Marine Wildlife of the Mediterranean

This handbook will be yourconstant companion on your

coastal explorations and marine adventures. It will help youidentify species you encounter while snorkeling or SCUBA diving,

and will also be very handy while browsing through the day’s catchat the local fish market.

A total of 832 species are illustrated, from cetaceans to seaweeds,including sea birds, turtles, fish and all kind of invertebrates. Eachdrawing is accompanied by a brief description of the species, its mostpopular English name(s), its scientific name and icons that clearlysummarise data of interest (habitat, frequency, depth...).

The front material introduces you to the Mediterranean Sea,identifying some of its most remarkable locations, describing its mainhabitats and providing invaluable tips and advice on observingits flora and fauna.

This book has been designed as a handy, friendlyand practical tool that will serve as an idealcompanion for an inquisitive explorer, keen to discoverthe rich faunal and floral treasures the MediterraneanSea has to offer.

Mediterranean

832illustrated

species

Enric BallesterosToni LLobet

Marine Wildlife

Cabo de Palos Sicily Croatia Zakynthos

Morocco Turkey

Spain Cap de CreusGreece Malta Crete

France Costa BravaCyprus Italy AdrasanMedes islands Mljet

Formentera Menorca Port-Cros

Columbretes Corsica VulcanoMallorca Sardinia Tunisia

Your new user-friendly visual guide

of the

GALLOCANTAGALLOCANTA

In collaboration with:

Marin

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Spain

1. Strait of Gibraltar2. Alborán3. Cabo de Palos4. Formentera5. Illots de Ponent (Eivissa)6. Cabrera7. Formentor8. Menorca9. Columbretes10. Illes Medes11. Cap de Creus

France

12. Calanques13. Port-Cros14. Bouches de Bonifacio15. Porto-Calvi

Italy

16. Portofino17. Bouches de Bonifacio18. Tavolara19. Alguer20. Teulada21. Ferdinandea 22. Ustica23. Marettimo24. Messina25. Vulcano26. Giannutri27. Ischia28. Palinuro29. Tremiti

Morocco

64. Cap de Tres Forcas (Ras TiletaMadari)65. Strait of Gibraltar

Tunisia

58. La Galite59. Zembra

Algeria

60. Habibas61. Taza62. Cap Bon63. El Kala

1 MEDITERRANIA GB OK_Maquetación 1 01/04/15 16:25 Página 10

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Croatia

30. Mljet31. Jabuka32. Blitvenica33. Biševo34. Lastovo35. Palagruža

Montenegro

36. Boka Kotorska

Albania

37. Sazani and Karaburun

Malta

38. Gozo

Greece

39. Zakynthos40. Chania41. Karpathos42. Santorini43. Panagopoula44. Perachora45. Pelion46. Lesbos47. Chalkidiki48. Fourni

Turkey

49. Gökova50. Sarigerme51. Kas52. Adrasan

Cyprus

53. Cape Greco54. Akamas

Lebanon

55. Ras Ech Chaqaa56. Al Rankin

Israel

57. Rosh-Hanikra


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habitats

Coralligenous outcrops and maërl bedsThese two habitats can only be accessed by very good free diversor, much more easily, by SCUBA divers. They extend from a depthof 20 meters down to 100 meters, and may descend even deeper(150 m) in the eastern Mediterranean. They harbour a large diversity

of animals as well as algae. Coralligenousoutcrops are the best place to see someof the most emblematic Mediterraneanspecies such as spiny lobsters, duskygroupers, red scorpionfish and the valuablered coral. Maërl beds are also very richin biodiversity and they are a preferredhabitat for rays and catsharks. On thedeepest maërl beds, where spiny lobstersand scorpionfish roam, we can find theMediterranean kelp, which is endemic

WHAT TO EXPECT ONCORALLIGENOUS OUTCROPS:

