisanal fisheries. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION Separate statistics are not species. reported for this Mainly caught on hook and line. Marketed fresh; flesh not highly esteemed. Da puntazze D. bellottii upper Jaw and teeth ‘annular band ‘on caudal PeduneleSPARID Dipled 4 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIOAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (EC. Atlantic) E. Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, 1817) Diplodus vulgaris OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Common two-banded seabream = Sar 8 téte noire Sp ~ Sargo mojarra (= Mojarra) a NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval, deep and compressed. Mouth slightly protrusible, lips rather thick; 8 harrow, chestnut-coloured, incisor-like teeth in each jaw; 3 to 5 rows of molars In upper and Z to 4 rows in lower jaw, set behing ie ole arden sdee a? fore listers oe fear rer WU to ower and 6 to 9 upper. Dorsal fin with 11 or 12 spines and 13 to 16 soft rays; anol fin with 3 spines and IP to 15 soft rayer caudal fin forked. Seas along lateral line 51 to 61 (scales on base of caudal fin excluded). Colour: background colour grey, brownish or greenish, lighter on belly; a large, very dark nuchal band extending from origin of dorsal fin to pectoral fit TmertTons and to-the posterlor margin of eperclay a dark Stitular band’ bn caudal peduncle evtending unto the bass of posterior Sorsal and anal Tnraye (cmatlinos mare restrleted, nor Tesching dorsal Sd anal ins im young Incviaseleypectorel fin axils black; caudal fin dark, almost black distally; other fine more or less dark, especially at ‘margins. jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Diplodus prayensis (Cope Verde alanis one huehal band narrows pos terior edge of branchio- stegal membrane black. Ike teeth in upper jaw (@ in D. vulgaris); no molars behind the incisors; danke cerossbends broader’ than light interspaces. very suitnenean et ccorvinus D; puntazzo D. bellotti ‘upper jaw and teeth D. bollotti: 9 single row of small molars behind the ineisors (eoveral rows in D. vulgar). D, annularie and D. sarque: nuchal band absent. Species of Sparus, Lithognathue and Pagellus: ant- rior teeth not incisor-like. Other species of Sparidse: lateral teeth either pointed or with cutting edges (marke in Dipl species). sm Maximum: 45 em; common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : D: prayensis Common along the West African coast from the Straits of Gibraltar to Cape Verde, around Madeira and the Canary Islands, but absent from the Cape Verde Islands; also occurring from ‘Angola to South Africa. Northward extending into the Mediterra~ nnean and the Bay of Biscay. ‘An euryhaline species (tollerating changes in water salinity) inhabiting particularly rocky and sometimes sandy bottoms to depths of 160 m, but mare commonly in less than 50m. The young ‘are sometimes found in seagrass beds Camivorous, feeding on crustaceans, warms and molluscs. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘Throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with trammel nets, trawis, on hook and line, in traps (Canary Islands) and with beach seines (young fish). Marketed fresh, frozen or dried salted (flesh not very esteemed); also used for fishmeal and cil. plySPARIO Diplod 5 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in pact) (€lc. attantic) Diplodus anularis (Linnaeus, 1758) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR. NAMES: inelsors FAO: En - Annular seabream Fr ~ Sparsilion commun Sp = Raspallén molars NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval, rather dep and compressed. Mouth slightly protrusible; 8 incisor- like teeth in each jaw, followed by 2 to & rows of molars in upper and 2 or 3 rows in Tawar jaws oilracers'on frst arch 9'to-12 lower and 7 or 8 upper Dorsal Tin oithrIT ‘pines and 11 to 13 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 11 or 12 soft rays. Scales along lateral line 48 to 56 (scales on base of caudal fin excluded). Colour: adults are yellowish grey with silvery roflectionss ah almost annular black band on caudal peduncle, behind dorsal fins pelvic fine yellow, other fins light coloured. Juveniles with 5 narrow crossbars on sides and the peduncular band ve distinctly annular. aanmolars behind the inelsore; dark cerossbends broader than light interspaces. D. puntazzor molars very rudimentary. D, bellottil: a single row of molars behind the incisors; dark bar on caudal peduncle saddle-shaped. .D. vulgaris and D- prayensis: der nuchal band present (Gbsent in D. annutaris). D. sargus: dark bar on caudal peduncle saddle-shaped (annular in D. annularis) and 57 to 71 scales along lateral line (48 to 56 In D. annularie) Species of Sparus, Litho- ath ond Pagel aterioe Gath bt inclsorlice Other species of Sparidas: lateral teeth either pointed or with cutting edges (molar-like in Diplodus species). sz ‘Maximum: 20m; common to 15 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Madeira and Canary Islands. Also in the Mediterranean and northward to the Bay of Biscay. Inhabits chiefly zostera seagrass beds but is also found on rocky bottoms from the coastline to about 20m depth. The sexes are separated, although these fish are potential hermaphrodites; certain individuals are protandric hormaphrodites (first males, then becoming females). Carnivorous, feeding on worms, crustaceans and molluscs occurring in seagrass beds. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Regularly fished for, this being the most abundant species of Diplodus within Its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with beach seines, bottom trawls and in traps. Marketed freshy frozen or dried salted (flesh not highly, apparently used for flshmeal and oll. teomed); alsoFAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE Diplodus bellottil (Steindachner, 1882) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Diplodus senegalensis Cadenat, 1964 VERNACULAR, FAO: En ~ Senegal seabream Fr Sparaillon africain, Sp = Raspalidn senegalés NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval, rather deep and compressed. Mouth slightly protru- sible; 8 chestrut-coloured, incisor-like teeth in each jaw, followed by 2, oe_ exceptionally 3 rows oF molars “a singls row of rtars Sehing the InGleors; ill raere on first arch 12 to 14 lower and 6 to 9 upper. Dor- Sal fin with 10 or 11 epinee and 13 to 15 soft rays} anal fin with 3 spines ‘nd IS to T6 soft rayay—ctudal fin forced. Scales along lateral ine a to 54 (scales on caudal fin base excluded). Colour: background colour silvery grey, head darker; dark, idlo-haped bar on caudal peduncles a dark blotch at origin of lateral Tine extending unto Upper angle of opeccley a small, Tare oF lees well defined, dark, spot at upper angle of pectoral fin base; a more or less visible dark longitudinal line runs slong middle of sides from opercle to caudal peduncle. Apart from the above described adult colour pattern, the juveniles have 5 broad cross bars on sides. SPARID Diplod 6 1981 FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. attantic) Jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Diplodus cervinue and D. fasciatus: 10 to 12 incisors In upper jaw (8 in D. Bellotti; no molars behind the Ineleore; dark crossbars broader than light interspaces. D, puntazzer molars very rudimentary on sides of jaws. Other Diplodus species: several rows of more or Jess small molars Behind the incisors (@ single row of ‘malare behind the incisors in D- bellotti Species of Sparus, Lithognathus and Pagel anterior teeth not incisor-like- Other epectes of Sparidaes lateral testh either pointed of with eutting edges (molar-ike in Diblodus tpecien- SHE: Maximum: 30 em; common to 15 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Common from the Straits of Gibraltar to Cape Verde; absent from Madelra, the Canaries and the Cape Verde Islands Found on the upper portions of the continental shelf, from the coastline to 100 s depth, but especially fram 30 to 50 m. Occurs on various types of bottom ‘and sometimes forms sizeable aggregation: Carnivorous, feeding on small benthic inverte- brates. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Not fished for intensively, but taken incidentally ‘throughout its ranges CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. ‘Caught on line gear and with trammel nets, trawls ‘and beach seines. Marketed fresh, frozen or dried salted (flesh not esteemed); also used for fishmeal and oil untazz0 several rows of molars. D. prayensisSPARID Dipled 7 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 3,47 Gin part) Ec atone) Diplodue (Lowe, 1858) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Zebra seabream Fr ~ Sar & grosses evres ‘Sp - Sargo breado NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval, deep and compressed. Snout rather pointed, mouth slightly protrusibie, lipe thick; 10 to 12 incisor-like teeth In upper jaw 8 Tower. jawy followed by to 3 Casually 0) tows ‘of Stal: molar ilirakers on first arch @ to TU Tower and 7 to 9 upper Sr IZ spines Increasing In angi ap to tho fourth ata LI to 14 soft reyes anal fin with 3 spines and 10 to 12 soft rays; caudal fin forked. Scales along lateral lire 51 to 62 (scales on caudal fin base excluded). Colour: background colour silvery grey with golden reflections; broad, dark, crossbars on sides, the first before dorsal fin, the last ‘caudal peduncle; a ind on interorbital space extending unto eyes ‘and cheeks; snout tip dark brown; a black spot at upper part of pectoral fin axils; vertical fins greyish, darker distally; pelvic fine dark. A yellow subocular spot appeare during the reproduction period. jaws and teothDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Diplodus fasciatus (endemic to Cape Verde Islands): background colour dark, with narrow light. crossbars (ark crossbars on @ light background in O- corvi Other Diplodus species: 8 incisors In upper jaw (20 to 12 in De Corvinus); small molars precent behind the ineieorsy dark crossbars, if present, much narrower than light Interspaces (exarrple D. sargus lineatus). Rhabdosargus globiceps: 4 to 6 incisor-like teeth In upper Jaw. Species of Sparus, Lithognathue end Pagellu anterior teeth not incisor-like (long end narrow incisors in D. cervinus). Other mecies of Sparidae: lateral teeth either pointed or with cutting edges (molar-like in Diplodus species). SIZE: Maximum: 55 em; commen ta 35 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR + Common from the Straits of Gibraltar to Cape Verde, including Madeira and the Canary Islands, but ‘absent from the Cape Verde Islands off Senegal. and from the Gulf of Guinea; also occurring from Angola to South Africa. Northward extending into the Maditer- Inhabits rocky bottoms from 30 to 80 m depth; ‘may also occur dawn to 300m on muddy bottoms; forms aggregations of 4 or 5 individuals of various sizes. Omnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates and seaweeds. