About Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The common pandora, with the scientific name Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758), has an oval, compressed body with a straight dorsal profile along its head. The diameter of its eye is clearly shorter than the length of its snout. Scales on its head extend forward to the level of the front edge of the eyes. The cheeks have scales, while the preoperculum is scaleless. Its fleshy-lipped mouth sits low on the head and is slightly oblique. Pointed teeth grow at the front of the jaws, and the teeth at the rear of the jaws are molar-like. A band of numerous comb-like teeth lies inside these rear teeth. The upper jaw has 2 to 3 rows of molars, and occasionally 4 rows, while the lower jaw normally has 2 rows and rarely 3 rows. The dorsal fin is supported by 12 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays, while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays. The overall body colour is bright pink, with small blue spots scattered across the upper flanks. The upper margin of the gill cover is carmine, and there is a reddish spot at the base of the pectoral fin. A dark red mark sometimes appears at the rear end of the dorsal fin. The maximum published total length of the common pandora is 60 cm (24 in), with 25 cm (9.8 in) being a more typical length. Its maximum published weight is 3.2 kg (7.1 lb). The common pandora has a wide distribution along the eastern shores of the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from the coast of West Africa at Guinea Bissau north to the Strait of Gibraltar, and includes the Cape Verde, Madeira and Canary Islands. Its range covers the entire Mediterranean Sea, extends into the western Black Sea, and reaches northward in the North Sea as far as Norway. Genetic data indicates a high level of population connectivity across the Atlantic Ocean through the Mediterranean Sea. This is a demersal fish species that lives at depths down to 300 m (980 ft), though it is most commonly found no deeper than 100 m (330 ft). It inhabits areas with sand, mud, rock, and gravel substrates. Young common pandora are found closer inshore than adult individuals.
