Head to head
Sargo vs Salema
Sargo
VS Salema
The sargo and the salema are two common silvery sea breams of Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic coasts that snorkellers often see grazing together along rocky shores.
| Sargo | Salema | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Diplodus sargus | Sarpa salpa |
| Relationship | A fellow member of the sea bream family | A fellow member of the sea bream family |
| Pattern | Several dark vertical bars along a silvery-grey body, with a black saddle around the base of the tail | A silvery body marked with thin, golden-yellow lengthways stripes and a dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin |
| Size | Usually about 20 to 40 cm long | Usually around 30 to 45 cm long |
| Diet | Omnivore, eating shellfish, sea urchins, worms, small crustaceans, and algae | Herbivore as an adult, grazing on seaweed and seagrass |
| Teeth | Incisor-like front teeth for scraping and nipping shellfish and weed | Small, cutting teeth for shearing algae |
| Notable fact | A popular catch for anglers and spearfishers, eaten in many countries | Eating the fish can sometimes cause hallucinations and nightmares, thought to be due to toxins from the algae it eats |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, on rocky coasts from the Bay of Biscay to South Africa and the Mediterranean | Least Concern, on rocky shores and seagrass beds from the Bay of Biscay to South Africa and the Mediterranean |
Sargo vs Salema: common questions
Which one is the dreamfish?
The salema, because eating it can sometimes cause hallucinations and nightmares, thought to be due to toxins that come from the algae it eats.
Which one is a herbivore?
The salema, which grazes on seaweed and seagrass as an adult, whereas the sargo is an omnivore that also eats shellfish.
How can you tell them apart?
The sargo has dark vertical bars and a black saddle at the tail base, while the salema has thin golden lengthways stripes.