Marine Protection Regulations Species Identification Booklet 

 

 

 

 

 

For educational purposes only.  Not to be sold.  

Images ©FAO  

 

Version 1. October 2014. 

 

 

 

This  identification  booklet  provides  an  overview  of  the main  species  listed  under  the Regulations  together  with  the  minimum  sizes.  Species  marked  with  an  asterisk  (*) denote a species in need of strict protection that are subjected to additional restrictions. 

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

AmberjackPez deLimon

Serio

laDum

erili

32

Appearance: The back is bluishpurple, the sides yellowish and

the underside silver.Amberjacks have a distinctivedark band on the sides of thehead which angles from thefront of the back fin, throughthe eye to the mouth. They donot have finlets and the keel atthe base of the tails is slight andsoft. Tail fin is moon shaped.

Habitat: Often near reefs or atdeep off shore holds or drop

offs. Usually in small tomoderate schools but may be

solitary.

AnglerFish /

MonkfishRape

Loph

iuspiscatorius

30

Appearance: A flat fish withdark brown upper side andwhite belly. The body

comprises a large head andshort tail. The large mouth islined with a row of inwardpointing teeth. Over the

mouth, from the first spine ofthe dorsal fin, dangles a tinystrip of lighter coloured skin

which it uses as a lure.

Habitat: Typically found onmuddy bottoms and is very wellcamouflaged. From shallowinshore waters to 500m.

CommonSeabass

Robalo/lubina

Dicentrarchus

labrax

36

Appearance: Back is silvery,bluish or greenish. A large

mouthed fish with an elongatedbody with a diffuse black spot

on the edge of the gills.

Habitat: On various kinds ofbottoms, also in brackish

waters and occasionally rivers.

SpottedBass

Baila

Dicentrarchus

punctatus

30

Appearance: Smaller andnarrower bodied than the

common seabass. Also silvery,speckled with black spots alongits flanks. It has a dark patch on

the edge of its gill covers.

Habitat: On various kinds ofbottoms, also in brackish

waters and occasionally rivers.

Stone Bass/ WreckFish

Cherna

Polyprionam

erican

us

50

Appearance: Thick, robustbody with a large head and arough bony ridge across theupper side of gills. Rough

scales, with pelvic fins longerthan pectoral fins. Brown or

bluish grey in colour.

Habitat: Above rocky andmuddy/sandy bottoms at 40

450m.

BlueMouth

Alcantarillo/gallineta

Helicolenus

dactylop

terus

23

Appearance: A small brightcoloured rockfish, mainly redwith pink and white on the

flanks and belly. Short bodiedwith large eyes. Named afterthe leaden blue colour of its

mouth.

Habitat: Lives at considerabledepths between 200 and

1,000m.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

AnnularBream

Sargoamarrillo

Diplodu

san

nularis

18

Appearance: This silveryspecies is more circular in shapecompared to most breams, witha dark band around the tail andwide vertical, dull shading, justbehind the eye from the top ofthe head to the gill covers.

Habitat: This fish frequentscoastal reefs and can be foundin small groups near sandybottoms or rocky reefs.

This bream is rare in the Straitarea and is often mistaken for

White Bream.

BlackBream

Chopa

Spon

dyliosomacan

tharus

22

Appearance: Deep oval shapedbody with a small head. Dark

greyish brown or blue back withgolden longitudinal lines.

Habitat: Live in large shoalsover muddy and sandy bottoms

in inshore waters.

CommonSea

Bream/Couch’s/Red Porgy

Pargo

Pagrus

pagrus

28

Appearance: Typical breamshape with large head and

steep profile. Silvery pink, headdarker from mouth to nape.

Caudal fin is dark pink, a duskyarea often present at thepectoral axil and the tail is

white tipped

Habitat: Inshore waters onhard or sandy bottoms.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

CommonDentexBream

Denton

Dentexdentex

30

Appearance: Young are greyishin colour, dorsally black

spotted, pinkish at maturity andgrey blue in the oldest

specimens, dorsal spots moreor less shaded with age. It

sports long curved canines fromwhich the fish gets its name.

Habitat: Inshore waters onrocky bottoms to 200m, morecommon between 15 and 50m.

