Large-eye dentex (Dentex macrophthalmus)

Scientific name: Dentex macrophthalmus Bloch, 1791

The Large-eye dentex (Dentex macrophthalmus) is a marine fish of the family Sparidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, off Portugal and Strait of Gibraltar to Namibia, including Cape Verde and the Canary Islands. Also from the Mediterranean.

Biology

Inhabit rocky or sandy bottoms; individuals descending to greater depths with growth. The stocks migrate seasonally between the coast and deeper waters in accordance with local hydrographic conditions and their life cycle. Feed mainly on fish and crustaceans; the young on plankton. Gonochorists.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Dentex macrophthalmus
Family: Sparidae (Porgies)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 65.0
Common length: 30.0
Depth range: 30–500 m (98–1640 ft)
Environment: Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 30 - 500 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: off Portugal and Strait of Gibraltar to Namibia, including Cape Verde and the Canary Islands. Also from the Mediterranean.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.16-0.25; tmax=13; tm=2)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026