The alternative vernacular names are gurbell, sea crow, bearded umbrine and corb.

Its small mouth has an inferior setting and contains villiform teeth while on its chin there is a short and rigid barbel which is perforated by a pore at its tip.

Its scales are mainly ctenoid in form except for those on the breast, snout and sub-orbital region, where they are predominantly cycloid.

[4] Umbrina cirrosa is a demersal species which is found in inshore waters,[3] over both rock and sandy sea beds.

[3] Umbrina cirrosa has been recorded as being landed by fishermen in seven Mediterranean countries, the largest catches have been in Turkey and Italy.