The body of the sea bream is oval, and narrow. The skin of the sea bream is covered with fairly large scales. It lives on sandy bottoms in shallow waters (up to 30 metres or 100 feet in depth). In the summer, it ventures into ports and brackish ponds.

Usual size: 20 to 50 cm (8 to 20")

The gilthead seabream has a golden crescent like a crown between its eyes. The flesh is excellent: firm, moist and fine-grained.