Dentex Gibbosus
– Crowned Snapper –
| Scientific classification |
|---|
Dentex gibbosus Rafinesque , 1810
| Domain | Eukaryota |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Sub-kingdom | Eumetazoa Bilateria |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Subphylum | Vertebrates |
| Superclasse | Gnathostomata |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Subclass | Osteichthyes |
| Superordine | Acanthopterygii |
| Order | Perciformes |
| Suborder | Percoidei |
| Family | Sparidae |
| Kind | Dentex |
| Species | D.gibbosus |
The cuirassier snapper or crowned snapper ( Dentex gibbosus ) is a sea fish belonging to the Sparidae family .
Description
This fish is similar to the common snapper and changes its appearance considerably with age. The adult has a showy frontal hump behind the eyes and has the first two spiny rays of the dorsal fin very short (the 2nd shorter than the half of the 3rd) while the young fish, up to a length of 25 cm, has the forehead is normal but is however easily recognizable due to the 3rd, 4th and 5th spiny rays of the dorsal fin which are very elongated and filamentous.
The color is generally reddish, light with silver and blue reflections in the young and dark wine red with brown spots and dark head in adults. Very large specimens can be gray. The hips are always silver and the belly is white.
It can reach 1 meter in length for 22 kg of weight.
Distribution and Habitat
It is present in the Mediterranean Sea especially in the South and in the South Atlantic Ocean between Portugal and Angola . In the Italian seas it is quite rare, a little more frequent in the southern seas.
It lives mainly on rocky and coral beds , between 50 and 200 meters deep.
Alimentation
It is a predator and feeds mainly on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans .
Fishing
It is a rare but coveted prey for anglers and professionals and is captured with long lines, lines in trolling , longlines and trawls .
Gastronomy
The meats are excellent, like that of the common snapper and can be cooked as well.
