Becker

Body red without stripes or bars. Snout at least twice as long as the eye diameter (Ref. 35388).

Possibly two spawning periods in the southern Mediterranean (Ref. 4781). Length at which sex change possibly occurs is between 12.8 and 20.3 cm FL (Ref. 57849).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8 - 9

Found on inshore waters, on various bottom (rock, gravel, sand and mud) to 200 m (Mediterranean) or 300 m (Atlantic) and move to deeper waters during winter. Omnivorous, but feed mainly on benthic invertebrates and small fishes (Ref. 3688). Protogynic hermaphrodites, females become males first in their third year with sizes of about 17 cm. Important food fish.

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes