About Dentex dentex (Linnaeus, 1758)
The common dentex, scientific name Dentex dentex (Linnaeus, 1758), has a dorsal fin supported by 11 spines. The spines increase in length from the first to the fourth or fifth, then are roughly equal in length from the sixth to twelfth spine, plus 11 or 12 soft rays. Its anal fin is supported by 3 spines and between 7 and 9 soft rays. The body is oval-shaped and compressed. The dorsal profile of the head is smoothly rounded in adults, nearly straight in juveniles, and slightly convex in the largest specimens. The eyes are small, and the space below them is wide. Both the cheeks and preoperculum are scaled, except for the rear edge of the preoperculum. The mouth is positioned low on the head and angled slightly upward. It has multiple rows of all canine-like teeth, with the most well-developed teeth located at the front of the jaws. Young common dentex are greyish with black spots on the back and upper flanks. They change to pink as they mature, while the oldest specimens are bluish-grey, with the original dark spots fading and becoming more indistinct. The maximum published total length of this fish is 100 cm (39 in), though 50 cm (20 in) is more typical. Its maximum published weight is 14.3 kg (32 lb). The common dentex is distributed in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean between the Bay of Biscay and Ras Nouadhibou in Mauritania, as well as around the Canary Islands and Madeira. It is rare as far north as the British Isles. It is also found throughout the Mediterranean Sea and into the western Black Sea. This is a benthopelagic fish that occurs at depths down to 200 m (660 ft), and is most common at depths of 15 to 50 m (49 to 164 ft), living over rocky substrates in inshore waters.
