Ringed Seabream (Diplodus Annularis)
Latin name: Diplodus annularis
Common name: Ringed seabream
Other names: Annular gilthead
In other languages: E: Raspallon, F: Sparaillon Commun, D: Ringelbrasse
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Sparidae
Genus: Diplodus
Distribution: Mediterranean, Atlantic.
Habitat: Close to the shoreline and on the edge of the surf during strong onshore seas it is a very common Mediterranean bream.
Reproduction: Breeds from April to June.
Behaviour: A hermaphrodite, whose primal stage is male. During the period when the sun is high (noon) these fish, as do others in this family, cease all their feeding activities. It is not known, whether this is due to their visibly high profile when the sun is at its zenith or due to some other contributing factor.
Diet: Crustaceans and molluscs.
Size: Common: 8 - 18cm, maximum: 24cm.
Shape: Deep body, concave forehead.
Colour: Silvery with black ring on tail stalk.
Did you know: On artificial reefs, where fish feeding is the 'norm', they will feed from the diver's hand at any time of the day.