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Throughout its range; fished throughout the year on the Canary Islands. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION Seperate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught on fine gear, with trammel nets, trawls and in traps. Marketed fresh or frozén (flesh esteemed); also used for fishmeal and oll-SPARID Diplod 8 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (EC. Atlantic) Diplodus fasciatus (Valenciennes, 1830) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None FAO: En - Banded seabream Fr ~ Sar noir du Cap Vert Sp = Sargo listado NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval and compressed. Mouth slightly protrusible, lips ver 430'to 12 incjsor-liee teeth in upper and @ In lower jaws folowed Bet a Geena a aE ea ne ek TS ‘ver nd oppor. Corel fin with-10 to £7 spines nereesng In Tongih Up Gprthe Tourthe and 11 to DD aott ayes. anal fin with > opines nd 9 or 10 Seales elong lateral line 55 to 64 (scales on Colour: background colour_dark, belly lighter in the young; § arrow, Mah cronies Upper tis lee of sabe th posterlcenee of Bane of caudal ny lipo Erky pectoral Tine jellow, other fine dark yellowish; a black bar covering the interorbital space and snouts hind margin of opercle black. Jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES Diplodus cervinus (absent from the Cape Verde Islands Background colour light, with broad dark gronsbere (background dark with narrow light Bare In fasciatus). Other, Diplodus species: 8 Incisor-like teeth in upper jaw (10 to 12 in D. fasciatus and D. cervinus)s small molers behind the incleore; dark crossbars, if present, much narrower then light interspaces (example 1D: sargus lineatus). Species of Sparus, Lithognathus and Pagellus: anterior teeth not inate tang and narrow Inclaore In D. fasciatus). Other species of Sparidae: lateral teeth either olneed oc with curing saber Grolartiee In Diplode species). SIZE: Maximum: 40 cm; common to 30 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Endemic to the Cape Verde Islands. Inhabits rocky bottoms to about 100 m dept; may alzo live on sandy bottoms In deeper waters; occurs in ‘groups of 5 individuals of different sizes. Omnivorous with predominantly carnivorous habits (small invertebrates). PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘Throughout its range to depths of about 100m. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate etatlstics are not reported for this species. Caught on tine gea Marketed fresh (flesh esteemed).SPARID Diplos 9 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Attantic) ‘Diplodus prayensie Cadenat, 1964 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Twg-bended soabream Fr = Sar téte noire du Cap Vert 8 + Sargo dorado NATIONAL : DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval and compressed. Mouth slightly protrusible, lips rather thick; 8 chestnut-coloured, narrow (longer than broad) ineisor-like teeth in each jaw, [Followed by 5 or & rows of small molars arranged ia Farse-shoe patterns and $ ‘or 3 rows of strong molars at eldee of jawey-iliracere on fire arch T1-to 13 Ibwer and 6 te 10 sppars Devoe hn Witz pines and 15 to 13 soft ayes anal fin with 3 spines end 12-or 1 soft rayay—coudal tin forked. Scalee along Isteral line 56 to 63 (scales on caudal fin base excluded). Colour: background colour brownish to greenish, lighter on bellys alternatingly golden end greyish, longitudinal lines, running ‘slong scale rows on head dark from nape to mouth, with a light oval spot_on nuchal scales; csterla MARGIN of opercie and of brarchledtagal rmambrans blac < black Sat at pectoral in avis extending slightly above ond below the fir insertions pectoral fine light-coloured, other fing dark, almost black near margins. In the /oung, the dark peduncular bar is saddle-shsped and located behind dorsal fins in adults, this bar extends well unto base of posterior soft rays of dorsal and anal fire Peale jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Diplodus vulgaris (absent from the Cape Vorde stad lands): nuchal band triengular and very broads. posterior margin of branchiostegal mem- brane light-coloured. Dz cervinus ond D. fasciatus; 10 to 12 incisorize teeth in upper jaw @ in D. prayensi)s ti molars. behind” the. incisors; car erOesar Broader than light interspaces. Dz puntazzor molars very rudimentary. D. bellottii: 2 single row of small molere behind the incisors (3 or 4 rows in D. prayensis). ‘and D sargue: nuchal band Species of Sparus, Lithognathus and Pagellus: anterior teeth not Incisor- like. Other species of Sparidae: lateral teeth ther pointed, or with ‘cutting edges ‘(molar-tike In Diplodus species). re molars size: here, cervirus D. puntazza Dz bellottit Maximum: 35 ems common to 25 em. ‘upper jaw and tooth GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOU Endemic to the Cape Verde Islands, where it replaces D. vulgaris: Inhabite rocky bottoms down to 100 m depths may occur in deeper waters on muddy bottoms. Feeds on invertebrates and seaweeds. