Common pandora is a sea fish, belonging to the Sparidae family, the same as the sea bream; it has a body with a curved back, flattened on the sides and a long dorsal fin. Its length ranges from 30 to 50 cm.

There are three species of bream: the "bream" (Pagellus erythrinus) with pink skin, redder on the back, and silvery nuances on the sides; the "bastard" bream (Pagellus acarne) with a more tapered body, a silvery color and a black spot where the pectoral fin joins the body; the sea bream (Pagellus centrodontus), so called because of the large size of its eyes, it has a reddish-gray skin and a black spot on top of its lines.

All three of them have a good meat, both in flavour and in texture. However, the fragolino and the occhialone are the best ones. They can be cooked in the oven, grilled, boiled (if large), stewed or marinated.