About Chrysoblephus laticeps (Valenciennes, 1830)
Compared to other sea breams in the genus Chrysoblephus, Chrysoblephus laticeps has a more ovate body shape. The body depth measures 2.3 to 2.5 times the fish's standard length. The dorsal profile of the head slopes gently from the origin of the dorsal fin to the snout; as the fish ages, the area in front of its eyes becomes concave. The space between the eyes is wide and also concave. This is a colourful species, with the head, body, and fins all coloured vivid orange. It has a distinct blue bar between its eyes, and a white saddle-like mark on the back below the 7th to 9th spines of the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is supported by 11 to 12 spines and 10 to 11 soft rays, while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 7 to 9 soft rays. This species, commonly called roman, has a maximum published total length of 50 cm (20 in), with 32 cm (13 in) being a more typical size. Chrysoblephus laticeps is endemic to Southern African waters, found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and southwestern Indian Ocean from northern Namibia to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Records of this species from southern Madagascar and Mauritius are considered dubious. It occurs at depths between 0 and 100 m (0 and 328 ft), and lives on inshore and offshore reefs with elevated topography in deep water.
