BLUEFIN / TUNA TONN
THUNNUS THYNNUS
Max. Length: 300cm (common 50-150cm)
Dorsal fins set close together
No Markings on body
Pectoral fin short
ALBACORE / ALONGA
THUNNUS ALALUNGA
Max. Length: 100cm (common 50-80cm)
Close set dorsal fins
Long pectoral fin
SWORDFISH / PIXXISPAD
XIPHIAS GLADIUS
Max. Length: 450cm (common 80-220cm)
Long flattened sword
1st dorsal fin much longer than 2nd
Caudal peduncle with strong lateral keel
DOLPHINFISH / LAMPUKA
CORYPHAENA HIPPURUS
Max. Length: 200cm (common 40-100cm)
Long flattened body
Long dorsal fin
Steep forehead
PILOT FISH / FANFRU
NAUCRATES DUCTOR
Max. Length: 70cm (common up to 35cm)
5-7 dark vertical stripes
1st dorsal fin 4-5 spines, 2nd dorsal fin long
Caudal peduncle with keel
CHUB MACKEREL / KAVALL
SCOMBER JAPONICUS
Max. Length: 50cm (common 15-30cm)
Thin and light Sinuous (S-shaped) markings
5 small dorsal and anal finlets
Large eye
ATLANTIC MACKEREL / PIZZINTUN
SCOMBER SCOMBRUS
Max Fork Length: 50cm (common 18-30cm)
Wide and dark vertical markings
5 small dorsal and anal finlets
Smaller eye
SPRAT / LAĊĊA KAĦLA
SPRATTUS SPRATTUS
Max. Length: 16cm (common 8cm)
Dark blue with green reflections
1 central dorsal fin
Sides and underside silvery White
BOGUE / VOPA
BOOPS BOOPS
Max. Length: 36cm (common 10cm)
Grey dark back to silvery golden sides
Few thin longitudinal yellow-golden bands
Base of pectoral fin with a black spot
STRIPED RED MULLET / TRILJA TAL-QAWWI
MULLUS SURMULETUS
Max. Length: 40cm (common 10-25cm)
Sloping profile
Few thin longitudinal yellow-golden bands on sides
Pectoral fin with yellow stripes and black markings
SILVER SCABBARFISH / XABLA
LEPIDOPUS CAUDATUS
Max. Length: 210cm (common 50-150cm)
Long laterally flattened silver body, without scales
Long dorsal fin with dark patch above operculum
Lower Jaw longer than upper
HAKE / MERLUZZ
MERLICCIUS MERLUCCIUS
Max. Length: 110cm (common 12-60cm)
Long body with elongated head, grey
1st dorsal fin short and triangular, 2nd Long
Lower jaw longer than upper
SCORPIONFISH / SKORFNA
SCORPAENIDAE SPP.
Mostly small
Body thick, head armoured with spines
One dorsal fin with spines preceding rays
At base of spiny rays lie venom glands
RED SCORPIONFISH / CIPPULLAZZA
SCORPAENA SCROFA
Max. Length: 66cm (common 20-30cm)
Reddish brown with dark and light mottling
Often with black, elongated blotch on dorsal fin
Numerous appendages on chin
COMMON SEABREAM / PAGRU
PAGRUS PAGRUS
Max. Length: 82cm (common 20-60cm)
Pinkish body, head and tail darker
Steep forehead
Brown spot at base of dorsal fin
THORNBACK RAY / RAJJA TAL-FOSOS
RAJA CLAVATA
Max. Length: 110cm (common 30-80cm)
Back covered with spiny tubercules
Greyish or brownish with lighter and darker mottlings
Disc shaped with angled wings, snout slightly elongated
COMMON OCTOPUS / QARNITA
OCTOPUS VULGARIS
Max. Length: 23cm (common 10-20cm)
Body strong with conspicuous siphon
2 rows of suckers on eight strong arms
Colour variable
EUROPEAN SQUID / KLAMAR
LOLIGO VULGARIS
Max. Length: 30-40cm (common 15-25cm)
Body torpedo shaped, with paired fins running half-way along
2 rows of suckers on tentacles
Colour variable, often pink-white with purple brown mottling
GIANT RED SHRIMP / GAMBLU AĦMAR
ARISTAEOMORPHA FOLIACEA
Max. Length: 17cm (male), 22cm (female). Common 13-14cm (male), 17-20cm (Female)
Large sized (females larger)
Colour: Red
Rostrum different in the sexes
DEEP WATER PINK SHRIMP / GAMBLU ABJAD
PARAPENAEUS LONGIROSTRIS
Max. Length: 16cm (male), 19cm (female). Common 8-14cm (male), 12-16cm (Female)
Medium to small sized (females larger)
Colour: Pink
8 spines on rostrum