Scientific Name
Pagrus pagrus

Common Name
Red porgy

Biology
Found over rock, rubble, or sand bottoms (young frequently found on seagrass beds and the continental shelf (Ref. 47377)) down to about 250 m depth, often above 150 m. In southwest Brazil found in 160 m depth (Ref. 47377). Feeds on crustaceans, fishes, and mollusks (Ref. 3688). Its toxic nature is uncertain (Ref. 4690). Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987). Reported weights of caught individuals were between 9 to 17 kgs (9-10 off the west coast of Greece) (Hans Bollnert, hassebollnert@yahoo.gr, pers.comm. 12/09).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Porgies (Sparidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Strait of Gibraltar to 15?N (rare southward 20?N), including Madeira and the Canary Islands; Mediterranean and northward to the British Isles. Western Atlantic: New York, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Argentina (Ref. 7251), including the continental coast of the Caribbean Sea (Ref. 9626).

Range

55°N - 43°S, 98°W - 36°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

250 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 250 m (Ref. 3688), usually 10 - 80 m (Ref. 9626)

Trophic Level

3.65 s.e. 0.61 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

91.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5156 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (66 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.13-0.27; tmax=11; tm=0.9-3.0)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Endangered (EN) (A1bd+2d)