# Saddled seabream

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Species of fish

Saddled seabream Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acanthuriformes Family: Sparidae Genus: Oblada Cuvier, 1829 Species: O. melanura Binomial name Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms[2] Sparus melanurus Linnaeus, 1758

The **saddled seabream** (***Oblada melanura***), also called the **saddle bream** or **oblade**, is a species of [ray-finned fish](/source/Actinopterygii) belonging to the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Sparidae](/source/Sparidae), which includes the seabreams and porgies. It is the only species in the [monospecific genus](/source/Monospecific_genus) ***Oblada***. This species is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is an important food fish within its range.

## Taxonomy

The saddled seabream was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) as *Sparus melanurus* by [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) in the 10th edition of *[Systema Naturae](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae)* with its [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given as the Mediterranean.[3] In 1829 [Georges Cuvier](/source/Georges_Cuvier) classified *S. melanurus* in the [monotypic](/source/Monotypic_taxon) genus *Oblada*.[4] A study of [mitochondrial DNA](/source/Mitochondrial_DNA) in 2005 found that the saddled bream was the [sister species](/source/Sister_species) of *[Diplodus puntazzo](/source/Diplodus_puntazzo)*.[5] The genus *Oblada* is placed in the family Sparidae within the [order](/source/Order_(biology)) [Spariformes](/source/Spariformes) by the 5th edition of *[Fishes of the World](/source/Fishes_of_the_World)*.[6] Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Boopsinae,[7] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae.[6]

## Etymology

The saddled seabream has the [generic name](/source/Generic_name_(biology)) *Oblada*, this is a [latinisation](/source/Latinisation_of_names) of *oblado*, a vernacular name for this species in [Marseille](/source/Marseille), one of three names (the others being *blade* and *hibaldo*) as recorded by [Morten Thrane Brünnich](/source/Morten_Thrane_Br%C3%BCnnich) in 1768. Its [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)) *melanurus* means "black tail" and is an allusion to the large black spot on the [caudal peduncle](/source/Caudal_peduncle).[8]

## Description

The saddled seabream has an oblong shaped, somewhat compressed body. The dorsal profile of the head is straight and it has an elongated, sharply pointed snout with a low set horizontal, fleshy lipped mouth. The eyes are small and rear nostrils are slits. The scales on the crown do not reach past the rear margin of the eyes. The [preoperculum](/source/Preoperculum) has no scales. The teeth in the font of the flaws are small and arranged bands, the upper jaw has 3–6 rows of molars with 2 and 4 rows of molars on the lower jaw. The dorsal fin is supported by 11 or 12 spines and 11 or 12 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays. The background colour is grey with silvery tints, darker on the back, with 14 or 15 vertical dark brown or grey bars along the flanks. Three is a large white-edged black saddle marking on the caudal peduncle. The dorsal and caudal fins are pale yellowish or pinkish, the other fins are dark.[9] The saddled seabream has a maximum published [total length](/source/Total_length) of 36.6 cm (14.4 in), although 20 cm (7.9 in) is more typical, with a maximum published weight of 525 g (18.5 oz).[2]

## Distribution and habitat

The saddled seabream is found in the Eastern Atlantic where it ranges from in the [Bay of Biscay](/source/Bay_of_Biscay), [Madeira](/source/Madeira), [Cape Verde](/source/Cape_Verde), [Canary Islands](/source/Canary_Islands) and [Strait of Gibraltar](/source/Strait_of_Gibraltar) south to Angola. It is also found in the Mediterranean, [Sea of Marmara](/source/Sea_of_Marmara) and the term southern part of the [Black Sea](/source/Black_Sea).[1] It is found at depths down to 30 m (98 ft) over rocky substrates and in bedside *[Zostera](/source/Zostera)* seagrass and [seaweed](/source/Seaweed).[2]

## Biology

In a public aquarium

The saddled seabream is a gregarious fish, spawning in June and July. This species is an omnivorous fish, but feeds mainly on small invertebrates.[2] This species [spawns](/source/Spawns) between April and June and the juveniles settle between July and September. Normally this is a is [gonochoristic](/source/Gonochoristic) fish, although some are [protogynous](/source/Protogynous), and all adults with lengths greater than 29.3 cm (11.5 in) are female.[1]

The fish was reported in September 2023 to be attacking older swimmers with [warts](/source/Wart), [moles](/source/Nevus) or cuts.[10]

## Fisheries

The saddled seabream is valued as a food fish in the Mediterranean where 862 t (848 long tons; 950 short tons) were landed in 2005. It is fished for by both commercial and sports fishers, but it is not the target of a dedicated fishery. It is caught using [beach seines](/source/Seine_fishing), [trawls](/source/Trawling), deep nets and [hand lines](/source/Handline_fishing) and it is frequently for sale in fish markets throughout the northern Mediterranean. However, it is rarely offered for sale in North Africa, Israel or France and it is generally discarded by Portuguese fishers. Fish landed are sold fresh or frozen, although the flesh is not held in high esteem, and are also processed into fish meal or fish oil.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-3) Russell, B.; [Carpenter, K.E.](/source/Kent_E._Carpenter) & Pollard, D. (2014). ["*Oblada melanura*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170197/1291218). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2014** e.T170197A1291218. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170197A1291218.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170197A1291218.en). Retrieved 30 January 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-3) [Froese, Rainer](/source/Rainer_Froese); [Pauly, Daniel](/source/Daniel_Pauly) (eds.). ["*Oblada melanurus*"](https://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Oblada&speciesname=melanurus). *[FishBase](/source/FishBase)*. October 2023 version.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CofF_3-0)** Fricke, Ron; [Eschmeyer, William N.](/source/William_N._Eschmeyer) & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). ["Species in the genus *Oblada*"](http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?tbl=species&genus=Oblada). *[Catalog of Fishes](/source/Catalog_of_Fishes)*. [California Academy of Sciences](/source/California_Academy_of_Sciences). Retrieved 30 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CofF2_4-0)** Fricke, Ron; [Eschmeyer, William N.](/source/William_N._Eschmeyer) & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). ["Genera in the family Sparidae"](http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?tbl=genus&family=Sparidae). *[Catalog of Fishes](/source/Catalog_of_Fishes)*. [California Academy of Sciences](/source/California_Academy_of_Sciences). Retrieved 30 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Summerer_5-0)** M. Summerer; R. Hanel; C. Sturmbauer (2005). "Mitochondrial phylogeny and biogeographic affinities of sea breams of the genus Diplodus (Sparidae)". *Journal of Fish Biology*. **59** (6): 1638–1652. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00227.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.2001.tb00227.x).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nelson5_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nelson5_6-1) Nelson, Joseph S.; Grande, Terry C.; Wilson, Mark V. H. (2016). [*Fishes of the World*](https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=E-MLDAAAQBAJ&pg=PP1) (5th ed.). Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons. pp. 502–506. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/9781119174844](https://doi.org/10.1002%2F9781119174844). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-118-34233-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-118-34233-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Parenti_7-0)** Parenti, P. (2019). ["An annotated checklist of the fishes of the family Sparidae"](https://fishtaxa.com/menuscript/index.php/ft/article/view/49/52). *FishTaxa*. **4** (2): 47–98.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ETYFish_8-0)** Christopher Scharpf (12 January 2024). ["Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 6): Families GERREIDAE, LETHRINIDAE, NEMIPTERIDAE and SPARIDAE"](https://etyfish.org/acanthuriformes6/). *The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database*. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 30 January 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FAO_9-0)** [Kent E. Carpenter](/source/Kent_E._Carpenter) (2016). "Sparidae". In Carpenter, K.E. and De Angelis, N. (eds.). [*The living marine resources of the Eastern Central Atlantic Volume 2 Bony fishes part 2 (Perciformes to Tetradontiformes) and Sea turtles*](https://www.fao.org/3/i5715e/i5715e.pdf) (PDF). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Rome: FAO. pp. 2567–2620. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-92-5-109267-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-92-5-109267-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-euronews_10-0)** ["Benidorm tourists warned about fish attacks after 15 people a day injured by bites"](https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/09/05/benidorm-tourists-warned-about-fish-attacks-after-15-people-a-day-injured-by-bites). *Euronews*. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024.

## External links

- Media related to [Oblada melanura](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Oblada_melanura) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Oblada melanura](http://eol.org/pages/994848/overview) at Encyclopedia of Life.

- Photos of [Saddled seabream](https://sealifecollection.org/taxon/127056) in the Sealife Collection

Taxon identifiers Oblada melanura Wikidata: Q1771633 Wikispecies: Oblada melanura ADW: Oblada BOLD: 34772 CoL: 74DMX EUNIS: 124164 FishBase: 850 GBIF: 2392603 iNaturalist: 118662 IRMNG: 11174548 ITIS: 169210 IUCN: 170197 NCBI: 98825 Observation.org: 187623 Open Tree of Life: 528668 Plazi: F44A98A2-AE08-9866-A7CF-20F5076E7241 WoRMS: 127056

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saddled seabream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddled_seabream) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddled_seabream?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.