1 Dogfish, 37

2 Cardinal fish, 48

3 Swallowtail seaperch, 49 Schooling fish

4 Brown meagre, 51 Swims gracefully

5 Pandora, 53

6 Dentex, 53 Predator, feeds on fish and squid

7 Red sea squirt, 70

8 Sea squirt, Cystodytes dellechiajei, 72

9 Red coral, 112

10 Sea finger, 112

11 Sunset cup coral, 115

12 Orange-red encrusting sponge, 119

13 Yellow clathrina, 119

14 Bluish encrusting sponge, 120

15 Maërl, 135 Main component of maërl beds

Red coral can be seenwhile diving in caves,on overhangs and in thedarkest spots of coralli-genous outcrops

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habitats

16 Undulate ray, 39

17 Forkbeard, 42

18 John Dory, 43 A curious and unusual fish, found only in deep reefs

19 Dusky grouper, 50 Impressive, hides when threatened

20 Zebra sea bream, 54

21 Cuckoo wrasse, 62

22 Butterfly blenny, 64

23 Sea fig, 71

24 Smooth starfish, 75

25 Lobster, 89 On muddy coralligenous bottoms

26 Small slipper lobster, 89 Roams at night

27 Organ pipe worm, 96

28 Green spoon worm, 97

29 Dotted sea slug, 104

30 Wing oyster, 107 Attaches to sea fans

31 Orange sea fan, 113

32 Violescent sea fan, 113 On rocky walls subject to strong currents

33 White sea fan, 113

34 Sponge, Agelas oroides, 119

35 Sponge, Axinella damicornis,119

36 Green alga, Halimeda tuna, 125

37 Red alga, Lithophyllum stictaeforme, 125

to this sea. Benthic assemblages found at the entrance ofunderwater caves and tunnels are very similar tocommunities found at the darkest locations ofcoralligenous outcrops, where they receivelittle direct light. In contrast, in the deepestcaves, in total darkness, the community iscompletely different since only very fewspecies can survive here; cave walls andceilings have plenty of free space, somethingnever found on cora-lligenous bot-toms.

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•Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus kThis is the second largest living animal after the blue whale (B.musculus), which differs from the fin whale by its marbled back and bybeing very rare in the Mediterranean Sea. The largest fin whale recordedin the Mediterranean measured 21 meters long. Fin whales swim longdistances, most of them migrating in groups to the Atlantic Ocean inautumn and returning in spring. They can live up to 80 years. Calving occurs between November and January; youngcalves measure 6 meters long at birth.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

26

• Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus kThe largest predator on earth. Feeds on large fish and giant squid. It canmeasure up to 20 m long, can hold its breath up to 45 minutes and candive to a depth of 1500 meters. Gathers in pods that can comprise one ora few males, up to 20 adult females, often accompanied by young andimmature animals. Males excluded from the pods swim alone orin small groups. Sperm whales are relatively common in thewestern Mediterranean but rare in the eastern basin. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

0 300cm

MammalsDescendants of terrestrial ancestors, their anatomies and physiologies arehighly re-adapted for an aquatic existence. Their limbs are modified, usedboth for propulsion and steering through the water. Like all mammals, theyhave lungs, but have evolved to maximize their diving skills. While cetaceans,like whales and dolphins, spend all stages of their life in the water, pinnipeds,such as the monk seal, return to land to breed and to rest.

mammals fin whale and sperm whale

Whale watching

The best option for sighting whales andother cetaceans is to board a ship and sailoffshore, since they arerarely seen inshore.


•Killer whale Orcinus orca kFerocious predator. Can grow to 10 meters long. Has a very broad diet,

and has been known to feed even on fin whales and other big cetaceans.Remarkably intelligent, it attacks its prey in groups using well-definedstrategies. There have been no reports of attacks on humans and they

appear peaceful andundisturbed by human

presence. They steal fishfrom fishing gear.

