top of page
Malta Rocky Beaches
Common Name: Annular Sea Bream
Maltese Name: Sparlu
Specific Name: Diplodus annularis
Family: Sparidae
Colour: Grey with yellow lines and black markings
Habitat: Deep waters and small shoals in bays and inlets
Status: Common
​
Common Name: Goby
Maltese Name: Mazzun
Specific Name: Gobius sp.
Family: Gobiidae
Size: Small, Varies between species
Colour: Varies between species
Habitat: Coastal shallows
Common Name: Ornate Wrasse
Maltese Name: Lhudi
Specific Name: Thalassamo pavo
Family: Labridae
Size: 16-20 cm
Colour: Green brownish with dark vertical lines, males brighter
Habitat: Littoral, among rocks and seaweed
Status: Common
​
Common Name: Salema
Maltese Name: Xilpa
Specific Name: Sarpa salpa
Family: Sparidae
Size: 25-35 cm
Colour: Grey with horizontal yellow stripes
Habitat: Shallow water among rocks
Status: Common
​
Common Name: Rainbow Wrasse
Maltese Name: Gharusa
Specific Name: Coris julis
Family: Labridae
Size: 14-22 cm
Colour: Highly variable
Habitat: Close to shore
Status: Common
​
Blenniidae
Common Name: Saddled Bream
Maltese Name: Kahlija
Specific Name: Oblada melanura
Family: Sparidae
Size: 15-25 cm
Colour: Highly variable
Habitat: Close to shore on rocky bottoms, also open water
Status: Frequent
​
Common Name: Mullet
Maltese Name: Mulett
Specific Name: Liza sp.
Family: Mugilidae
Size: Varies between species
Colour: Grey but vary between species
Habitat: Varies between species
​
Common Name: Zebra Sea Bream
Maltese Name: Sargu Imperjali
Specific Name: Diplodus cervinus
Family: Sparidae
Size: 30-35 cm
Colour: Grey with vertical black ines
Habitat: Close to shore among rocks, also in deep water
Status: Frequent
​
Common Name: Rusty Blenny
Maltese Name: Budakkra Hamra
Specific Name: Parablennius sanguinolentus
Family: Blenniidae
Colour: Yellowish-brown, Greenish-brown, variable pattern
Habitat: Intertidal algae-covered rocks
Status: Common
​
Gobiidae
Labridae
Mugilidae
Sparidae
bottom of page