Gilt-head Bream Sparus aurata

The Gilt-head Bream, also called the Gilthead Seabream, is native to coastal waters of the northeastern Atlantic including the Mediterranean. Its common name (in English, Spanish, Italian) and Latin name refer to the gold bar between its eyes.

Even if the gold bar whitens, darkens or is not fully visible, the shape of the fish, the only species in its genus, is distinctive with its long, narrowing body and large, rounded head.

It grows to 40-70cm long. Juveniles are silvery, which tarnishes with age. All ages have the black mark above the gills which becomes larger and darker with age.

They have sharp teeth and flatter, crushing teeth for their diet of shellfish and crabs. In turn, they are a favoured fish in human cuisine, especially in the Mediterranean. The eastern Mediterranean is also a large producer from marine fish farms.