GiltheadBream

Dorada

Sparus

aurata

32

Appearance: Body oval, ratherdeep and compressed. Headcurved. Colour silvery grey; alarge black blotch at start of

lateral line extending on uppermargin of gill covers where it isedged below by a reddish area;a golden frontal band betweeneyes edged by two dark areas(not well defined in young

individuals); dark longitudinallines often present on sides ofbody; a dark band on dorsal fin;fork and tips of caudal fin edged

with black.

Habitat: Common throughoutthe Mediterranean. A coastalspecies, inhabiting seagrass

beds, rocky and sandy bottomsas well as in the surf zone.

Pandora’sBream

Breca

Pagelluserythrinus

27

Appearance: Pink Bream withbluish flecks on its back and areddish spot on pectoral baseand sometimes a dark red markat bases of last dorsal rays.

Body oblong and upper profileof head straight and conical

snout.

Habitat: Inshore waters, onvarious bottoms (rocks, gravels,

sand, mud) to 200m(Mediterranean).

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

RedBream

Voraz

Pageullusbo

garaveo

21

Appearance: Grey, more orless reddish, large eyed breamwith distinctive black spot

above pectoral fin. Sometimessmall shaded dark area at

pectoral axil. Inside of mouthorange red. Body oblong, upperprofile of head curved. Eye

diameter longer than length ofsnout.

Habitat: Common in westernMediterranean. Inshore watersabove various bottoms (rocks,

sand, mud) to 400m(Mediterranean).

SaddledBream

Doblada

Oblad

amelan

ura

22

Appearance: Body oblong inshape, large eyes and small

mouth. A small predominantlyslatey blue or grey bream witha broad black band at the baseof the tail surrounded by awhite ring. Fine longitudinaldark lines along rows of scales.

All fins light.

Habitat: Common throughoutthe Mediterranean. Lives incoastal waters over vegetatedbottoms and usually close to

the surface.

SamaBream /Pink

Dentex

Sama

Dentexgibb

osus

32

Appearance: Picture shown isa juvenile. Colour reddish silver,a little black spot behind theback end of dorsal fin. Smalldark areas at the pectoral axiland along the upper gill covers.Caudal fin pink with a narrowblack margin. 3rd and 4th spinesare small in adults which arealso characterised by a hump

on the head.

Habitat: Inshore waters onrocky bottoms and sand aroundrocks between 20 and 220m.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

SaupeBream

Salema

Sarpasalpa

22

Appearance: Grey bluish incolour, 10 11 fine longitudinalgolden lines along rows of

scales. Short head, yellow eyesand small mouth. Lateral linevery dark, black spot at upperpectoral base, caudal fin dark

grey, other fins light.

Habitat: Common throughoutMediterranean in littoral

wasters near rocks with algalcoverage and also on sandy

mud to 70m.

SheepsheadBream

Sula

Diplodu

spu

ntazzo

24

Appearance: Silvery grey incolour; with 11 13 vertical black

stripes along its sides.Distinguishable from the whitebream because of its smallereyes and long pointed snout.Very dark spot at the upperbase of pectoral fin. Hind

caudal edge dusky, other finsgreyish.

Habitat: Very commonthroughout the Mediterranean.Lives over muddy and sandybottoms near rocks to 150m.

SoldierBream

Sargosoldado

Diplodu

scervinus

cervinus

24

Appearance: Strikinglycoloured bream with five or sixvertical bands of dark brown

against a cream coloured body.Snout rather conical and lips

thick.

Habitat: Inshore waters, onrocky bottoms (Atlantic 5 80m)

and also muddy bottoms(Mediterranean 5 300m).

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

StripedBream

Herrera

Lithog

nathus

mormyrus

21

Appearance: Low oblong bodywith long and pointed snout.

Silvery grey in colour with 10 or12 black vertical bands. Darkerdorsally, snout dark brown,

dorsal and caudal fins generallybrownish, other fins lighter.

Habitat: Lives over sandybottoms very close inshore.

TwoBandedBream

Testa negra

Diplodu

svulgaris

22

Appearance: Generally grey,brownish to greenish in colour.The most commonly recognized

of the bream, it has twodistinctive, vertical, black

bands, one behind the eyes, theother before the tail. It has alarge head and prominent eyesand numerous yellow lines run

the length of its body.

Habitat and Distribution: Theylive close to shore over muddy

and sandy bottoms in thevicinity of rocks and harbour

walls.

