Bream is a general term for a number of species of freshwater and marine fish belonging to a variety of genera including: Abramis (e.g. A. brama, the carp bream); Acanthopagrus; Argyrops; Blicca; Brama; Etelis; Lepomis; Gymnocranius; Lethrinus; Nemipterus; Rhabdosargus and Scolopsis. Although species from all of these genera are called "bream", the term does not imply a degree of relatedness between these species. Fish termed "bream" tend to be narrow, deep bodied species. The name is a derivation of the Middle English word breme, of Old French origin. The term sea bream is sometimes used for porgies (family Sparidae) or pomfrets (family Bramidae).

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