Picarel
Spicara smaris
Special features
During mating season, males are particularly colorful with bright blue stripes, and dots, and may also have a brown diagonal pattern under these.
Appearance
The Picarel is elongated, slightly high-backed, and flattened laterally. It is uniformly silver-gray, with a black spot on the flank.
They have big eyes, with yellow irises. The dorsal and anal fin is long and looks like a comb.
Natural enemies
Predatory fish
Dangerous/Venomous
The snout bream is neither dangerous nor venomous.
Sketch
1. Yellow iris
2. Black spot
3. Long, comb-like fins
Pro tips
The Picarel is always out and about in large groups, except once a year: for mating.
A male then digs a nest in the sandy soil, which he guards in courtship dress.
Though, as soon as the eggs hatch, the males return to their group of mates.
At first, the young fish are female, later in life, approximately when they are 18 cm tall, they change their sex to male.
Text: Carolina Leiter, Felician Hosp, Pia Balaka
Pic: Dive Dict
Illustration: Dive Dict
