| Remarks |
Inshore (Ref. 122891). A demersal (Ref. 1695), nektonic (Ref. 417), nektobenthic (Ref. 122890) species. Found over sandy and sandy-muddy bottoms (Ref. 1695) and detritus-rich continental shelf and slope (Ref. 417). In the Sea of Marmara, the species can occur in brackish waters. In Mediterranean waters, spawning period is likely continuous as males and females are usually found together throughout the year, with peaks in activity in spring and autumn. In Portuguese waters, predominance of mature individuals in spring is also reported. No record of onshore spawning migration. With the extended reproductive period, recruitment is also continuous but variable, with seasonal density peaks. Males mature at 6 or 7 months and females at 9 or 10 months. Eggs (7 to 8.5 mm maximum diameter and proportional to female size) are laid in clusters of 30 to 40 and are attached to sponges on muddy bottoms. Diet may consist of fish and cephalopods but mainly of crustaceans. One of the most abundant cephalopod species in some areas of the Mediterranean. Taken mainly as bycatch in trawl fisheries; marketed fresh and frozen along with S. elegans and small S. officinalis and constitutes a valuable resource locally. Intense fishing pressure on this resource is reported in the Sicilian Channel. Sympatric (and confused) with S. elegans Blainville, 1827 (Ref. 1695). |