Mallorca

"Amongst the Centracanthidae, worth mentioning are the two most common species in the Mediterranean, the blotched picarel (Maena maena) and the picarel (M. smaris), both of which build their nets in the sands of Neptune grass fields.

The very numerous Sparidae meet in these areas with those so commonly found in Mediterranean waters. We shall limit ourselves here to mention the beautiful Dentex dentex and D. macrophtalamus, species which fishermen here refer to indistinctly as déntol (“sea breams”).

Among the Sciaenidae, the ones that at times visit these waters from the ocean are Sciaena aquila, S. umbra, Umbrina cirrosa and the very common blackmouth croaker.

Amongst the armored fish, the common ones found in the Mediterranean stand out in addition to Trigla poeciloptera which also wanders into these waters when it more appropriately belongs to the ocean. Nor can we fail to mention the beautiful, albeit common species, Dactylopterus volitans (flying gurnard) which the Mallorcans call xoriguer (“kestrel”) or roncador (“snorer”).

The Serranidae family is also well represented by the European sea bass (Labrax lupus) or llop (“wolf”) for Mallorcans, various types of groupers and basses and the not too common cardinal fish or “king of the mullets” (Apogon rex-mullorum). In the vernacular language, it has another name, mare d'anfós (“mullet’s mother”). Other more common species include Anthias sacer, Cerna gigas and C. nebulosa, both of which can measure up to a meter long.

Then there is the very abundant Uranoscopus scaber, three Trachinidae species or weevers and Sphyraena spet, the European barracuda, barracouta or spet which the fishermen in these waters call espet."

Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria. Las Baleares por la palabra y el grabado. Majorca: General Part. Ed. Sa Nostra, Caja de Baleares. Palma de Mallorca. 1982.