Bream (
) are species of
freshwater
Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does in ...
and
marine fish
Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% ...
belonging to a variety of
genera including ''
Abramis''
(e.g., ''A. brama'', the
common bream), ''
Acanthopagrus'', ''
Argyrops'', ''
Blicca'', ''
Brama'', ''
Chilotilapia'', ''
Etelis
''Etelis'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lutjanidae, the snappers. They are mostly native to the Indian and Pacific oceans with one species ''(E. oculatus)'' native to the western Atlantic Ocean.
Taxonomy
''Eteli ...
'', ''
Lepomis'', ''
Gymnocranius'', ''
Lethrinus
''Lethrinus'' is a genus of emperors found from the eastern Atlantic Ocean through the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean.
Species
There are currently 27 recognized species in this genus:
* '' Lethrinus amboinensis'' Bleeker, 1854 (Ambon ...
'', ''
Nemipterus'', ''
Pharyngochromis'', ''
Rhabdosargus'', ''
Scolopsis'', or ''
Serranochromis
''Serranochromis'' is a genus of relatively large, robust cichlids from freshwater habitats in mainland Southern Africa, ranging as far north as DR Congo and Tanzania, with the highest species richness in the upper Zambezi, Okavango and Con ...
''.
Although species from all of these genera are called "bream", the term does not imply a degree of relatedness between them. Fish termed "bream" tend to be narrow, deep-bodied species. The name is a derivation of the
Middle English
Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English ...
word ''breme'', of
Old French
Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligi ...
origin.
The term sea bream is sometimes used for
gilt-head bream (''Sparus aurata''), (''orata'' in Italy, ''dorada'' in Spain) or
porgies (both family
Sparidae) or
pomfrets (
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Bramidae) .
See also
*
Porgie fishing
*
Bluegill, sometimes called 'bream'
References
External links
Yellowfin Bream (NSW Department of Primary Industries website)Black Bream (NSW Department of Primary Industries website)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bream
Fish common names
Commercial fish