Western Atlantic Seabream

Archosargus rhomboidalis

The Western Atlantic Seabream is a smaller fish within the Sparidae family, distinguishable by its horizontal blue streaks mixed with gold or yellow, and a characteristic dark spot near the shoulder. Unlike its relative, the sheepshead, it lacks prominent vertical bars as it ages. Typically, it grows to about 20 cm, with a maximum recorded length of 33 cm and a weight of up to 0.55 kg. Males can be identified by their dark pelvic fins, while females have orange pelvic fins. This species inhabits the Western Atlantic, ranging from New Jersey and the northern Gulf of Mexico down to Argentina, though notably absent from the Bahamas. Divers can find them in mangrove swamps, muddy or vegetated bottoms, and occasionally in brackish waters or near reefs. They are usually found at depths of 1 to 40 meters, with most occurrences shallower than 20 meters. Western Atlantic Seabreams primarily feed on small benthic invertebrates, including bivalves and crustaceans, as well as aquatic plants. They can live up to two years in the wild. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern. Divers encountering this species can expect a harmless interaction, as they are not aggressive towards humans.