WhiteBream

Sargo

Diplodu

ssargus

sargus

22

Appearance: This species isvery similar to the Annular SeaBream for which it is often

mistaken. Silvery grey in colourwith a darker snout. In this fish,there is a black spot at the bodyside of the tail joint and thereare about seven faint, dark

vertical stripes down the bodyand a broad black band at the

base of the tail.

Habitat and Distribution:Frequently seen in large shoalsand on littoral waters on rockybottoms and sand close to

rocks, to 50m in theMediterranean.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

HurtaBream /Red

bandedSeabream

Hurta

Pagrus

aurig

a

40

Appearance: Silvery pink incolour with 4 or 5 dark redtransverse bands alternatingwide and narrow. Head dark

from mouth to nape. Back edgeof gills black, dorsal pink,

pelvics wine red.

Habitat: Inshore waters onhard bottoms to 170m.

Comber Serrano

Serran

uscabrilla

19

Appearance: Large mouthedserranid. Yellowish grey orreddish in colour. Small fishwith 7 9 brown vertical bandson upper side and a few yellowor orange longitudinal lines on

sides of head.

Habitat: Lives in rocky areasinshore and in sea grass

meadows.

BlackTailedBomber

Serrana

Serran

usatricaud

a

21

Appearance: Elongated body.Brownish in colour, with a

series of darker, large patchesalong its sides. Blue dots anddark edge on median fins.

Habitat: Bottom dwelling toabout 90m, on hard bottoms.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

PaintedComber

Vaquilla

Serran

usscrib

a

21

Appearance: During the day, itusually has a blue spot on thebelly, which becomes evenmore pronounced at night.Grey, purplish or reddish incolour, with 5 7 dark brownvertical bands along its sides.On its head it has many blueand red blotches. Vertical fins

with red dots.

Habitat: Coastal, bottomdwelling to about 150m, onrocks and flowering beds.

Conger Eel Safio

Cong

ercong

er

120

Appearance: Colour varies butis usually grey or bluish blackwith a white belly. Snake likebody. Snout slightly prominent.

Habitat: Bottom dwelling onrocky or sandy bottoms up to

100m.

Derbio/Pompano

Palometa

Trachino

tusovatus

24

Appearance: A small deepbodied, flat sided fish with aforked tail. Dark green alongthe top and silvery below with3 5 dark vertically elongatedblotches on its sides. Tips of

caudal fin black.

Habitat: Usually occur inschools in the surf zone andclear water along sandy

beaches.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

*LesserSpottedDogfish /RoughHound

*PintarrojaScyliorhinus

canicula

40

Appearance: One of thesmaller sharks. Upper bodysandy or brown, covered bynumerous small dark spots.

Habitat: Bottom dwelling overgravelly, sandy and muddy

bottoms to about 400m in theMediterranean.

DolphinFish /

Mahi MahiDorado

Coryph

aena

hipp

urus

32

Appearance: A streamlineddeep bodied and laterally

flattened fish. The body tapersevenly towards the forked tailand has a very long single

dorsal fin running the whole ofits length. Its colour ranges

from dark metallic bluish blackto yellowish sides speckled withdark spots and golden blotches.The blunt forehead is a feature

of the fully grown adult.

Habitat: Inhabits open waterbut also approaches the

coastline.

Garfish Aguja

Belone

Belone

32

Appearance: Long eel like fishwith beaked snouts. The colouris predominantly blue grey onthe back with a silvery belly.

Habitat: Surface dwelling incoastal waters.

GreaterForkbeard

MollaBretola

Phycisblenno

ides

25

Appearance: A round fish witha barbel below its chin. Maincharacteristic is its very longand thin trailing pelvic fins.

Brownish or grey in colour, witha black edge along its dorsal,

anal and caudal fins.

Habitat: Lives over muddybottoms and over rocks atdepth of 100m to 200m.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

CombGrouper

VerdosaMycteropercarubra

40

Appearance: Long bodied.Reddish brown in colour, withirregular wavy darker lines and

white blotches.

Habitat: Rocky and sandybottoms at 15 200m.

DuskyGrouper

Mero

Epinephelusmargina

tus

40

Appearance: Robust body witha big mouth. Reddish brown incolour, with scattered lighter orwhite irregular areas and spots.One long dorsal fin, rounded

tail and caudal fin has a distinctwhite margin.

