Scientific Name
Argyrosomus regius

Common Name
Meagre

Biology
Inshore and shelf waters, close to bottom as well as in surface and mid-waters, pursuing shoals of clupeids and mugilids. Congregate inshore to spawn during spring and summer. Juveniles and sub-adults enter estuaries and coastal lagoons (Ref. 3593). Both adults and juveniles are migratory moving along shore or offshore-onshore in response to temperature change (Ref. 11025). Feed on fishes and swimming crustaceans.

Classification

Classified By

Asso, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Drums or croakers (Sciaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Norway to Gibraltar and Congo, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Migrated to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal.

Range

65°N - 6°S, 23°W - 36°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

15 m

Depth To - meters

300 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 15 - 300 m (Ref. 2683)

Trophic Level

4.29 s.e. 0.75 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

230 cm

Common Length

150 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (79 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.09)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated