Karanteen Seabream

Crenidens crenidens, commonly known as the karanteen seabream, represents a species within the family Sparidae, initially described by Swedish zoologist Peter Forsskål in 1775. This species is endemic to the western 🌊 Indian Ocean but has expanded its range to the eastern Mediterranean Sea since 1970. It is one of only three species within the genus Crenidens, alongside the lesser-known Crenidens macracanthus and the partially sympatric C. indicus.

Forsskål originally described Crenidens crenidens as Sparus crenidens in 1775, identifying its type localities as Jeddah and the 🌊 Red Sea regions within 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and 🇪🇬 Egypt, respectively.

The morphological characteristics of Crenidens crenidens include an oblong to ovoid body shape that is slightly compressed. Smaller specimens, those under 19.7 cm in length, often exhibit a pronounced nasal bump anterior to the eyes. The species possesses an extending mouth reaching the anterior nostril, with three rows of teeth in each jaw. The upper front jaw contains 8 to 9 brown-tipped, incisor-like teeth characterized by five denticulations, giving the teeth a wavy appearance. The inner rows contain fewer teeth of similar morphology, while the remaining teeth are granular. The fine, ctenoid scales present a contrast on the scaly cheeks, and the scaleless interorbital region. The dorsal fin comprises eleven spiny and eleven soft rays, whereas the anal fin contains three spiny and ten soft rays. The caudal fin is notably forked, with 52 to 60 scales forming the lateral line. C. crenidens displays a silvery greenish-blue or olive coloration, accompanied by darker narrow longitudinal stripes created by dark spots on the scales situated above the pectoral fins. The fins typically exhibit dull yellowish or olive hues, with a dark margin on the dorsal fin, and occasionally darkish axils on the pectoral fin. In its native range, it can reach up to 30 cm in length; in the Mediterranean, its maximum size is 20 cm, with typical measurements ranging between 10 and 16 cm.

Crenidens crenidens is native to the western 🌊 Indian Ocean, from the 🌊 Red Sea extending southwards along the eastern African coastline to 🇿🇦 South Africa, with additional reports from southern 🇲🇬 Madagascar. Having been recorded in the Mediterranean for the first time in the Bardawil Lagoon (northern 🇪🇬 Egypt) in 1970, the species has since dispersed to 🇮🇱 Israel and Libya, with the Suez Canal (🇪🇬 Egypt) considered the most probable migration pathway.

This species predominantly inhabits shallow coastal waters over sandy substrates often covered with seagrass. Its diet primarily includes algae, complemented by smaller invertebrates such as crustaceans and worms. The eggs and larvae are planktonic. Off the Libyan coast, C. crenidens exhibits a distinct breeding season from November to February, moving offshore to spawn during March and April. Sexual maturity in males occurs at 14 cm, while some females mature at lengths between 13 and 13.9 cm, with 50% reaching maturity at approximately 15.4 cm. Fecundity correlates with female body weight, ranging from 678 eggs in smaller females to 9,888 eggs in larger ones.

Crenidens crenidens is fished year-round in the northern 🌊 Indian Ocean using trammel nets and beach seines for fresh consumption. In the southern regions of this ocean, it is primarily harvested for use as bait.