0 1 5 10 50 100 200 1000 m

•Goose-beaked whale kZiphius cavirostris

Robust, small-headed whale, itsback is often covered with battle-scars as a result of fights withother individuals. It usually swimswith its head outside the water.These whales are excellent freedivers; they feed on squid and fishthat they capture in deep waters.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

27

killer whale and pilot whales mammals

0 300cm

•Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus kInquisitive, it often approaches moving vessels and

follows them. A gregarious species, it forms pods of 5 to100 whales and feeds on squid.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Common pilot whale kGlobicephala melas

Forms large pods of dozens tohundreds of individuals, with acomplex social structure. They feedmainly on squid but also on benthicand pelagic fishes.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m


fish sharks

36

• Sandbar shark tjCarcharhinus plumbeus

A coastal shark, it aggregates in some locations off the Turkish coast,close to beaches, in late spring. It is inquisitive but not aggressive.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

k•Blue sharkPrionace glauca

Has a long mouth and bluish colour, it is typically found in offshorewaters, where it feeds on squid and fish. Even though it is not a threatto divers, it can be aggressive and dangerous for stranded survivorsswimming around capsized vessels. Usually swims solitarily.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

jt•Angular rough shark Oxynotus centrina

With an unmistakable shape and small size, itswims slowly and quietly, close to the

bottom, where it feeds on invertebrates.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

kj•Bluntnose six-gill shark

Hexanchus griseus

Relatively common indeep-water bot-

tom habitats. It isoccasionally cap-

tured in trawl netsand sold very cheap.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

0 100cm

•Porbeagle Lamna nasus kSimilar to the shortfin

mako and the greatwhite shark, it is

usually smaller but veryrobust. It differs by having

teeth with two small lateral tips.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

Sharks

At present rare in theMediterranean due tooverfishing, sharks havean undeserved reputa-tion as human killers. Inquisitive predators, attacks on humans are very uncommon.


tj•Greater spotted dogfishScyliorhinus stellaris

[Nursehound] Larger than the dogfish, with fewer but larger spots.At risk due to overfishing.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Spiny dogfish jSqualus acanthias

[Spurdog] Has large bones in its dorsalfins. Very vulnerable to fishing,together with S. blainvillei.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Smoothhound jMustelus mustelus

Historically abundant, itspopulations are now at riskbecause of overfishing.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

jk•Soupfin sharkGaleorhinus galeus

[Tope shark] Up to 2 meters long, its main features are a smallrear dorsal fin and the distinctive shape of the caudal fin.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

370 30cm

•Black mouthed catshark Galeus melastomus jSmall catshark restricted to deep waters. Has largedorsal spots and large eyes.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

j•Starry smoothhound Mustelus asterias

Shares the same habitat (and problems)as the smoothhound. It has small white dots on its back.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula tjAmong the most abundant andsmallest of littoral sharks, attachesits eggs to the seafloor and gorgonians.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

small sharks fish

egg case of greaterspotted dogfish


•African striped grunt tParapristipoma octolineatum

With a tropical Atlanticdistribution, it is only present in

the southern areas of the westernMediterranean. Forms small

schools although sometimes encountered alone.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

tc•Red soldier fish

Sargocentron rubrum

Shelters in dark places during theday, solitarily or in small groups.

Native to the Red Sea, it hascolonized the southernmost part

of the eastern basin, where it isabundant.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

fish boarfish, trumpet fish, grunts and others

48

•Boarfish Capros aper jtInhabits deep waters, where it forms

schools above the sea floor or in the watercolumn. The mouth is sharp, retractable,

can be extended to capture prey. It hastropical affinities.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Snipefish Macroramphosus scolopax jk[Trumpetfish] Mouth pointed and with a large

bone in the dorsal fin. It forms small schoolsin deep waters. It takes on a silvery colour

when swimming in the water column.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Cardinal fish Apogon imberbis tCommon in crevices and in small caves during

the day, patrols during the night. Males carryeggs inside their mouths, which they cannot

close for the entire incubation period. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

0 6cm

•Apogonichthyoides nigripinnis tcNative to the Red Sea, it is present only in the

southernmost part of the eastern basin. Shelters increvices and small holes during the day, patrols during

the night. Males carry eggs inside their mouths.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m


tc•Sweeper Pempheris vanicolensis

Shelters in crevices and small caves duringthe day, forming schools. Native to the Red Sea,it has colonized the southeastern Mediterranean.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

