Black Sea Breams breeding season in Northern Evia Island, Greece 🇬🇷

Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Spariformes
Family: Sparidae
Genus: Spondyliosoma
Species: S. cantharus

The black sea bream, also known as a Porgy, is an omnivorous fish, eating seaweeds and small invertebrates.
They are a warmer water species and found mainly around Northern Evia Island. Black sea bream breed in North Eboean gulf between April and May. During the breeding season, the males change colour, becoming darker with vertical white bars. The females have a long horizontal white bar on their body when ready to lay her eggs. The males excavate a small shallow in the seabed, moving the gravel or sand around the edge to create a sort of crater into which the female lays her eggs. The male then protects the eggs until they hatch. He will fan them with his tail to keep them clear of sand or debris and wards off hungry predators, including smaller bream, wrasse and even whelks!

How to identify

A large silvery fish, with an oval shape. Shaded bands running along the length of the upper flanks. It has a long single dorsal and anal fin and a small mouth. The tail is large and forked displaying a black band on it, most obviously noticeable on juveniles.
Juveniles usually have numerous broken yellow stripes running along the body.
Spawning males are nearly completely black in colour, except for vertical white bars.

Did you know?

All black sea breams are born female! They are protogynous hermaphrodites - meaning they are able change to males when they reach 30cm. All fish over 40cm are male.