Sharp snout bream

Diplodus puntazzo, the sharpsnout seabream, sheephead bream or puntazzo, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. This omnivorous fish is an important species for aquaculture and fisheries, despite the flesh not being highly esteemed.

Distribution

Diplodus puntazzo is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean with its northern most limit in the southern Bay of Biscay off northern Spain, although it is very uncommon in this area, south to Sierra Leone. In Macaronesia it is found only in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. It also occurs throughout the Mediterranean and southern Black Sea. Claims of the sharpsnout seabream in South Africa are misidentifications. In the Bay of Biscay this species is increasingly being recorded farther north.

The sharpsnout seabream is a benthopelagic fish found in marine and brackish waters at depths down to 150 m (490 ft), although it is typically found in water of less than 60 m (200 ft) in depth. It is found over rock or sand substrates in coastal waters. Younger fish may live in brackish water, tidal pools and lagoons while the adults may occur in the surf zone.