The striped seabream is a member of the family Sparidae, which also includes the common two-banded seabream, the gilt-head bream and the salema, all very common species in coastal waters. The striped seabream’s head is about as long as it is high and its upper profile is slightly convex. Its mouth is pointed and has the strong jaw typical of a carnivore. The head and body are generally silver, although the body is marked with about fourteen vertical dark bands. The caudal fin is forked and indented and the single dorsal fin has clearly-defined spines reaching as far as the caudal peduncle. It is a small- to mid-sized predator (most commonly 20-25 cm, although it can reach twice this length) and eats invertebrates, which it catches thanks to its considerable swiftness. The species is widely distributed in temperate seas, including the Mediterranean, and generally prefers a sandy seabed, but can also be found over rocky bottoms or in areas of seagrass. It is gregarious and sometimes forms large shoals, although solitary specimens can also be found. The striped seabream reproduces in summer and is a protandric hermaphrodite, having both sexual organs, which mature at different times: first the male, then the female. Its flesh is highly regarded and in the Gulf of Trieste it is an important item in gillnet and surrounding net catches. It is caught mainly during the winter months, with the most abundant catches occurring from November to March.