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Large-eye dentex
Dentex macrophthalmus
Δοντάς – μπαλλάς

Sustainability Status

Highly exploited

Help us protect our seas by reporting illegal or undersized fish that you see in markets, restaurants or fishing boats
Fishstocks – Declining due to overexploitation
Think before you eat – This species faces increasing pressures and should only be consumed responsibly

Legal

Minimum Size

Prohibited Consumption Period

Sustainable

Minimum Size

35 cm

Avoid Consumption Period

July – August

Advice for Consumption

Think before consuming this species.

Greek legislation does not establish legal minimum size and no closed season, leaving juvenile and spawning fish completely unprotected. Respect minimum sustainable size limits and do not consume during its breeding season.

Choose sustainable seafood!

Archipelagos Tips

Choosing larger, mature fish helps reduce fishing pressure on juvenile individuals.

Common names

FR

Denté gros yeux

it

Dentice occhione

es

Cachucho

tr

Patlakgöz mercan

pt

Cachucho

nl

Grootoogtandbrasem

de

Großaugen-Zahnbrasse

toxicity

This species is safe to consume.

iucn info

Description

It has 11 to 12 dorsal spines and 10 – 11 soft dorsal rays. It has 3 anal spines and 8 soft anal rays. The body and fins are reddish except for the anal fin and the lower part of caudal fin which are edged with white. Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.

It looks like Pagrus pagrus (Red porgy).

Did you know?

As the large-eye dentex grows older and larger, it continuously lives at greater and deeper depths!

Ecological Aspects

Diet

Carnivorous.
Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Young feeds on plankton.

habitat

Benthopelagic.
Found over rocky and sandy bottoms. Migrates from coast to deeper waters seasonally.

Max size & depth range

Max length: 65 cm
Max weight: 1.3 kg
Depth range: 30-500 m

breeding & Growth

Gonochoric (seperate sexes).
Batch spawner that spawns in the spring, peaking from March through May.
Growth rate: Slow-moderate (k = 0.250 yr⁻¹).

Longevity & presence

Lifespan: 36-38 years
Max reported age: 38 years
Distribution: Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic

appearance changes

Juveniles typically display a silvery-pink body. As they mature into adults, their coloration shifts to a vibrant overall reddish hue, with the lower edges of the anal and caudal fins distinctly outlined in white.

Reproductive Cycle

Egg Count: 59,000-316,000 eggs
Reproductive frequency: Numerous times throughout spawning season.

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If you’d like to learn more about the work of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, please visit our website: https://archipelago.gr/

Good choice – Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable

Illegal species – Fishing, selling and consumption of this species is illegal

Fishstocks – Declining due to overexploitation

Think before you eat – This species faces increasing pressures and should only be consumed responsibly

Bad choice – Consumption of this species is unsustainable

Health concerns
Can accumulate dangerously high levels of toxic substances harmful to health

Alien / Invasive – This species is not from this region and can have a negative impact on the ecosystem and threaten local biodiversity, so it is sustainable to eat

Aquafarms – You will commonly find this species coming from aquafarms