Lithognathus mormyrus
Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Sand steenbras
Lithognathus mormyrus
photo by Patzner, R.

Family:  Sparidae (Porgies)
Max. size:  55 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 12 years
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 150 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay, Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean, and Black Sea (Ref. 4781, 112870), Madeira Is (Ref. 74541), Canary Is. and Cape Verde Islands (Ref. 3688), southward to Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. Western Indian Ocean: southern Mozambique (Ref. 3688); Red Sea (Ref. 84159). Not found in tropical east Africa (Ref. 3198),
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-11
Biology:  Found on the shelf, over sandy and muddy bottoms as well as seagrass-beds and estuaries. Gregarious, sometimes forming sizeable schools. Feeds on worms, mollusks and small crustaceans. Protandric hermaphrodite (Ref. 3688). Flesh excellent (Ref. 3198); sold fresh and dried.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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