Annular Seabream
Diplodus annularis
Common Pandora
Pagellus erythrinus
About
The common pandora is a bright pink reef fish, sometimes called the king of the breams. It grows up to 60 cm long, though most are closer to 25 cm.
Also known as: pandora
- Length
- 25 cm · max 60 cm
- Weight
- max 3.2 kg
- Depth
- 20–100 m
How to tell it apart
Other pink seabream can look similar, but check for the small blue flank spots described above; plain-pink lookalikes lack them.
Appearance
This fish has an oval, flattened body and a bright pink colour scattered with small blue spots on the upper flanks. The top edge of the gill cover is a deep red, and there is often a reddish spot at the base of the pectoral fin.
Habitat
Common pandora live over sand, mud, rock and gravel bottoms, from about 5 to 300 m deep, though they usually stay between 20 and 100 m. Young fish are found closer to shore than adults.
Behaviour
This fish starts life as a female and can change into a male as it grows older. It spawns between April and September, with the busiest period in May and June. It feeds on bottom-living invertebrates and small fish.
Is it dangerous?
reports of ciguatera poisoning
Did you know?
This fish is one of Italy's most important market seabream, but catches have crashed. Landings fell from about 1,900 tonnes in 2004 to just 850 tonnes by 2010, prompting the EU to set a minimum landing size to protect it.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
