Sparidae is a family of fishes in the order Perciformes. The body is compressed at the sides. The dorsal fin is single with spiny rays that retract into a special groove on the back. The teeth are strong. Includes over 30 genera and more than 130 species. Predominantly marine, coastal, gregarious fish living in tropical and temperate waters. Length from 10 cm to 1 m, sometimes more. Bentophagous, planktophagous, phytophagous and predators. Many hermaphrodites. Sex change during life. In Russia there are 11 species in the Black Sea and 2 species in the Sea of Japan. In continental Russian waters - Diplodus annularis and Acanthopagrus schlegelii. Many Sparidae are of commercial importance.

They are distinguished by a peculiar, highly specialized structure of teeth: anterior teeth in the form of incisors, lateral teeth in the form of molars, palate, as a rule, without teeth. The family includes 37 genera and 148 species. The body is compressed, elongated, high rounded or oblong, covered with weakly actenoid scales. The mouth is located at the end of the snout, eyes of moderate size. One continuous dorsal fin with 10-13 barbed rays and 10-15 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 barbed rays and 8-14 soft rays. The pelvic fins are located on the thorax below the pectoral fins, with a small paddle at the base. Length varies from 10 cm to 1.5 m. Coloration is bright, varied. Many teeth.

They are distributed in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Sparrows live off the shores of hot and temperate seas. They are predators, planktonophagous and herbivorous.

The sex glands of sporozoans contain both male and female rudiments, but most species are separate-sexed, although there are true hermaphrodites that change sex from male to female during their lives (dichogamy).