---
title: Sea breams (Sparidae)
scientific_name: Sparidae
common_name: Sea breams
rank: Family
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T21:13:42.796Z
tags: Sea breams, Sparidae, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams
---

# Sea breams (*Sparidae*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Family
- **Scientific name:** Sparidae
- **Body shape:** Oval - Egg-shaped body, deeper than it is thick - damselfishes, surgeonfishes.
- **Species listed here:** 8

## How to recognise this group

- oval to oblong body, deeper than thick
- silvery, grey, or reddish overall colouration
- single dorsal fin with prominent spines
- small mouth, set well away from eye

Sea breams are deep-bodied, compressed fish with oval to oblong profiles, often displaying silvery, grey, or reddish colouration, sometimes with darker bars or spots. They have a small mouth set well away from the eye, a single dorsal fin with robust spines and soft rays, a short anal fin, and large, well-anchored scales. Species in this family range from 15 cm (6 in) to over 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length, though most commonly encountered individuals are under 60 cm (2 ft). The family name Sparidae derives from Sparus, an ancient Greek term for a fish with a golden head.

Sea breams inhabit coastal waters from the intertidal zone down to 150 m (490 ft). They are found over rocky reefs, coral areas, sandy bottoms, and seagrass beds. Primarily carnivorous, they feed on benthic invertebrates such as crabs, molluscs, and worms, often using strong jaws and molar-like teeth to crush shells. Some species also consume small fish or algae. While many species form schools, others forage solitarily near the substrate during daylight hours.


## Species (8)

- [Doublebar Seabream (Acanthopagrus bifasciatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams/doublebar-seabream)
- [Gilt-head Seabream (Sparus aurata)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams/gilt-head-seabream)
- [Goldstriped Seabream (Rhabdosargus sarba)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams/goldstriped-seabream)
- [Haffara Seabream (Rhabdosargus haffara)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams/haffara-seabream)
- [Karanteen Seabream (Crenidens crenidens)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams/karanteen-seabream)
- [King Soldierbream (Argyrops spinifer)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams/king-soldierbream)
- [Picnic Seabream (Acanthopagrus berda)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams/picnic-seabream)
- [Red Sea Porgy (Diplodus noct)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams/red-sea-porgy)

---

*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/sea-breams)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*