Habitat: Mostly on rockybottoms, for a preference forrocky areas that have cracksand caves, from the coast to

300m.

PointedNose

Grouper /Golden

Abadejo

Epinephelusfasciatus

40

Appearance: Body long andrather narrow. Grey brown incolour with large specimens

having a large golden blotch onside.

Habitat: Rocky and muddybottoms to around 300m.

GruntBesugoRoncador

Pomad

asys

incisus

21

Appearance: Mouth small,slightly oblique. Back brown incolour with a silvery belly. Dark

blotch near the gills.

Habitat: Sandy and rockybottoms, from shallow water to

50m.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

RubberLippedGrunt

BorriquettePlectorhinchus

medite

rran

eus

21

Appearance:Mouth small,slightly oblique. Greyish violetin colour with a silvery belly.

Habitat: Sandy and muddybottoms in depths of 10 150m.

StrippedGrunt

Javali

Parapristip

omaoctolineatum

21

Appearance: Large eyes andmouth. Colour violet brown or

greyish with 4 pale bluelongitudinal stripes on back and

sides beginning on head.

Habitat: Shallow waters fromthe shoreline to about 50m on

sand or rocky bottoms.

RedGurnard

Rubio Rojo

Chelidon

ichthyscuculus

20

Appearance: Strange looking,tough scaled fish. Large head.Bright red in colour on upperbody, lower body pale. Pelvicfins are pink, pectoral and

dorsal fins are yellowish, analfin has a milky white base.

Habitat: Bottom dwelling onmud, sand, gravel, crags androcks between 30 250m.

TubGurnard

Rubio

Chelidon

ichthysLucerna

20

Appearance: Strange looking,tough scaled fish. Large head.Pink or reddish brown in colour,sometimes mottled on back,golden to white ventrally.Outer face of pectoral fins

pinkish violet or blue, spottedwith white or green, and lightblue or red on margins. Finger

like pectoral fins used forcrawling along the sea bottom.

Habitat: Sand, muddy sand orgravel bottoms from

approximately 20 to 300m.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

StreakedGurnard

RubioTriglopo

ruslastoviza

20

Appearance: Strange looking,tough scaled fish. Large head.Dorsal is red, pale ventral withdark spots or blotches on headand back. Pectoral fins aregreyish with large dark bluespots. Finger like pectoral finsused for crawling along the sea

bottom.

Habitat: Found on rough rockygrounds or sand and muddysand near rocks from theshoreline to approximately

150m depth.

John Dory Gallo

Zeus

faber

25

Appearance: A tall, laterallycompressed fish. A large head

with big eyes and a widemouth. It’s dorsal and pelvicfins are elongated, the formerending in trailing filaments.Golden green grey or silverybronze in colour, with a

prominent large yellow edgedblack spot in the centre of thebody. Membranes of spinousanal and pelvic fins black.

Habitat: Near bottom or inmid water, from close inshoredown to 400m or more, mostly

at 50 150m.

*Meagre *Corvina

Argyrosom

usregius

50

Appearance: Elongated bodywith a large mouth. Brownishin colour with silver and goldenreflections. Darker on backwith a silvery belly. Fins are

greyish.

Habitat: Wide ranging andfound along the water column,inshore and shelf waters fromapproximately 15 to 200m.

Mediterranean

BarracudaEspeton

Sphyraenasphyraena

21

Appearance: Long, sleek, pikelike and sharply toothed withthe lower jaw jutting out in

front. Body is dark above andsilvery below, with noprominent cross bars.

Habitat: Live in the watercolumn of coastal, ocean and

lake waters.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

Flat HeadMullet

LisaMug

ilceph

alus

35

Appearance: Broad head.Along their backs they areblue/green, flanks and bellypale or silvery. Scales on backand flanks usually streaked toform longitudinal stripes.

Habitat: Usually inshore, live inthe water column of coastal,ocean and lake waters but noton or near the bottom of the

sea or the lake.

GoldenGreyMullet

Lisa

Liza

aurata

35

Appearance: Broad head. Backis blue/grey with flanks andbelly pale or silvery, with agolden blotch on the gills.

Habitat: Usually inshore, live inthe water column of coastal

and ocean waters but not on ornear the bottom of the sea andrarely moves into freshwater.

