Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)

European seabass

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Moronidae
Synonyms	Perca labrax, Labrax labrax, Morone labrax, ... more
Common names	Bar européen, Lubina, Bass, ... more

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Dicentrarchus labrax

Picture by Dammous, S.

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Smith, C.L. 1990. (Ref. 6916)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 103 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6916); max. published weight: 12.0 kg (Ref. 1468); max. reported age: 15 years (Ref. 7253)

Length at first maturity

L_m 32.3, range 23 - 46 cm

Environment

Demersal; oceanodromous; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 100 m (Ref. 9987)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 8°C - 24°C (Ref. 4944); 72°N - 11°N, 19°W - 42°E (Ref. 54221)

Eastern Atlantic: Norway to Morocco, the Canary Islands and Senegal. Reported from Iceland (Ref. 12462). Also known from the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12. Posterior edge of opercle finely serrated, lower edge with strong forward- directed denticles. 2 flat opercular spines. Mouth moderately protractile. Young with some dark spots on upper part of body. Head with cycloid scales above. Vomerine teeth only anteriorly, in a crescentic band.

Adults manifest demersal behavior, inhabit coastal waters down to about 100m depth but more common in shallow waters (Ref. 54221). They are found in the littoral zone on various kinds of bottoms on estuaries, lagoons and occasionally rivers. They enter coastal waters and river mouths in summer, but migrate offshore in colder weather and occur in deep water during winter in the northern range. Young fish form school, but adults appear to be less gregarious (Ref. 9987). Feed chiefly on shrimps and mollusks, also on fishes (Ref. 5990). Juveniles feed on invertebrates, taking increasingly more fish with age. Adults piscivorous . (Ref. 59043). Spawn in batches (Ref. 51846). Spawning takes place in the spring near the British Isles, and earlier in its southern range. Eggs are pelagic (Ref. 35388). Marketed fresh or smoked (Ref. 9987). Highly sought by sport fishermen (Ref. 30578). The North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee (NESFC) sea bass fishery of this species has been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (http://www.msc.org/) as well-managed and sustainable (http://www.msc.org/html/content_1432.htm).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Least Concern (LC)	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
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