Sand steenbras (Lat. Lithognatus mormyrus). Coastal and benthopelagic species, leaves in schools above muddy and sandy bottom. Frequently species near estuaries and haunts to 50 m deep. Grows till 45 cm (2 kg), common 20-30 cm. The sparids are endowed of very robust teeth and variously specialized: in some species, the teeth are cutting and incisor-shaped, otherwise, they are similar to the molars, used for crushing the most coriaceous material, for instance the exoskeleton of the crustaceans and of the molluscs, or sharp and with these ones they can tear off easily the flesh of their preys, for instance, fishes. Feeds with shellfish, urchins and crabs. As a protandric hermaphrodite, striped sea bream starts its adult life as a male and later changes its sex to female. Catches by trawls, trammel nets, fish-traps, and handlines.