habitat_narrative
Marine
Spondyliosoma emarginatum adults occur on shallow, subtidal reefs down to 50 m depth with an isolated population in Langebaan Lagoon that frequents channels with sandy bottoms in less than 10 m depth (Fairhurst et al. 2007). Juveniles are found on shallow, subtidal reefs and very seldom enter estuaries (van Bruggen 1965; Beckley 1983, 1984; Whitfield et al. 1989). Adults of this species are omnivorous and feed on algae and small crustaceans while juveniles feed on zooplankton but become omnivorous (Fairhurst et al. 2007, Whitfield 1985). The nest building behaviour and benthic eggs suggest territorial and resident behaviour (Tunley et al. 2009). The maximum length recorded for this species is 35.4 cm TL, maximum weight is 1,100 g, and the maximum recorded age is eleven years (C. Attwood UCT unpublished data, Tunley et al. 2009).Reproduction
Spondyliosoma emarginatum is a protogynous hermaphrodite that spawns from July to October in the Western Cape (Fairhurst et al. 2007). This species builds a nest for its benthic eggs and then guards the nest (van Bruggen 1965). The length at 50% maturity is about 23.5 cm FL for females and 24.9 cm FL for males. The age at 50% maturity for females is about three years (Fairhurst et al. 2007).