ThickLippedMullet

Lisa

Chezon

labrosus

35

Appearance: Broad head.Deep upper lip. Back is

grey/blue, flanks and belly paleor silvery, with dark longitudinal

stripes along scale rows.

Habitat: Usually inshore, live inthe water column of coastal

and ocean waters but not on ornear the bottom of the sea.

RedMullet

Salmonetede roca

Mullussurm

uletus

21

Appearance: Short bodied andlarge headed fish with big eyesand plough shaped snouts. Pairof long barbels under the lower

jaw. Reddish, with brownedges on the sides with threelengthwise yellow bands. Thefirst dorsal fin is yellowish withdark markings mainly on the

upper part of the finmembrane.

Habitat: Bottom dwelling onrough, muddy and sandy

bottoms.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

Stripedred mullet

Salmonetede fango

Mullusba

rbatus

barbatus

21

Appearance: Almost verticalsnout. Bands are almost absent

despite its name.

Habitat:Muddy and sandybottoms inshore.

CommonOctopus

Pulpo

Octop

usvulgaris

1.5kg

Appearance: Domed bodysurrounded by eight long

tentacles bearing a double rowof powerful suckers. Octopus’have large eyes and a hardbeak, with its mouth at the

centre point of the arms. Bodycolours vary, but browns andred predominate. The skin is

smooth and has special pigmentcells that make it possible forthe octopus to blend in with its

surroundings.

Habitat: Inhabits many diverseregions of the ocean, includingcoral reefs, pelagic waters, and

the ocean floor.

PicarelLunar deCristo

Spicaramaena

19

Appearance: A distinctive smallfish. Is silvery in colour with aturquoise top to its flanks andhas a distinctive dark blotchmidway down its lateral line.

Habitat: Sea grass, rocks andmud down to about 100m.

Puffer Fish Pez Globo

Lago

ceph

alus

lago

ceph

alus

20

Appearance: Bluish grey aboveand white below.

Habitat: Pelagic, not far fromcoasts.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

ThornbackRay

Raya declavos

Rajaclavata

2kg

Appearance: A common speciesthat gets its name from a

number of hook like scales onits back. Blotchy brown in

colour and can reach up to 90100cm in length.

Habitat: Prefers sandy/muddybottoms. Feeds on all kinds of

bottom animals with apreference for crustaceans.Generally found in 1 300m

depth.

Brown RayRaya deespejos

Rajamira

letus

2kg

Appearance: Smaller than thethornback (max. length 60cm)and apart from the lighter

sandy colour has a darker spoton its back at the centre of each

wing flap.

Habitat: Prefers sandy/muddybottoms. Feeds on all kinds of

bottom animals with apreference for crustaceans.Generally found in 1 300m

depth.

ScabbardFish

Pez Sable

Lepido

puscaud

atus

52

Appearance: Very long bodiedfish, bright silver in colour withlarge eyes and wide mouth.

The small tail is deeply forked.

Habitat: Live throughout thewater column, frequents deep

waters.

ScorpionFish

Rascasio

Scorpa

enapo

rcus

22

Appearance: Large head, shortbrown rock fish marbled withdarker bands and patches.

Some of the dorsal spines arepoisonous. Three vertical

bands on caudal fin.

Habitat: Lives in rocky andweedy areas in inshore waters.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

GreaterScorpionFish

CaponScorpa

eana

scrofa

22

Appearance: Large headedrock fish. Colour variable frombrick red to light pink with dark

mottling or blotches, finsblotched with brown. Black

spot on dorsal fin.

Habitat: Rocky, sandy ormuddy bottoms from 20 to

200m.

*Spurdog *Mielga

Squa

lusacan

thias(L.)

40

Appearance: Crescent shapedmouth, sharp teeth, long body,powerful tail and triangular

dorsal fins. Colour gray above,white below, usually withconspicuous white spotspresent on sides of body.

Habitat: Bottom dwelling onsoft bottoms from 10m to

approximately 200m, rarely to950m.

Stargazer Rata

Urano

scop

usscab

er

20

Appearance: Small eyes on topof its head, upward pointingmouth. The first dorsal fin isshort and almost black. Backand sides are greyish brown incolour, speckled with spots,belly is yellowish white.

Habitat: Bottom dwelling onsandy or muddy bottoms,burrowing in the sediment.

