The term “bream” is a common name applied to various fish species across the globe, yet it fails to refer to a single, distinct biological group. This widely recognized label is used for both freshwater and marine fish that are not closely related taxonomically. The commonality among these disparate species is typically a shared physical form. This article clarifies the confusion surrounding this name by examining the two major, distinct groups of fish most commonly referred to as bream.
Why the Name “Bream” is So Confusing
The ambiguity of the name “bream” stems from convergent evolution in common naming. Historically, local fishers and settlers in different geographic regions encountered fish with a similar physical profile and applied the familiar name “bream” to them. This practice resulted in numerous unrelated species being grouped under the same misleading label.
The most consistent physical trait leading to this shared name is a deep, laterally compressed body shape, often described as tall and flat. This distinct profile, reminiscent of a diamond or oval, caused people to use the same common name for fish existing thousands of miles apart. Consequently, the name “bream” does not denote a single genus, family, or even order of fish.
This confusion highlights the difference between common names and scientific taxonomy. While a scientific name, such as Abramis brama, refers to one specific species, the common name “bream” is an umbrella term encompassing species from at least a dozen different genera and multiple families. For example, in the Southern United States, “bream” (often pronounced “brim”) frequently refers to the Bluegill and other sunfish belonging to the family Centrarchidae, which is entirely separate from the European species.
The original European freshwater bream belongs to the carp and minnow family, Cyprinidae, while the marine species belong primarily to the Sparidae family. These two families are separated by millions of years of evolution and possess vastly different biological traits, yet they share a common English name. This linguistic overlap makes it nearly impossible to know exactly which fish is being discussed without clarifying its geographic origin or habitat.
The Freshwater Bream (Cyprinidae Family)
The fish most historically associated with the name “bream” in Europe is the Common Bream, Abramis brama. This species is a member of the Cyprinidae family, a large group of freshwater fish that also includes carps and minnows. The freshwater bream is native to much of Europe, north of the Alps and Pyrenees, extending eastward into the Caspian and Aral Sea basins.
These fish typically inhabit slow-moving, lowland rivers, canals, and large lakes, preferring environments with a muddy bottom rich in nutrients. The body of the adult Common Bream is deep and flat-sided, featuring a distinctly elevated dorsal hump. Adults commonly measure between 30 and 55 centimeters in length and weigh between 2 and 4 kilograms.
The coloration changes with age; young fish are generally silvery, while older individuals often develop a darker, bronze tint. They are primarily bottom feeders, using a protractile, tube-like mouth to sift through the sediment for food. Their diet consists largely of benthic invertebrates, such as caddisfly larvae, worms, snails, and mollusks.
Freshwater bream move in shoals, and their feeding activity can stir up the bottom, leading to turbid water. They lack teeth in their jaws, a characteristic of the Cyprinidae family, but instead possess specialized pharyngeal teeth in their throat that grind food against a bony plate in the skull. The Silver Bream, Blicca bjoerkna, is a related species often confused with the Common Bream, especially in its younger stages.
The Marine Bream (Sparidae Family and Porgies)
In marine environments, the fish known as “sea bream” or simply “bream” belong overwhelmingly to the Sparidae family, also known as porgies or scup. This family includes over 150 species found globally in tropical and temperate coastal waters. Sparids exhibit a deep, moderately compressed body shape, but they are genetically distinct from their freshwater namesakes and possess unique marine adaptations.
A defining feature of the Sparidae family is their robust dentition, which contrasts sharply with the toothless jaws of the Cyprinids. Many species possess strong canine-like teeth at the front of the jaw and rounded molar-like teeth in the rear. These teeth are adapted for crushing the shells of their prey.
They are demersal carnivores, meaning they feed on or near the seabed, preying on hard-shelled benthic invertebrates, such as crustaceans and mollusks. The marine bream family includes commercially important species like the Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) and the Black Sea Bream (Spondyliosoma cantharus). These fish typically inhabit shallow coastal areas, estuaries, and offshore reefs.
Many marine bream species also exhibit hermaphroditism, where individuals may possess both male and female sex organs simultaneously, or change sex as they grow older. Unlike the freshwater bream, the Sparidae family has a worldwide distribution across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. The use of alternative names like “porgy” or “scup” often helps clarify that the fish in question is a marine Sparid.