scubaseason

Saddled seabream

Oblada melanura

Sighting evidence at Grotta delle Rondinelle, Tremiti Islands

Oblada melanura forms enormous schools of hundreds of individuals that hover in mid-water near the cave entrance, exploiting the shelter and nutrient upwelling the cave provides. An omnivore grazing on algae, zooplankton, and small invertebrates, it is one of the most abundant fish in the Tremiti reserve and a key prey species for grouper and amberjack patrolling the cave's outer wall.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Saddled seabream 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.