Sea basses

Sea basses are sturdy reef fish with large mouths and sharp teeth, closely related to groupers. In this app the group includes the bass.

Look for the large mouth, fang-like front teeth, and sturdy body to know you have a sea bass, part of the same family as groupers. Bright, bold colouring in this group likely works as camouflage that breaks up its outline, similar to a tiger's stripes.

Sea basses have a stocky, robust body and a large mouth with several rows of sharp teeth, including a pair of larger fang-like teeth at the front of the lower jaw. Small spines sit on the gill covers. Many species are brightly coloured.

Sea basses live in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide, usually around reefs.

Sea basses are ambush hunters. They hide in cover on the reef and dart out to grab prey that swims past.

Sea basses are meat eaters. They feed on other fish and crustaceans.

Many sea basses start life as females and later change into males. They release large numbers of eggs, and the young drift as plankton in the open water before settling on the reef.

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  Bass

  Dicentrarchus labrax