black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Spicara smaris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms: Maena smaris (Linnaeus, 1758); Sparus alcedo Risso, 1810; Spams
smaris Risso, 1826; Sparus vulgaris Valenciennes, 1830; Smaris gracilis Bonaparte,
1836; Spicara smaris Lazano Cabo, 1953.
Common names: Engl: Picarel; Bulg: Vretenest smarid; Rom: Smarid auriu; Russ:
Smarida; Turk: Izmarit; Ukr: Smarida.
Taxonomic description. Body rather elongate, its length five to six times its height;
snout pointed, mouth protractile; eye diameter smaller than preorbital length; scales
small; jaws bearing villiform teeth, some of the anterior ones stronger; palate smooth
or nearly so (none or very few teeth). Dorsal fin without a notch; pectoral fins
moderately developed; dorsal fin high; back grayish-brown or grayish-yellow, with
rather indistinct brown cross bands. A black rectangular blotch between lateral line
and pectoral fin. Size maximum 20 cm (males) and 15 cm (females); average
8-20 cm.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: DD
Order PERCIFORMES
Family CENTRACANTHIDAE
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. A benthic species
preferring offshore water, especially in winter; over muddy or vegetated bottoms,
from the littoral to depths of 15-170 m. Common throughout the Mediterranean Sea,
also found on the Atlantic coasts from Portugal to Morocco. Rare in the Black Sea
due to poor oxygenation of its deeper waters (100-150 m), this species preferring
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