Brown Comber

Serranus hepatus

The brown comber (Serranus hepatus) is a small marine fish of the family Serranidae, reaching about 13 cm. It has a brownish body with 4 to 5 dark vertical bars and a characteristic dark blotch on the belly. Found in the eastern Atlantic from Portugal to Angola and throughout the Mediterranean Sea, it inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms, seagrass beds, and rocky areas at depths of 5 to 100 meters. This species is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, possessing functional male and female reproductive organs at the same time. It feeds on small crustaceans, worms, and tiny fish. Despite its small size, it is an interesting find for divers exploring Mediterranean rocky reefs and Posidonia meadows. Its cryptic coloration helps it blend with the substrate, making careful observation rewarding for observant divers.