Diplodus vulgaris is a silver seabream with a high back and two broad black bars running vertically, just in front of the tail and one behind the eye. They live in schools.

Stated as Least Concern according to the IUCN Red list. Diplodus vulgaris is a common and widespread species ranging from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean and the coast of Africa. There is no evidence of population declines, despite its high commercial value. The range of D. vulgaris overlaps with marine protected areas throughout its range. This fish is commercially fished.

The species commonly occurs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, in the Atlantic its habitat reaches from France south to Angola, Madeira and the Canary Islands, even South Africa. They prefer rocky and sandy bottoms, in a depth range of 2-160 meters (mostly above 30 meters). Juveniles can be found in seagrass fields.

Reproduction through spawning. Possibly hermaphroditic. Juveniles reach sexual maturity at 2 years, or roughly 17 cm.