Picarel

(Spicara smaris), a fish of the order Perciformes. The body, which is covered with ctenoid scales, is about 20 cm long and weighs about 80 g. The dorsal fin is continuous, and the mouth can be extended in the form of a tube. The body is marked with longitudinal blue stripes, and there are blue spots on the unpaired fins. The picarel is distributed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. It occasionally enters the lower courses of rivers. Spawning occurs from April to June; the eggs are deposited on the bottom or on algae. The picarel is often found in catches with other fishes.