0 10cm

ht•Painted comber Serranus scriba

Inhabits shallowbottoms. Territorial,every fish is bothmale and female at the sametime. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Damselfish Chromis chromis tkSometimes solitary, they usually form hugeschools. Males territorial, they protecttheir eggs layed in crevices. Juvenilesbright blue.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Comber Serranus cabrilla thSmall but voracious predator. In thenorthern Mediterranean it isfrequent below 3 meters depth; insouthern areas it has a deeperdistribution. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Swallowtail seaperch Anthias anthias tForms huge schools above coralligenousoutcrops. The second and third bones of thedorsal fin are elongated in males. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

jt•Brown comber Serranus hepatus

The smallest Mediterranean comber, lives mainlyon deep sedimentary bottoms, where it can befound close to boulders, shells, sea fans, bigsponges or even trash (bottles, plastics).0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

49

damselfish, seaperch and combers fish

Zu cristatusExtraordinary fish inha-biting the water co-lumn. Uncommon, it isseen only occasionally.

Ray’s breamBrama bramaLarge fish, up to 80 cmlong, lives in the watercolumn, always in deepwaters, where it preys onshrimp and otherswimming crustaceans.


k•Oceanic bonito

Katsuwonuspelamis

[Skipjack tuna]Gregarious and migratory

fast pelagic predator from warm waters.It has 3 to 5 dark longitudinal stripes on the

belly. Present offshore, it avoids coastal waters.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

k•Little tunny

Euthynnus alletteratus

Tropical, fast pelagic fish withdark irregular patterns

on the back and darkspots below the

pectoral fins. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

k•Bonito Sarda sarda

Fast pelagic predator thatengages in long migrations.Aggregates in large schools,

feeding on sardines, anchovies andother small pelagic fish. It is frequent in

coastal waters, but only gets close to shore in capes and near steeprocky shores.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

fish mackerels, bonito and similar fish

•Chub mackerel kScomber japonicus

Differs from the mackerel by its paler dorsalstripes and the presence of grey spots on the belly.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Bullet tuna Auxis rochei k[Frigate mackerel] Smaller than the

bonito and with a different stripe pattern onthe back.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

0 25cm

White trevallyPseudocaranx dentexCoastal subtropical fish, withthick lips, retractable mouthand yellow caudal fin. Sel-domly reported from thesouthern Mediterranean.

•Mackerel Scomber scombrus kForms large schools offshore. Feeds

on small fish in summer; in springfeeds on plankton, which it filters

through its open mouth.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

58


Silverscabbard fishLepidopus caudatusLong, silvery pelagic pre-dator with large, strongteeth. Restricted to deep

waters.

kh•Yellowmouth barracuda Sphyraena viridensis

Gathers in large schools in coastal areas harbouring other schools ofsmall fish. Usually found in capes and coves, infrequent in estuaries.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

59

•Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus k[Mahi mahi] Fast pelagic predator with a worldwide tropicaldistribution. Aggregates below floating objects, which helpsfishermen catch it.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

0 32cm

SwordfishXiphias gladiusHas a long, flattenedsword and a short, rigiddorsal fin. Mediterraneanpopulations are heavilyoverfished.

tuna and others fish

White marlinKajikia albidaPowerful pelagic preda-tor, it has a wider bodyand a longer sword thanthe Mediterranean mar-lin (Tetrapturus belone),very rare.

k•Long-fin tunaThunnus alalunga

[Albacore]Habits and habitats similar to the bluefin tuna, differs from it by itslonger pectoral fins and a very tall body. Meat is also very tasty. Preferswarm waters.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Bluefin tuna kThunnus thynnus

Large, impressive pelagic predator, very fast, lives in open waterswhere it aggregates in large schools that perform long migrations.This species prefers to spawn in the Mediterranean Sea. Bluefin tunaenter and leave the Mediterranean Sea by the Strait of Gibraltar, wherethey are have been caught since ancient times with tunny nets.Because of its extraordinary economic value this fish has been severelyoverfished, making it extremely vulnerable, even if it was veryabundant in the past. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m


th•Peacock

wrasseSymphodus tinca

Most wrassesshow gender-

specific colour patterns. In thisspecies, males are more brightly coloured

than females. Males build nests during springusing seaweeds. Females lay their eggs in these nests and

