Centracanthidae

Picarels
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Centracanthidae
Genera and species
See text.
Synonyms
Maenidae

Centracanthidae is a small family of fishes in the order Perciformes, known as picarels. They are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean. The anal fin has three sharp spines, hence the name, from Greek kentron meaning "sharp point" and akantha meaning "thorn".

Genera and species

There are nine species in two genera:

• Genus Centracanthus
  • Curled picarel, Centracanthus cirrus Rafinesque, 1810.
• Genus Spicara
  • Bigeye picarel, Spicara alta (Osório, 1917).
  • Spicara australis (Regan, 1921).
  • Spicara axillaris (Boulenger, 1900).
  • Blotched picarel, Spicara maena (Linnaeus, 1758).
    • (Synonymous with Spicara flexuosa Rafinesque, 1810.)
  • Spicara martinicus (Valenciennes, 1830).
  • Blackspot picarel, Spicara melanurus (Valenciennes, 1830).
  • Blacktail picarel, Spicara nigricauda (Norman, 1931).
  • Spicara smaris (Linnaeus, 1758).