Sparidae
by M.-L. Bauchot and J.-C. Hureau
Body oblong or fusiform, more or less deep or compressed; head large with upper profile convex; snout and sub-orbital area scaleless, cheek scaled, preopercle with or without scales, without spines or serrations on margin, opercle scaled, without spine. Mouth small, horizontal or oblique, slightly protractile; upper jaw never reaching beyond eye centre; preorbital bone largely overlapping maxilla; distal end of premaxilla overlapping maxilla; jaw teeth well-developed, differentiated into conical (canine-like) or flat (incisor-like) teeth in front and rounded, molar-like teeth laterally; vomer and palatines toothless. Dorsal fin single, with 11-15 spines and 9-17 soft rays, last spines and first soft rays usually about equal in length; the two first spines sometimes very short, the following two or three sometimes elongate or filamentous; pectoral fins generally long and pointed; pelvic fins below or just behind pectoral fin bases, with 1 spine and 5 soft rays, axillary scale present; anal fin with 3 spines and 7-16 soft rays; caudal fin forked. A single continuous lateral line; scales cycloid or weakly ctenoid.
Tropical and temperate littoral or inshore waters, sometimes brackish waters; young and small species gregarious in shallow waters; adults in deeper waters. Hermaphroditism (protogynous or protandrous) is widespread in this family. Most sea breams are excellent foodfishes and are of commercial importance.
Genera about 29; in Clofnam area 11.