males protect them until they hatch. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Ornate wrasse Thalassoma pavo tWith subtropical affinities, it iscurrently spreading across the

northern Mediterranean. Gathersin large spawning aggregations in

summer.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Pearly razorfish Xyrichtys novacula j[Cleaver wrasse] Inhabits sandy

bottoms with small seagrass. Veryterritorial, each male defends a female

harem. It dives into the sand to hide.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

tjh•Rainbow wrasse

Coris julis

Very abundant on rocky bottoms andseagrass meadows, it buries itself inthe sand at dusk. Large males have a

different colour pattern.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

th• Symphodus ocellatus

Habits similar to peacockwrasses. Variable colour

patterns, but all of them have acolourful spot on the operculum.

Schools of juveniles appear inOctober.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

fish wrasses

60 0 8cm

Peacock wrasse female,slightly smaller and withsubdued colours.

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th•Axillary wrasseSymphodus mediterraneus

More robust than other similarspecies, it swims in pairs on rocky bottomsand in seagrass meadows. Males have severalblue lines and spots on the body and the head. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

wrasses fish

61

•Goldsinny wrasse Ctenolabrus rupestris tNo differences in colour patterns betweenmales and females. Small and solitary, itusually lives in low-light environments. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

jth• Symphodus cinereusRelatively pale compared withother wrasses, it inhabitslocations with mixed rocks, sand andseagrass.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

th• Symphodus doderleiniNo differences in colour patterns betweengenders, both have a lateral white stripeon the body. Solitary or in pairs.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

th• Symphodus melanocercusUsually found cleaning larger fish.Males and females have differentcolour patterns.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

• Symphodus rostratus htHas a long mouth. Moves slowlyamong the seagrass, but is effectivelycamouflaged.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

• Symphodus roissali tVariable colour patterns, itinhabits shallow rocky bottoms.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

0 6cm

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•Green wrasse thLabrus viridis

Colour varies fromgreen to orange, always

dotted, it is usually found inseagrass meadows. A predator, it hides between

the leaves to capture its prey. Vulnerable to spearfishing. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

th•Brown wrasse Labrus merula

Robust, its colour can varybetween green, brown and

dark blue (males). Veryvulnerable to spearfishing,

it is a good indicator of fishingpressure.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

th•Parrotfish Sparisoma cretense

A warm water species, males and females havedifferent colour patterns, females being

brighter than males. The only Mediterraneanrepresentative of a fish family very

abundant in tropical seas. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

fish wrasses, parrotfish, rabbitfish

•Cuckoo wrasse Labrus mixtus tMales with several blue lines. Females not

as brightly coloured, with white andblack spots on the back. Usually found on

coralligenous outcrops.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

thc•Squaretail rabbitfish Siganus luridus

[Dusky spinefoot] Invasive species from theRed Sea, it feeds on algae and has a noteworthy

impact on marine vegetation. Likely to spreadas the climate warms.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Rivulated rabbitfish Siganus rivulatus thc[Marbled spinefoot] Invasive species from the Red Sea,

it feeds on small turf algae, removing vegetated cover. Schooling fish,

similar to the native fish salema. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

0 14cm62

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•Remora kRemora remora

Has a cephalic suckerthat it uses to attach tolarge marine vertebrates suchas sharks, rays and turtles. Thereare other similar species.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Silverstripe blaasop Lagocephalus sceleratus thcInvasive fish, native to the Red Sea. Can be easily confused withother species of the same family, also Mediterranean invaders.Voracious predator, with a strongbite. Its meat is toxic tohumans. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Ocean sunfish kMola mola

A large, bulky fish thatlives in the watercolumn, although it canalso be seen close to thebottom, which it visits to be“cleaned” by small benthicfish. It is usually very shy arounddivers, but can sometimes beapproached. Easily seen in calm seas,resting on the water surface, from where it canbe easily caught. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

triggerfish, sunfish and others fish

63

thc• Stephanolepis diaprosNative to the Red Sea, it is anintroduced species belonging to anessentially tropical family of fish. Occurs onshallow bottoms, only in the eastern basin.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

0 40cm

•Grey triggerfish tBalistes capriscus

Mouth small but strong, withvery fierce teeth. Nests in thesand. Inquisitive andaggressive, mainly whenprotecting its eggs.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

Remora attached to shark.


tj•Leopard-spotted goby

Thorogobius ephippiatus

Has black spots on agrey to white body. It

inhabits caves and holes on coralligenous outcrops.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

t• Tripterygion tripteronotus

Sexually-active malesreddish, with black head.

