| Sparidae | |
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| Gilt-head bream (Sparus auratus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Sparidae Rafinesque, 1810[1] |
| Genera | |
see text | |
| Synonyms[2][1] | |
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Sparidae is afamily ofray-finned fishes belonging to theorderSpariformes, theseabreams andporgies, although they were traditionally classified in the orderPerciformes. They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters around the world and aredemersal carnivores.
Sparidae was first proposed as a family in 1818 by the Frenchpolymath andnaturalistConstantine Samuel Rafinesque.[1] Traditionally the taxa within the Spariformes were classified within thePerciformes, with some authorities using the term "Sparoid lineage" for the families Centracanthidae, Nemipteridae, Lethrinidae and Sparidae.[3] Since then the use ofmolecular phylogenetics in more modern classifications has meant that the Spariformes is recognised as a valid order within thePercomorpha containing six families, with Callanthidae, Sillaginidae and Lobotidae included.[2] Other workers have found that the Centracanthidae issynonymous with Sparidae and that the Spariformes contains only the remaining three families of the "Sparoid lineage".[4]
In the past workers recognised sixsubfamilies within the Sparidae. These were Boopsinae, Denticinae, Diplodinae, Pagellinae, Pagrinae, and Sparinae. However, these taxa did not resolve as monophyletic in all the analyses undertaken. These analyses support Sparidae as a monophyletic family ifSpicara, a genus formerly in the family Centracanthidae, was included. This meant thatSpicara andCentracanthus were both now classified within Sparidae, so that Centracanthidae is ajunior synonym of Sparidae.[2]
Sparidae takes its name from itstype genus,Sparus, that name coming from the Greek for its only species thegilt-head bream (Sparus aurata).[5]
The family Sparidae contains about 155 species in 38 genera:
Fossil genera include:[7][8][9]
Sparidae breams have oblong, moderately deep and compressed bodies. The head is large, with a characteristic steep dorsal slant. There are no scales on the snout but there are scales on the cheeks. Thepreoperculum may or may not have scales and has no spines or serrations on its margin. Theoperculum is scaled and also has no spines. The mouth is slightly oblique and can be protruded a little. The upper jaw never extends back past a vertical line through the centre of the eye. There are teeth in the jaws which vary from conical or flattened but there are no teeth on the roof of the mouth. There is onedorsal fin which is supported by between 10 and 13 spines and 9 and 17 soft rays, with the ultimate ray being split into 2, and no incision separated the spines from the soft rays. The rearmost spines in the dorsal fin may be elongated or filamentous. Theanal fin is supported by 3 robust spines and between 7 and 15 soft rays. Thecaudal fin varies from moderately deeply emarginate to forked. Thepectoral fins are typically long and pointed and thepelvic fins are under or immediately to the rear of the bases of the pectoral fins, supported a single spine and 5 soft rays, with a scale in theaxilla, referred to as the axillary pelvic process. The scales are typically smooth,cycloid, or slightly rough to the touch, weaklyctenoid, The lateral line is single and continuous and reached the base of the caudal fin. They are very variable in colour and may be pinkish or reddish to yellowish or greyish, frequently with tints of silver or gold and dark or coloured spots, stripes or bars.[12] The two largest species of Sparid are thewhite steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus) and the red steenbras (Petrus rupestris), both of which have a maximum publishedtotal length of 200 cm (79 in), while the smallest species is the cherry seabream (Polysteganus cerasinus).[13]
Sparidae breams are found in tropical and temperate coastal waters around the world.[2] They aredemersal fishes on thecontinental shelf andslope.[12] A few species are found inbrackish water, and a few of these will enter fresh water.[2]
Sparidae breams are predatory with most feeding on benthic invertebrates.[13] Smaller species in the family usually gather in schools, as do the juveniles of the larger species. The larger adult fishes are normally solitary or, at least, are less sociable and prefer deeper waters. The juveniles and subadults are often markedly different in shape and colour patterns, and may be much more colourful. Many sparids arehermaphroditic and some have both male and female sex organs at the same time. Others change sex as the grow, either changing from male to female, i.e.protandrous. or from female to male,protogynous.[14]
Sparids are highly regarded as food fish and are important target species for commercial fisheries wherever they occur. Between 1990 and 1995, the FAO Yearbook of Fishery Statistics reported that the annual weight of landings was between 2,170 and 4,020 t (2,140 and 3,960 long tons; 2,390 and 4,430 short tons) of sparids in the Western Central Pacific.[12]
The most celebrated of the breams in cookery are thegilt-head bream and thecommon dentex.[15]
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