Common dentex
Dentex dentex
Special features
The Common dentex changes its color dramatically throughout its long life.
It can be up to 33 years old and can weigh up to 13 kg.
Such impressive specimens are best found in nature reserves.
Appearance
The Common dentex has a short but strong, oval body with large scales and a long bridge of the nose, which is actually the frontal bone.
She has big lips with sharp teeth in several rows.
Young breams are yellow.
As they age, their body turns pink to red with yellow areas on the face.
The older they get, a mound on their forehead develops.
Sometimes their body is covered with small dark or even a bit sparkling spots.
Natural enemies
The large amber mackerel (Seriola dumerili) hunts young Common dentex.
As soon as they grow up, they hardly have any natural enemies.
Dangerous/Venomous
The bream is neither dangerous nor venomous.
Sketch
1. Sharp teeth
2. Long frontal bone
3. Dark spots
Pro tips
Common dentex stands at the top of the food chain.
It hunts for anything that comes its way, including fish, crabs, and squids.
It lurks on the ground and observes the area above it.
As soon as a victim is nearby, she jumps up and catches it with her strong jaws and sharp incisors. Because of this hunting behavior, they are usually found lurking above the lake floor.
In summer, you can find them particularly often on steep reef slopes.
Bream juveniles are social and live in small groups until they reach a weight of 1 to 5kg.
Then they become “lone wolves” and only meet during the mating season.
Text: Carolina Leiter, Felician Hosp, Pia Balaka
Pic: Dive Dict
Illustration: Dive Dict