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘Throughout its range to depths of 100 m. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: are not reported for this, Separate stati species. Caught on line gear. Marketed fresh (flesh esteemed).SPARID Diplod 10 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 Gin part) (EC. Atlantic) Diplodus puntazzo (Cetti, 177) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Puntazzo puntszzo (Cetti, 1777) VERNACULAR NAMES: Incteors FAO: En ~ Sherpsnout seabream Fr = Sar museau pointy 5 = Sargo picudo nutimentary NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS + Body oval and compressed. Snout pointed, jaws protrusible, lips thin 8 conspicuously forward-pointing, chestnut-coloured, Incisor-like teeth in each jaws followed by 1 or 2 rows of amall, very rudimentary molars tending to iseppear in adults; cheeks scaly, proopercie naked; gilrakers on first arch 7 GIP Tawar and Sto 7 upper. Dorsal fin with 1] spines (First spine short) and 12 to 15 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 11 to 13 soft rays; caudal fin forked. Scales along lateral line 53 to 64 (scales on caudal fin base excluded). or 7 altematinaiy very, dak Colour: background colour silvery greys Indivicualss darker dstally; a very dark spot on uposr anale of pectoral fin insertions. Jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other Diplodus species: molars always well deve~ loped, st least at sides of jaws; incisors never so strongly forward-pointing. Rhabdosargus globiceps: 4 to 6 incisor-like teeth in ppt jew porta. Species of Sperus, Lithognathus end Pagellue: ‘anterior teeth no incisor-like. Other species of Sparidee: lateral tosth either pointed or with cutting edges (eudimentary molars in De puntazzo). SWE: Maximum: 60 em; common to 30 cin. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Common from the Straits of Gibralter to Sierra Leones also present around the Canary and Cape Verde Islands but not off Madeira. Outside the area, recorded northward to the Bay of Biscay and also off South Africa. Inhabits rocky bottoms down to about 150 m depth, but is more common to 60 m. Forms small aggregations, the young living In littoral pools, the adults often occurring in the eurf zone. Omnivorous, feeding on seaweeds, worms, mol- luses and shrimps. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘A seasonal fishery along the Moroccan coast, but {ished the year round on the Canary Islands. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught on line gear, in trape (Canery Islands), with trammel nets and trawl. Marketed fresh or frozen (flesh not highly esteemed); also used for fishmeal and oll. ‘Dz sargue cedenati ‘upper jawFAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE LLithognathus mormyrus (Linn , 1758) SPARID Litho 1 1981 FISHING AREAS 3a, 47 (in part) (lc. attantie) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Pagellus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) ees ost VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En ~ Striped seabream Fr = Marbré 5p ~ Herrera NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oblong end compressed. Head profile straight; snout elongated and pointed; eye small; posterior nostril_slit-likes scales on top of head net extending” farward beyend level of Posterior eye margin; preopercle broad, neked; mouth low and nearly horizontal, lips thick; anterior teeth small, set in bande followed by 3 to 6 rows of molar in upper, and Z to & rows in lower Jaws SIL Fakes on fat erch Te ws 17 Tower eae 9 to aT ‘Upper. Dorsal fin with 11 or 12 spines and 11 or 12 soft rays; ‘anal fin with 3 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays; pectoral fins short, ‘not reaching beyond anus. Scales along lateral line 59 to 65. Colour: grey with silvery reflections, darker dorsally; 14 or 15 narrow dark brown to grey vertical bars on sides; interorbital Space end: enouE dark brown; —Gorsal and caudal Tine usvlly darks “other fins lighter, more or less yellow or pinkish. Jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: ithognathus sureti and L. olivieri (South African cont om To ‘southward): at most 6 or 7 vertical bars (14 or 15 in L. mormyrus); lateral-line scales 45 to 49 (59 to 65 in Leiiormiynuay lower gill rakere 12 or 15 (lato 17 in oR) Rhabdosargue globiceps and Diplodus species: - large “median incisors in each jaws furthermore, a ineleor ae large dark bar on caudal peduncle in Diplodus species (narrow. vertical bars on caudal peduncle in L. mormyrus) Other species of Sparidae: no narrow vertical bars on sides. Diptodus ep. SE Maximum: 55 em} comman ta 30. em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR + Coast of West Africa from the Straits of Gibralter to the Cape of Good Hope, and around the Canary and Cape Verde islands. Also northward to the Bay of Biscay, in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean from the Cape of Good Hope to Natal Lives over sandy or mud-sandy bottoms, as well as fon seagrass beds, to about 150 m depth; sometimes enters brackish waters. Gregarious, occasionally forming sizeable schools. A protandric hermaphrodite (the majority of individuals are first males, then become females). Cerivorous, searching the bottom for worms, ‘molluscs and small crustaceans. