Description: Males are light grey, with a dark grey tail, and whitish on the ventral side, with a bright blue spot on the operculum. The females and juveniles are red dorsally and yellowish on the ventral side, with a lighter coloured longitudinal stripe on the sides.
Global Distribution: Eastern Atlantic from Sweden to Gabon. Also in the Mediterranean Sea. View Map
BIOLOGICAL FEATURES
Size: Maximum length 30.0 cm (standard length); common length : 20.0 cm (SL).
Reproduction: Protogynous species; females change sex to become males; specimens above 18 cm length are all males. Pelagic eggs.
Maturity: Sexually mature when 1 year old. Specimens above 18 cm are all males.
Behavioural ecology: Juveniles form small groups, whereas adults are usually solitary, among rocks, often with numerous specimens in its immediate vicinity. Buries itself in sand at night or when frightened.
Population structure & migrations:
ECOLOGICAL FEATURES
Depth range: FishBase: 0 - 120 m, usually 1 - 60 m.
Habitat: Reef-associated. Occurs in the littoral zone, near rocks and eelgrass beds. Usually found between 1-60 m, but old males stay in deeper water. Found in deeper waters during winter.
Feeding habits: Feeds on small gastropods, sea urchins, shrimps, polychates, isopods and amphipods.
Trophic level: FishBase: 3.2
FISHERIES
Commercial interest: Not commercial in Madeira. Detected in experimental fisheries.
Conservation status: Global: Least concern.
Europe: Least concern.
González J., Hernández C., Marrero P., Rapp E. (2000). Peces de Canarias: GuÃa Submarina (5th edition). Francisco Lemus Editor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canarias, Spain, 235 pp.
IUCN (2014). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. www.iucnredlist.org
Morato T., Afonso P., Lourinho P., Barreiros J.P., Santos R.S., Nash R.D.M. (2001). Length–weight relationships for 21 coastal fish species of the Azores, north-eastern Atlantic. Fisheries Research, 50(3): 297-302.
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