TriggerFish

PezEscopeta

Balistescapricus

28

Appearance: A tall and laterallycompressed fish, with a smallround mouth and eyes. Slategrey in colour. Three faintirregular broad dark bars on

body; a narrow pale transverseband on chin; small light bluespots on upper half of body.

Habitat: Inhabits bays,harbours, lagoons, and seaward

reefs.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

*BluefinTuna

*Atun Rojo

Thun

nusthynnu

s

40kg

Appearance: Large species,deepest near middle of firstdorsal fin base. Second dorsalfin higher than first dorsal;pectoral fins are very short,never reaching the interspacebetween the dorsal fins. Lowersides and belly silvery white

with colourless transverse linesalternated with rows of

colourless dots; first dorsal finyellow or bluish; the secondreddish brown; anal fin and

finlets dusky yellow edged withblack.

Habitat: Usually oceanic butseasonally coming close to

shore.

Turbot Rodaballo

Scop

thalmus

maxim

us

30

Appearance: A flat fish, bodyalmost circular and rather thick.The top side is coloured brownor light yellow, mottled withspecks of darker colour andwhite spots. The underside is

creamy white.

Habitat: Sandy and stonybottoms down to about 70m.

GreaterWeaver

Araña

Trachinu

sdraco

22

Appearance: Upper parts aregreenish brown in colour withdarker points on its head. Sidesyellowish white, crossed withalternating blue and yellow

lines. Eyes on top of head withan upward pointing mouth.

Habitat: Sandy, muddy orgravelly bottoms, from a few

metres to about 150m.

SpottedWeaver

Araña

Trachinu

saran

eus

22

Appearance: Light brown/yellow in colour. Flanks arestreaked with darker diagonallines and blotches merging ontoa cream white belly. Eyes ontop of head with an upward

pointing mouth. The first dorsalfin is short and almost blackand is armed with poison

spines. At the edge of each gillcover there is another poison

spine.

Habitat: Sandy, muddy orgravelly bottoms, from a few

metres to about 150m.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

StarryWeaver

Araña

Trachinu

sradiatus

22

Appearance: Yellowish brownin colour with many black

blotches along its sides. Caudalfin with some spots and dark

edge.

Habitat: Sandy, muddy orgravelly bottoms, from a few

metres to about 150m.

BallanWrasse

Bodiontordo

Labrus

bergylta

24

Appearance: Large bodied,broad head. Very variablecolours and patterns. Body,head and fins often brownreddish or reddish with

numerous small light whitespots. Some specimens are

greenish, also with white spotsor with irregular large verticaldark stripes; some with a large

lateral white stripe.

Habitat: Close to shore, aroundrocks, offshore reefs and

seaweed.

GreenWrasse

Bodionverde

Labrus

virid

is

24

Appearance: Rather elongatedbody, with a pointed snout.Rather large mouth. Body ishabitually green, belly is paler,yellowish greyish or silvered,often with a large longitudinalwhite stripe from snout to tail.

Habitat: Close to shore, aroundrocks and seaweed.

PaintedWrasse

Bodionpintado

Symph

odus

tinca

24

Appearance: Small dark spot atbase of caudal fin and a darkblotch just above pectoral fin.Many darker spots on bodyforming 3 or 4 indistinct

longitudinal stripes. Femalesand juveniles, grey greenish orbrownish, fading to silvery

colour on belly. Males, morebrightly coloured, pale green,green bluish or green yellowishwith longitudinal rows of redspots, upper part of head darkblue. Fins marked, with blue,

green, red and yellow.

Habitat: Close to shore, nearrocks, mainly in eel grass beds

(1 50m).

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

Albacore* Albacora*

Thun

nusalalun

ga

15kg

Appearance: A faint lateraliridescent blue band runs alongsides in live fish; first dorsal findeep yellow, second dorsal and

anal fins light yellow, analfinlets dark; posterior margin of

caudal fin white.

Habitat: Oceanic.

Big eyetuna*

Patudo*

Thun

nusob

esus

40kg

Appearance: Lower sides andbelly whitish. A lateral

iridescent blue band also runsalong sides in live fish; first

dorsal fin deep yellow, seconddorsal and anal fins light yellow,finlets bright yellow edged with

black.

Habitat: Oceanic.