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Throughout its range; present throughout the year, but not sustaining an important fishery. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics for this species are reported only by Angola (300 t in 197). Caught on line gear, with bottom trawls, beach seines, trammel nets and traps (Canary Islands). Marketed fresh or frozen (flesh esteemed); also used for fishmeal and ofl.FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE (Linnaeus, 1758) SPARID Obla 1 1981 FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Saddled seabream Fr - Oblade Sp = Oblada NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oblong, slightly compressed. Head profile straight from nape forward; eye diameter at least. twice the width of subarbltal space; scales fon top of head reaching forward to a line through middle of eyes or beyond} cheeks scaly; scales also present on preopercle except at its post- frior margin; mouth obliques each jaw with an outer row of 8 to 10 median, Inolsorike. teeth (their cutting edges very slightly otched) followed by Seat anghety Twardcaueving, conical toothy antares, ie ov iamnel tr ot ‘piece ie followed by 2 oF trove Tows of small granular teeth; gill rakers on firet arch 20 lower and 12 upper. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 13 or 14 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 12 to 14 soft rays. Scales along lateral line 64 to 67 (plus 5 ar 6 scales on base of caudel fin). Colour: silvery grey; back dark with bluish reflections; more or less Visible dark longitudinal lines following the scale rows ‘.large black, saddle- iaped bloten on caudal peduncle, margined with whites Siw Bght-coboneeeDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: blotch on ceudal peduncle more of ess large, but never margined with whites woll developed incisor-like teeth followed by molars (molars absent In Oblada melanura) Other species of Sparidse: no large dark blotch ‘on caudal peduncle. SHE: Maximum: 30cm; common to 20 om. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : Coast of West Africa from the Straits of Gibraltar to Angola, as well as around Madeira and the Canary ‘and Cape Verde Islands. Northward extending into the Mediterranean and to the Bay of Biscay. A coastal species forming aggregations over rocky bottoms or seagrass beds (zosteras and seaweeds) to dopthe of about 30 m. Omnivorous (but especially feeding on small inver- tebrates). PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘Throughout its range, but no special fishery. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this spocles. Caught on line gears sometimes with trammel nots and trewls. Marketed fresh or frozen (flesh not highly appre- lated); also used for fishmeal and oil Diplodus sp-‘SPARID Pachy 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, $1 Gn part) le Atle) Pachymetopon blochil (Valenciennes, 1830) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR: NAMES: FAO: En - Hottentot seabream Fr = Hottentot Sp ~ Sargo hotentote NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval and compressed. Head profile almost straight from the nape downward; many rows of scales on cheeks but preopercle scalelesss - mouth small, oblique; 4 or 5 rows of conical, pointed teeth, those in outer range Srongestseapecelly te anterieray ll rakers on irs cron DD oF 18 ower ond Bor 9 upper” Doreen with 10 or 11 spines’ and 11 or 12 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 10 soft rays; bases of soft dorsal and anal fin rays sealy, but not embedded in a sheath. Lateral-line scales 60 to 70. Colour: grey to brown with bronze reflections, paler on belly. Some individuals show a lighter colour with dark spots on cheeks, behind eye and on upper part of body.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Other species of Sparidae: basos of soft dorsal ‘and anal fin rays unsealed but embedded in a scaly sheath. Maximum: 45 em} common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : West African coast trom Namibia to Cope Aguihas. Inhabits rocky bottoms; spawning occurs through- out the year. scaled Omnivorous (seaweeds, echinoderms, crustaceans, ‘molluscs and worms). ees ay PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Throughout its range; more common around the Cape of Good Hope. posterior region ‘of dorsal fin CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught on line gears Marketed fresh (flesh esteemed).SPARID Page 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 5,47 Ginpart) eat Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Pagellus canariensis Valenciennes; 1833, FAO: En - Common pandora Fr ~ Pageot commun Sp - Breca NATIONAL DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oval and compressed. Head profile straights eye diameter clearly smaller than snout length; scales on_top of head reaching’ forward to ieval-ef anterlar Sye" mardlr-ar Deyands chesks" scaly preosercls iscaleay mth ow, slightly obliquey— ps THK bath fave wh polnted tacit anteriorly and melanie cast josteriorl slightly siallan, Cardiform tooth behind. the cuter row of pointed ESsthy- mélare in 2 or 3 learely &) rows in ppee and 2 (rarely 3) rows in lower jays gl rokers on free arch to 13 lower and 5 or 6 upper. Dorsal fin with 12 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and @ or 9 soft rays} anal fin base shorter than distance from, siaut ta posterior eye margin. Lateral-line scales 55 to 65. Colour: a rather bright pink marked with small blue spots on sides; head darker, especially between eyes ‘and on snout profile; postero-dorsal_margin of opercle crimson red; 2 reddish spot_on bases of pectoral ineige of mouth whith or greyish sarhetincs a redaloh apot on see oF ae Garaal Tinreyas Tho aan ‘crossbars described by same authors may correspond to a fright pattern.