Diplodus capensis

Diplodus capensis
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Spariformes
Family:	Sparidae
Genus:	Diplodus
Species:	D. capensis
Binomial name
	Diplodus capensis; (A. Smith, 1844)
Synonyms
	Sargus capensis A. Smith, 1844 ; Diplodus sargus capensis (A. Smith, 1844) ; Diplodus rondeleti capensis (A. Smith, 1944) ;

Diplodus capensis, the Cape white seabream or blacktail seabream, is a

ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish is found around the coasts of Southern Africa

.

Taxonomy

Diplodus capensis was first formally

sargo (D. sargus) but is now considered to be a valid species.^[3] There are two disjunct populations of this species, one in southern Angola and Namibia, and the other in southern and eastern South Africa and Mozambique, these may be separate species, in addition, the taxonomic status of the southern Madagascan population also requires study.^[1] The genus Diplodus is placed in the family Sparidae within the order Spariformes by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World.^[4] Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Sparinae,^[5] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae.^[4]

Etymology

Diplodus capensis has the specific name capensis which means "of the Cape", a reference to its type locality in, what was then, the Cape Colony.^[6]

Description

Diplodus capensis has a deep, oval body with a thin lipped, slightly protrusible mouth. There are 8

total length for this species is 45 cm (18 in), although 30 cm (12 in) is more typical.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

Diplodus capensis is endemic to the waters off Southern Africa in both the southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian Oceans. It has a disjunct distribution with one population occurring southern Angola and Namibia and the other from Cape Point east and north to southern Mozambique. It is also found off southern Madagascar^[1] and has been reported from Mauritius.^[8] This species occurs at depths between 0 and 50 m (0 and 164 ft), the adults are found over sandy and rocky substrates in shallow water while the juveniles are found on shallow reefs, at the mouths of estuaries, in tidal pools and in the surf zone on sandy beaches.^[2]

Biology

Diplodus capensis is an omnivore that feeds on

protandrists.^[1]

Fisheries

Diplodus capensis is a target for both the recreational and subsistence, hook and line shore fisheries all along the eastern coast of South Africa and Mozambique and it is regarded as the third most frequently caught shore angling species. It is also rarely caught by

spear fishers but is typically regarded as too small. In South Africa the Cape white bream is a "no-sale recreational" only species which commercial fisheries may not target.^[1] In any case the flesh of this species is not highly regarded as a food fish.^[7]