Least Concern· population stable· assessed 2014

Salema porgy

Sarpa salpa

Sighting evidence at Nea Kameni Crater, Santorini

Photo: Guido and Carrara family · CC BY

The salema porgy is a reef and seagrass herbivore that forms large schools of several hundred individuals. It is one of the few fish known to cause hallucinogenic effects in humans when consumed, due to the accumulation of dietary compounds absorbed from specific algae. Schools forage intensively over lava and algae-coated rock, playing a grazing role that prevents algae from smothering nascent coral and encrusting organisms.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Salema porgy is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.