Dentex

The common dentex has the dorsal fin supported by 11 spines, the spines increase in length from the first to the fourth or fifth and then are roughly equal in length from spine 6 to 12, and 11 or 12 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and between 7 and 9 soft rays supporting it. The body is oval shaped and compressed. The dorsal profile of the head is smoothly rounded in adults but nearly straight in juveniles and is slightly convex in the largest specimens. The eyes are small and the space below them is wide. The cheeks are scaled as is the preoperculum except for its rear edge. The mouth is positioned low on the head and is slightly upward pointing. There are a number of rows of teeth, all are canine-like, with the most well-developed being in the front of the jaws. The young fishes are greyish with black spots on the back and upper flanks, changing to pink as they mature and the oldest specimens are bluish-grey with the dark spots fading and becoming more indistinct. The maximum published total length of the common dentex is 100 cm (39 in), although 50 cm (20 in) is more typical and the maximum published weight is 14.3 kg (32 lb).

The common dentex is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean between the Bay of Biscay and Ras Nouadhibouin Mauritania, as well as the Canaries and Madeira. It is rare as far north as the British Isles. It is also found throughout the Mediterranean Sea and into the western Black Sea. This is a benthopelagic fish found at depths down to 200 m (660 ft), although commonest at 15 to 50 m (49 to 164 ft), over rocky substrates in inshore waters.

The common dentex has the binomial Dentex dentex which is a tautonym. Dentex means "with large teeth", an allusion to the rows of canine-like teeth with the outermost row being the biggest and those in the front of the jaws being the most enlarged.