SwordFish*

PezEspada*

Xiph

iasglad

ius

90cm

(excluding

‘sword’)

Appearance: Body elongateand cylindrical. Upper jaw

prolonged into a long bill, largeeyes. Two widely separate

dorsal fins in adults (continuousin immature specimens), thefirst much larger than the

second. Back and sides of bodyblackish brown, gradually

fading to light brown on ventralside; fin membrane of first

dorsal fin dark blackish brown;other fins brown or blackish

brown.

Habitat: Oceanic.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

AtlanticSailfish*

Agujavoladora*

Istio

phorus

albicans

90cm

(excluding

‘sword’)

Appearance: Can grow over300cm in length. Characteristic

‘sail’ makes it moredistinguishable from other

billfishes. Rare.

Habitat: Oceanic

AtlanticWhiteMarlin*

Marlin*

Kajikiaalbidu

s

90cm

(excluding

‘sword’)

Appearance: Body is dark blueabove and silvery white below,with brown spots on the sidesof the white portion. First

dorsal fin, which runs almostthe length of the body, is darkblue with many black spots,although these may fade

towards the back of the fin. Canalso grow up to 300cm.

Habitat: Oceanic

EuropeanHake*

Merluza*

Merlucius

merlucius

25cm

Appearance: Body long andrather slender compared withother hake species. Colour:steel grey on back, lighter on

sides and silvery white on belly.Recorded up to 140 cm inlength (15kg weight).

Habitat: Usually found between70 and 370 m depth. It lives

close to the bottom during daytime, but moves off bottom at

night.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

EuropeanLobster*

Bogavante*

Hom

arus

gammarus

30cm

(totallength)

Appearance: Has twocharacteristic big pincers, onebeing broader than the other.Dark blue in colour. Usuallyfound hidden in crevices.

Maximum total body lengthabout 60 cm (weight 5 or 6 kg),large size specimens usually 23

to 50 cm.

Habitat: Found on hardsubstrates such as rock or hardmud. Territorial and nocturnal.

Spinylobster*

Langosta*

Palinurus

elepha

s

25cm

(totallength)

Appearance: Colour is usuallyorange dorsally with darkerspines and white underneathbut brown, sandy and purplemorphs may also be found.Possesses two long antennaeand small hook like claws.

Habitat: Found on hardsubstrates such as rock or hard

mud. Nocturnal.

EnglishName

SpanishName

ScientificName

Min.Size

(cm)

Description

Shellfish

Axis measurement

CommonEnglish Name

Common LocalSpanish Name

Scientific NameMinSizes

(mm) Axis

measurementImage

Groovedcarpet shell

Almeja finaVenerupisdecussata

40 AP

Pullet carpetshell

Almejababosa

Venerupiscorrugata

38AP

Almeja chochaPolititapesvergineus

35AP

Anteroposterior axis (AP) Dorsoventral axis (DV)

Goldencarpet shell

PiruloPolitatapesaureus

35AP

ChirlaChameleagallina

25AP

Surf clam Clica Spisula solida 30AP

Donax CoquinaDonax

trunculus25

AP

CommonEnglish Name

Common LocalSpanish Name

Scientific Name

MinSizes

(mm) Axis

measurementImage

Smooth clam Concha fina Callista chione 60AP

Warty Venus Almejon, BoloVenus

verrucosa50

AP

Almeja tontaGlycimerisnummaria

50AP

MedallonDosiniaexoleta

40AP

CommonEnglish Name

Common LocalSpanish Name

Scientific Name

MinSizes

(mm) Axis

measurementImage

Razor clamLongueiron,

NavajaSolen

marginatus75 AP

Pepperyfurrow shell

Coquina defango

Scrobiculariaplana

35AP

Great scallopor kingscallop

PeregrinaPectenmaximus

100AP

CommonCockle

BerberechoCerastoderma

edule24 DV

CommonEnglish Name

Common LocalSpanish Name

Scientific Name

MinSizes

(mm) Axis

measurementImage

Rough cockle CorrucoAcanthocardiatuberculata

45 DV

Portugueseoyster

OstionCrassostreaangulata

60 DV

Purple dyemurex

CanaulaBolinusbrandaris

70

BusanoHexaplextrunculus

60

CommonEnglish Name

Common LocalSpanish Name

Scientific Name

MinSizes

(mm) Axis

measurementImage