Gilthead seabream
📖 Overview
Found in seagrass beds and sandy bottoms as well as in the surf zone commonly to depths of about 30 m, but adults may occur to 150 m depth. A sedentary fish, either solitary or in small aggregations. In spring, they often occur in brackish water coastal lagoons and estuaries. Mainly carnivorous, accessorily herbivorous . Feed on shellfish, including mussels and oysters. One of the most important fishes in saline and hypersaline aquaculture. Utilized fresh and eaten steamed, pan-fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Body tall, with large black spot on the gill cover. Snout more than twice as long as the eye diameter .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Gilthead seabream is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Gilthead seabream is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Males become females at about 3 years of age . Protandric hermaphrodite species, maturing first as male (during the first or second year of age) and after the second or third year of age, as female. Spawning happens generally from October to December, with sequenced spawning during the whole period. Incubation lasts about 2 days at 16-1 7°C. Larval stages last about 50 days at 1 7.5°C or about 43 days at 20°C. Egg size 0.9-1.1 mm, larval length at hatching 2.5-3.0 mm. Simultaneous hermaphroditism is suggested for this species .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 1 - 150 m , usually 1 - 30 m . Subtropical; 62°N - 15°N, 17°W - 43°E
🌿 Ecology
shellfish, including mussels and oysters
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Gilthead seabream is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 20.2 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 655 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Gilthead seabream has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Gilt-head Seabream · Gilthead · Gilthead seabream · Silver Seabream · Snapper · gilt-head bream |
| 🏳️Catalan | daurada · moixarra · orada |
| 🌍COS | dorata · palmata |
| 🌍CYM | Merfogiaid Eurben · merfog eurben |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Guldbrasen |
| 🇩🇪German | Goldbrasse · Goldbrassen |
| 🌍ELL | Τσιπούρα |
| 🌍EUS | urraburu |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Kultaotsa-ahven |
| 🇫🇷French | Daurade · Dorade · Dorade royale · daurade royale |
| 🌍GLG | dourada |
| 🌍HEB | ספרוס זהוב |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Orata |
| 🌍MLT | Awrata · Denci awrata · Dorata · Orata |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Goud brasem · goudbrasem |
| 🌍NOB | gyllen havkaruss |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Dorada |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Dourada |
| 🌍RON | Dorada |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Золотистый спар |
| 🌍SLV | zlatobrov |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Chaparreta · Dorada · Dorada Del Pacífico · Dourada · Zapata Morisca |
| 🌍SQI | Koce · kocja · spari kokëpraruar · ullorja |
| 🌍SRP | Komarca · Ovrata |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Guldbraxen · guldsparid |
| 🌍TUR | Cipura |
| 🌍UKR | Спар золотистий |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 17 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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