Scotsman seabream facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scotsman seabream |
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Dentex praeorbitalis Günther, 1859 |
The Polysteganus praeorbitalis, also known as the Scotsman or Scotsman seabream, is a type of ocean fish. It belongs to the seabream family called Sparidae, which is part of a larger group of fish known as Perciformes. This fish is found mainly in Southern Africa.
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What the Scotsman Fish Looks Like
The Scotsman fish has a strong body that's a bit flat from side to side. It has one long fin on its back and a tail fin that's slightly split. It's easy to spot because of its unique shape. Older Scotsman fish have a sloped forehead and a noticeable bump on their neck. Their body gets thinner towards the tail. They also have small eyes.
Adult Scotsman fish are usually reddish-pink to light blue-green. They have many blue dots on their upper body and shiny scales below their side line. You might also see silvery or blue lines around their eyes. Younger Scotsman fish can be more yellowish and have three brown stripes running along their body.
This fish can grow up to 90 cm (about 35 inches) long and weigh around 11 kg (about 24 pounds). Their usual length is about 35 cm (14 inches).
Where the Scotsman Fish Lives
The Scotsman fish lives along the coast of Southern Africa. You can find them from Algoa Bay in South Africa all the way to Beira, Mozambique. They live on reefs far from the shore, usually in water that is 15 to 120 meters (about 50 to 390 feet) deep. The oldest Scotsman fish ever recorded was 13 years old and 72 cm long, but scientists believe they can live even longer.
What the Scotsman Fish Eats
The Scotsman fish mainly eats small reef fish. But they also enjoy eating crustaceans, like crabs and shrimp, and cephalopods, such as squid and octopus, that live on the ocean floor.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scotsman fish become old enough to have babies when they are about 40 cm long, which takes about 6 years. They gather together to breed and lay their eggs off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This usually happens in winter, and sometimes in spring. They mostly breed north of Richard's Bay.
Normally, the Scotsman fish lives alone. Scientists think that these fish might be protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they could change from female to male during their lives. However, this idea is still being studied and is not fully confirmed yet.
Why the Scotsman Fish is Important to Humans
The Scotsman fish is caught by people who fish for fun and by commercial fishing boats. However, there are rules about how many can be caught. The number of Scotsman fish has gone down a lot because too many have been caught. This means it's important to protect them so there are enough for the future.
See also
In Spanish: Polysteganus praeorbitalis para niños