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Pagel eli onal fn with Witt 10 soft rave (8 or 9 in P. erythrinus); ha Seat of wal fn longer thar tance from nit to posi eye mara (Sane nb xis P. acame and P. bogaraveo: scales P of head not reaching forward to a line through middle of eye8; inside of mouth orange-red. P. bellottit Sparus species: 4 to 6 stronger canine-like teeth anteriorly in each jaw (at least 8 small, pointed teeth in Pagellus epecise)s furthermare, a golden frontal band P.erythrinus present in & aurata, anterior . : limit of ll Lithognathus mormyruss teeth rather similar to scalation thove ‘oF Pagellis; Gut Td oF 15 narrow dank broun to ee Fa gio) prota of ales, and posteior nostril ite nee L (round or oval in Pagellus species). sealetion _— as Other species of Sparidse:_ lateral molars com- One bined with anterior incisors (Diplodus, Rhabdosargus), f or lateral tecth either pointed of with cutting edges Ds (instead of molars. a sm Maximur 6D.em; common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR : / Coast of West Africa from the Straits of Gibraltar to Cape Verde including Madeira and Canary Islands. Also in the Mediter~ ranean and northward to Norway. A demersal species inhabiting various types of bottom (rock gravel, sand, mud) to depths of 220 m, but mainly in the upper 1100'm, the young oceurring nearer to the shore. During winter, the ‘stacks move Into deeper waters. A protogynic hermephradite (iret females, becoming males in thelr third year at sizes of about sparus 17 to 18 em). Pagellus Omnivorous, with a predominantly carnivorous diet (small we fish, benthic invertebrates). " PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : we Fished throughout its range; lesa common south of 19°N. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: i Separate statistics for this species are reported by Spain: 420 ty Romania: 40t and Togo: 20 t (1977). Caught with bottorn trawls beach seines; on line gear and in traps (Canary Islands). Marketed fresh, frozen, smoked or dried salted (flesh |__| eo esteemed); also used for fishmeal and oile .FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FAO: En - Axillary seabream Fr ~ Pageot acaré Sp = Aligote NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body fusiform, moderately compressed. Head profile depressed above eye, snout conical; ‘Iinterorbital space flat; eye diameter smalier than snout osterior eye margines s avaly, preoperc| mouth low, nearly Forizontaly" Tips thick; both jaws with pointed tooth anterlorly and meter teeth posteriorly; an inier Dand of numerous slightly smaller: Sardiform toeth Behind the outer row of pointed teeth; gill rekers 13 to 16 lower and’) to 12 ‘upper. Dorsal fin with 12 or 13 spines and 10 to 12 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 or 10 soft rays;_ last dorsal and anal finrays clearly stronger than the preceding ones. Scales along lateral line 65 to 72. Colour: greyish pink, darker on back, lighter on belly; head darker, Particularly between eyes; "a reddish black spot at pectoral fin axils extending Unto upper pert of fin base; fine more oF lees Ight pINKGhy dorsal, anal and caudal fine sometimes margined with brownish red; inside of mouth orange: rede SPARID Page 2 41982 FISHING AREAS 34, 47 (in part) (Ec. Atlantic) jaws and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: anterior Pagellus bogaraveo: 11 or 12 stati soft faye In onal Tin © or 10 in P. fee ree scare); eye diameter greater than anout Tength (amaller in P. acarne)s 2 black spot at origin of lateral line P. erythrinus and P. bellottil: scales on tops of head reeching beyond a lino through middle of eyes (to behind this line in P. scare ineide of mouth whitish at greyish; Spek at pectoral fin axils not extending B, on fin base. vo bogaravea Sparus species: 4 to 6 stronger canines in front at each jaw (at least 8 small pointed tect in Pagollud; furthermore, a golden frontal band in S. aurata. LLithognathus mormyrus: teeth more or Jess similar to those of Pagollus, but 14 or 15 narrow dark-brown to grey crossbars, and posterior nostril elit-like (round or oval in Pagellus species). Other species of Sparidae: lateral molar combined with anterior incisors (Diplodus, Rhabdosarqus), or lateral teeth elther pointed or with cutting edges (instead of molars). Boops boops, which Is rather similar in shape, has short pectoral fins not reaching to anus, and the spot in pectoral fin axils does not extend Unto fin base. Size: Maximum: 35 ems common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR, From the Straits of Gibraltar to northern Senegal and around