Fish
Zebra
Diplodus cervinus hottentotus
A barred, hard-fighting inshore seabream - young fish are boldly striped, big adults turn almost solid black.
Also known as wildeperd, zebra bream
- Typical size
- Attains about 45 cm
- Habitat
- Rocky ground and estuaries, Angola to Mozambique
Very young zebra show fine crossbars, but large adults become almost uniformly black. The species reaches about 45 cm and ranges from Angola around to Mozambique and southern Madagascar, favouring rocky ground and readily entering estuaries.
It is a voracious but cunning fish that will take almost any bait yet is not easily hooked in clear water. J.L.B. Smith rated it about the best fighter among our inshore fish, pound for pound.