Dentex Dentex

– Common Dentex –

Description

Adult dentex can reach a length of one metre (3 ft), and weight up to 16 kg (35 lb).^[1] Body is oval and compressed. Teeth are very developed in each jaw. Dentex have 11 dorsal spines: 11–12 dorsal soft rays; 3 anal spines: 7–9 anal soft rays. Adults are grey-blue, while young dentex have a slightly different livery, brown-blue with blue fins.^[1]

This fish has a shape vaguely similar to that of the bream but has a larger mouth and a straight forehead which gives it a “frown” expression. The mouth is armed with strong caniniform teeth. The young specimens, of a blue-brown color with black fins, have a different coloring from the adults, which lose the brown component in favor of a gray-blue color with intense blue and black points that disappear when the animal dies. This fish can weigh up to 12-17 kg for one meter in length; the record appears in the Gulf of Asinara ^{[ without source ]} .

Biology

Dentex is an active predator, feeding on other fish, mollusca and cephalopods. It is solitary for most of the year, but during reproduction it lives in groups for some weeks: fully-grown dentex stay together just two to three weeks during spring in the warmer water near the surface. ^[1]

Distribution and Habitat

Dentex is common in the Mediterranean Sea, but also seen in the Black Sea and the Eastern Atlantic Ocean from the British Isles to Mauritania, sometimes up to Senegal and Canary Islands. It lives in sandy or stony deeps, from just some metres/feet to 200 m (700 ft).^[1][2]

It has demersal habits . It frequents rocky or sandy bottoms, from 0 to 90 meters deep.

Behavior

The adult specimens are solitary, even if it is not rare to meet more than one; the young people gather in schools. More wary in the adult form, sometimes curious in the juvenile phase.

Alimentation

It feeds on other fish, molluscs and cephalopods .

Etymology

The specific name dentex , introduced by Linnaeus , derives from the large teeth (in Latin dentēs ). The generic name Dentex , separated from Sparus , was introduced by Achille Valenciennes .

Fishing 

Much sought after prey in sport fishing . It is fished with the techniques of trolling , vertical jigging, surfcasting and by divers, for which it is one of the most difficult and sought after fish. Commercially, however, it is fished with longlines and nets. Its meat, lean and tasty, is quite valuable. In Italy, most of the snapper marketed is native to the African Atlantic coasts and belongs to other species such as Dentex macrophthalmus and Dentex gibbosus . In recent years, attempts have been made to breed it in aquaculture.

Gastronomy 

Considered excellent for its meats, it is commonly cooked on the grill, but it is also good in the oven and, if large in size, also stuffed. ^[2]

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