Doublebar Bream

Acanthopagrus bifasciatus

The Doublebar Bream, known scientifically as Acanthopagrus bifasciatus, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae. It is easily recognized by its two distinctive dark bands across the head, with one band running from the occipital area through the eye and across the cheek, and the other from the nape across the operculum. The body is silvery with each scale often having a black spot, and the fins are generally light yellow. This species can grow to a standard length of around 60 cm, though the maximum reported length is 36.2 cm for males or unsexed individuals. This species inhabits the northwestern Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and waters around the Arabian Peninsula, extending east to Pakistan. It is typically found in shallow inshore waters on reefs at depths ranging from 2 to 30 meters. The Doublebar Bream has been recorded at several dive sites. Its diet primarily consists of mollusks and other benthic invertebrates, and it is often seen in small schools. The Doublebar Bream is believed to be a protogynous hermaphrodite, with a population skewed towards females. Spawning occurs from January to April in the Persian Gulf. While not heavily fished, it is caught using various methods such as longlines, handlines, and fish traps, and is exported from Oman to South Korea. The species is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.