Comber (fish)
A solitary, hermaphroditic sea bass found in the eastern Atlantic.
The comber (Serranus cabrilla) is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the sea bass family, Serranidae. Its range covers the eastern North and South Atlantic Oceans, extending into the southwestern Indian Ocean, and it is harvested for human consumption and fishmeal in certain areas.
This fish has a fairly thick body, a large head, and a prominent jaw. It sports two dorsal fins: the first has 11 thin spines and connects to the second, which contains 13 to 15 branched rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 7 to 8 soft rays, and the tail fin is slightly squared off. Coloration ranges from light brown to dark brown or an intense reddish brown, with 7 to 9 darker vertical bands along the sides. These bands are interrupted by a white or yellowish stripe running from head to tail. A few yellow or orange horizontal lines appear on the sides of the head. When underwater, the first dorsal fin is usually folded flat against the back. The comber can reach a standard length of 40 centimeters (16 inches), but individuals around 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) are more typical.
The comber is widely found in the eastern Atlantic, inhabiting warmer waters off southern and southwestern England and western Wales, south along the European coast to the Strait of Gibraltar, and into the Mediterranean and Black Seas. It also occurs along West Africa from Morocco down to Angola, around the Macaronesian islands and São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea, and off South Africa from the Cape of Good Hope to KwaZulu-Natal. Records from the Red Sea were once attributed to anti-Lessepsian migration from the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, but genetic analysis shows that Red Sea population existed before the canal was built.
This species lives over the continental shelf and upper slope, among rocks, seagrass beds, and sandy or muddy substrates, down to depths of 450 meters (1,480 feet). It is a predator that mainly eats crustaceans. Off the Canary Islands, smaller fish consume more crabs, while larger ones eat carideans. Elsewhere, its diet is highly varied, including small or immature fish, annelids, squid, and scavenged dead marine animals. The comber is solitary and territorial. Spawning occurs between May and July. It is a hermaphrodite—mature individuals have both ovaries and testes and can function as either sex.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Serranus cabrilla
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The comber has a stout body with a large head and prominent jaw. Its two dorsal fins are joined, the first with 11 thin spines and the second with 13–15 branched rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 7–8 soft rays, and the caudal fin is slightly truncate. Coloration varies from light brown to dark brown to intense reddish brown, with 7 to 9 darker transverse bands broken by a longitudinal white to yellowish stripe from head to tail. The first dorsal fin is normally folded flat against the back when the fish is in the water.
Its distribution extends from the warmer waters off southern and southwestern England and western Wales, along the European coast to the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and down the west coast of Africa from Morocco to Angola. It also occurs around Macaronesia, São Tomé and Príncipe, and off South Africa from the Cape of Good Hope to KwaZulu-Natal. Records from the Red Sea were thought to be due to Anti-Lessepsian migration, but genetic analysis showed the Red Sea population existed before the Suez Canal opened.
The comber inhabits the continental shelf and upper slope among rocks, Posidonia beds, and sand or mud substrates, down to 450 meters. It is a predatory species feeding mainly on crustaceans; off the Canary Islands, smaller fish eat more crabs while larger fish eat carideans. Its diet also includes small fish, annelids, squid, and scavenged dead marine animals. It is solitary and territorial, spawning between May and July. It is hermaphroditic, with mature fish having both ovaries and testes, and instances of self-fertilisation have been recorded when a partner is unavailable.
Reader's Guide
The comber is a species of low commercial value, with approximately 1,000 tons landed annually from European waters. It is consumed as food and also processed into fishmeal. Its notable biological traits include hermaphroditism and the ability to self-fertilise, which may aid reproduction in isolated conditions. The species' distribution is broad across the eastern Atlantic and into the southwestern Indian Ocean, and its presence in the Red Sea—once thought to be a recent migration—was shown by genetic analysis to predate the Suez Canal, indicating a longer historical range. The comber's varied diet and habitat preferences, from rocky areas to seagrass beds and soft substrates, reflect its adaptability. Despite its low commercial importance, it is a consistent component of bycatch and targeted fisheries in parts of its range, contributing to local food supplies and fishmeal production. Its solitary and territorial behavior, along with size-related dietary shifts, provide insight into its ecological role on the continental shelf and slope.
Did You Know?
- The comber can reach a standard length of 40 cm, but 25 cm fish are more common.
- It is a hermaphrodite, with mature fish having both ovaries and testes, and can self-fertilise.
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