Madeira, the Canaries and the Cape Verde Islands. Also in the Mediterrenesn and northward to the British Isles; occasionally to Denmark. A demersal species inhabiting various types of bottom, espe- ‘cially seagrass beds and and down to 500 m depth, but more ‘common between 40 and 100 m, the young nearer to the shore. Intermittent spawning takes place from March to August. A protandric hermaphradite (most individuals are first males, then become females at a size of about 24 to 30 cm). Omnivarous, with preference for @ carnivorous diot (searches sand fer warms, molluscs, small crustaceans). PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : A very abundant species, especially In the northern part of its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATIOI Separate statistics for this species are reported by Romenis only (600 t in 1966 and 82 t in 1977). Caught with bottom trawls, on line gear and with beach seines (young). Marketed fresh, frozen, or dried salted (flesh not highly esteemed); also used for fishmeal and oil. yy sealation Pz erythrinus at neeSPARID Page 3 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 47 Gin part) (€lc. Atlantic) Pagellus bogaraveo (Brtinnich, 1768) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Pagsllus centrodontus Delaroche, 1809 VERNACULAR NAMES: FAQ: En - Blackspot seabream Fr - Dorade rose Sp ~ Goraz NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oblong. Head profile rounded, snout shorts eye diameter greater than snout length; scales an top of hood reaching to line between posterior halves of eyes Cheeks seclye preopercle waloloay mah tows hear horizontal; both jaws with pointed teeth anteriorly and molar-like teeth posteriorly; an inner band of numerous, aight orale Slaltarn Toth bahind the outer row of Ported tect Gitar oF fr eran 10.or 19 lowor nd 1i'to 15 upper. Dorsal fin with 12 or 15 spines and 11 ta 13 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 12 or 12 soft ayer laa doreal and anal fn rays stronger than the preceding ones. Seales along Tateral ine @B to 7B. Colour: a more or less reddish grey, darker on head, lighter on belly; a dark spot at pectoral fin axils and = Jonge black blotch at origin of lateral line (sometimes absent in young); fins more or less bright pinks inside of ‘mouth orange red.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA anterior Pagellus aceme: 9 or 10 soft anterior Tee rays Ta anal fin Cl or 12 in Pe ff dite a, Bogeraveo); aye diameter amaller than lll seatstion grout Tenth (larger than snout length in P. bogaraveo}; no black blotch at OF iateral line. erythvinus end Ps bellottls scales top of head reaching fo or Boyond'a line through middle of eyes (behind ‘that. tine in’ P. bogaraveo)s Inside of mouth whitish oF greyish. P, scarne Pooclloti —-~P, bogaraveo Sparus species: 4 to 6 stronger canines in front fat each jaw (at least 8 small pointed teeth in Pagellus species); furthermore, a golden frontal ban’ Lithognathus mormyrus: teeth more or tess simi- tar to Thess of Pagel, But 18 or 15 naprow dene brown x to grey crossbare-cn aides, and posterior nostril ellike (ound or oval in Pagellus species). Other species of Sparidse: lateral molars com= bined with anterior incisors (Oiplocus, Rhabdosarau, or lateral tecth sitter pointed or with cutting edges Hiitrmacoe” instead of molars; siz ‘Sparus Pagellus Maximum: 65 em; common to 35 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR From Gibraltar to Cape Blenc, exceptionally further south, land around Madeira and the Canary Islands. Also in the Mediter~ ranean and northward to Norway. A demersal fish inhabiting various types of bottom (rock, sand, mud) to depths of about 700 m, the young nearer to the shore, ‘the adults on the continental slope, especially over muddy bottoms. Forms aggregations; spawning occurs from January to June when the adults move towards the coast up to the edge of the Continental shelf. A protandric hermaphrodite (the majority of Individuals are first males, then become females, at sizes of about 20 to 30 cm). Omnivorous, with @ predominantly carnivorous diet (crusta- eeans, mallusee, worms, eral fish). PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : ‘The West African coast represents the southem limit of the ‘geographical range of this species. This, together with Its occur- Fenee in deep waters, explaine why the catches from the area are comparatively small. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION Separate statistics for this species are reported by Spain: 670 t, and Romania: 330 t (197). Caught with bottom trawls and bottom longlines. ‘Marketed fresh and frozen (flesh esteemed); also used for fishmeal and oil.SPARID Page 4 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 87 (in part) (EC. atlantic) Pagellus bellottii Steindachner, 1882 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Pagellus coupei Diouzeide, 1960 FAO! En - Red pandora Fr = Pageat & tache rouge Sp ~ Breca colorada NATIONAL + DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER: Body oblong and compressed. Head profile slightly, but regularly convex, becoming steeper from the nape ownward in jults; a sort of median crest sometimes present on nape; scales on top of head reaching forward to or boyend a line pasing throigh sfterior eye margin ‘checks aly, proopetle walsleey mouth lew, smal, Stary Solgar awe wi poe’ taster jaws wit teeth anteriorly and molarlie ones posteriorys an ines band of numerous sligthly smaller, cardiform teeth behind the outer row of pointed teeth; molare arranged in Z rows; gillrakers on first arch 9 or 10 lower and 5 or 6 upper. Dorsal fin with 12 spines and 11 or 12 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 10 soft rays; base of anal fin longer than distance from snout to posterior eye margin. Scales ‘slong Tateral Tine 5% to 60. erin. Colour: more or loss bright red with slivery reflections; often blue spote following scale rows an interorbital space darker; a small, dark red spot at origin of lateral line and along upper margin of operele; ba a pectoral fin darkery ins pinkish Yellow Cin many specimens from the Gulf cf Cota) oc greyine Caidal Cn often margined with red or orange; inside of mouth whitish. The red vertical bars desoribed by authore may ‘correspond to a fright pattern.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Pagellus erythrinuet anal fin with 6 or F soft rays (10 in P. belloteit)s base of anal fin shorter then dis- tance from snout to posterior eye ‘margin (longer in P. beltotti). P. scare end P. bogaraveo: ‘seales on top of head rot reaching forward to a line through middie of eyes (to or beyond that line in P. bellottii)s inside of mouth orange red ‘whitish in P, beliotei) a soa cin 4806 srenger cans arey In oust net 8 sal, potid toth in Paglun Net ittercereregldon ronal Gord pose EGE tie Lithognathus mormyrus: teeth more or less sit Windia ee tects oF Bags Bat or ortow dark brown =e" limit of to grey vertical bars on sides, and posterior nostril slit- scalation Tia Glare oe aval In Pagal poco Other species of Sparidae: lateral molar teeth combined with anterior incisors (Diplodus, Rhabdo~ 1), or lateral testh either pointed or with cutting ‘edges {instead of molars). SWE: Maximum: 42 em common to 25 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOU! From the Straits of Gibraltar to Angola, and around the Canary Islands. Also in the southwestern Mediterranean. A demersal species inhabiting hard as well as sandy bottoms to depthe ef about 250 m; found in schools, especially In the upper 100 m, Intermittent spawning occurs ‘from the second year onwarde between May and November according to the latitude, the stock moving toward the coast for this purpose. A protogynic Rermaghrodite (he majority of invidals are iat females, then became males). Omnivorous, with @ predominantly carnivorous diet (including crustaceans, cephalopods, email fish, armphioxus and worms). PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Together with Dentex mecrophthalmus, this is the most abundant sparid species on the West African coast. The main fishery is south of 26°N. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: The catch reported for this species is rather importants in 1977 it totalled 18 650 t, ef whieh 7 510 were taken by countries bordering the area (Ghana, 7 250 end Angola, 260 ), and 11140 t by non-African countries ‘operating offehore fishing fleets in the area (USSR, 10 780 t and Portugal, 360 t). ‘Caught with bottom trawls, on line gear end in traps (Canary Islands). Marketed fresh, smoked or frozen (flesh estemeed); slso used for fishmeal and ail.SPARID Rhab 1 1981 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY : SPARIDAE FISHING AREAS 34, 87 Cin part) (Ec. Atlantic) ‘Rhabdosargus globiceps (Valenciennes, 1830) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None 8.0 em esinelsors FAO: En ~ White stumpnose Fr - Sar austral Sp - Pargofiato Lay nolars NATIONAL : ee /" DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS : Body oval and compressed. Head profile showing 4 slight depression above the eye, and a hump on front In adults; preopercle scaleless;_ mouth terminal, nearly horizontal; teeth incieor-like, short and stout (pointed in young) 4 to 6-in upper end & to 8 in lower jaw, Fraolars@ ar Stowe in upper and3 ar 8 roe followed by ‘or 5 rows in upper and 3 or 4 rows In Tower Jaw)y Gill rakere on first arch 7 to 10 lower and 5 to 7 upper. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 11 to ‘anal fin with 3 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays. Scales along lateral line 57 to 61. Colour: silvery grey; belly lighter, head darker, ally,on interorbital region; 5 to 7'dark vertical bars; pectoral fin exile and margin of opercle blacks fine dark jews and teethDISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Diplodue species: 8 to 12 long and/or strongly flattenett inact Ike teeth in each jew. Species of Sperus, Lithognathus and Pagellus: anterior teeth not incieor-tike- Other species of Sparidae: lateral teeth pointed ‘or with cutting edges (molar-like in Rhabdosargus) se Maximum: 65 em} common to 40 em. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOU! From Angola to the Cape of Good Hope and in the Indian Ocean narthward to Natal. Prefers sandy bottoms. The young often enter estuaries. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS : Regularly fished throughout its range. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught on line gear, using lights. Marketed fresh; en excellent foadtish. Jong, flat, Incleors Diplodus sp. canine Pagellus sp.