Madeira Canary Islands Azores – Fishes Dr. Peter Wirtz

Up to 50 cm long. Madeira, Canary Islands. 5 – 200 m depth.
Pandora have many small blue spots on the upper part of the red-silvery body, which are, however, not visible
from a distance. Upper edge of the gill cover often red. Pandora swim over sandy bottom, occasionally also
over rocky bottom. They are protogynous sex changers: all juveniles become females and only much later in
life, with an age of three years and a size of about 16 cm, they turn into males. Photo Peter Wirtz.
Axillary bream (Pagellus acarne)
Up to 40 cm long. Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores. 10 – 300 m depth.
A conspicuous dark spot at the base of the pectoral fins has given this species its name. It can form large
schools. In shallow water, one usually sees only young animals (large picture). At Madeira, this species is
rare. Large photo Rogelio Herrera, insert Peter Wirtz.
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Common bream (Pagrus pagrus)
Up to 90 cm long. Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores. 5 – 300 m depth.
Silvery-red, appearing silvery from a distance. Tips of the tail fin white. Young animals in shallow water,
large ones much deeper. The Common bream feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and small fish. Sexual maturity
with about 25 cm length. Photo Peter Wirtz
Red-banded bream (Pagrus auriga)
Up to 80 cm long. Madeira (?), Canary Islands. 10 – 200 m depth.