Lithognathus aureti Smith, 1962
West coast seabream
Lithognathus aureti
photo by SFSA

Family:  Sparidae (Porgies)
Max. size:  100 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 19 kg; max. reported age: 50 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range - 1 m
Distribution:  Southeast Atlantic: Angola to South Africa.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9
Biology:  Found inshore over sandy bottoms. Feeds on sand mussels, worms and crabs. Protandrous (Ref. 4332), but some specimens with both male and female gonads well-developed at the same time (Ref. 3198). Commonly fished between October and March (Ref. 36731). A popular angling fish and an important food fish.
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 02 December 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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