Females do not have a blackspot at the start of the caudal fin.

Restricted to shallow waters.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Large-scaled goby tjThorogobius macrolepis

Brown to yellow spots on its bodyand head. Inhabits deep bottoms, mainly edges between

coralligenous outcrops and sandy bottoms.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Black-faced blenny tTripterygion delaisi

Sexually-active males have ayellow body and a black head.

Females distinguished by ablack spot at the start

of the caudal fin.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

fish gobies and similar

68

• Clinitrachus argentatus tCommon but difficult to spot amongst the

seaweeds, in shallow waters. Movesslowly and can be easily caught.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

• Tripterygion melanurum tSmall. Reddish body and a head covered with black spots.

Similar to Microlipophrys nigriceps and coexists with it.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Coralline goby Odondebuenia balearica tjSmall reddish goby, with blue vertical stripes on the

body. Very difficult to spot, but common inmaërl beds.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

Fries’s gobyLesueurigobius friesiiInhabits deep, muddyand gravel bottoms, to-gether with other similarspecies. Its body and finshave yellow spots.

Common gobyPomatoschistus micropsFound mainly in estua-rine conditions, shallowbays and coastal lago-ons. It belongs to agenus of similar smallgobies, very common onsandy and muddy bot-toms.

0 3cm

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•Spotted flounder jCitharus linguatula

Has large mouth and scales. Itcan be recognised by the presence ofblack spots on the base of the dorsal andanal fins. Frequently caught intrawl nets.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

69

j•Brill Scophthalmus rhombus

[Kite] Large flatfish,wide, with the firstspines of the dorsal finfree, giving the appearance ofa beard.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Sole Solea solea joThere are several Mediterranean soles, oftendifficult to differentiate. All of them inhabitsandy and muddy bottoms, usually indeep waters but also in the shallowwaters of bays, estuaries, lagoons andharbours. The common sole is one ofthe most appreciated table fish.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Four spot megrim jLepidorhombus boscii

Medium sized flatfish with a big mouth,often caught in trawl nets. The megrim(L. whiffiagonis) is similar but withoutdark spots on the dorsal and anal fins.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Wide-eye flounder jBothus podas

The most common flatfish en-countered while diving. It buriesinto the sand but hides a meterbehind its burial location. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

Turbot Scophthalmus maximusSimilar to the brill butwider, almost rectangu-lar in shape, and with acontinuous dorsal fin.Reared in fish farms,common in fish markets.

0 12cm

•Scaldfish Arnoglossus laterna jOne of several Mediterranean scaldfish.All of them are expert mimics and liecamouflaged in the sediment. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

flat fish fish


•Norway lobster jNephrops norvegicus

[Scampi] Digs burrows inthe sand, where it spends

the day, emerging atdusk and night to

patrol and feed.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

crustaceans shrimps and norway lobster

88 0 5cm

•Red shrimp jAristeus antennatus

A deliciously tasty shrimp, it inhabits thedeepest bottoms and is caught by trawls insubmarine canyons, where it lays its eggs.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

j•Scarlet shrimp Aristaeopsis edwardsiana

A large scarlet shrimp with spines on theback of its abdominal segments. Found

only in areas near the Atlantic Ocean.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Striped shrimp Melicertus kerathurus joInhabits shallow waters, also in coastal lagoons

and bays. Buries into the sediment during the dayand is active at night. Can be reared in

aquaculture farms. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•White glass shrimp Pasiphaea sivado jTranslucent body with red hues on the back and

belly. Principal prey of hake and blue whiting.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Giant red shrimp jAristaeomorpha foliacea

Bright red, its forehead has athin extension (rostrum) with

several small teeth. Populationsdecreasing.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Deep-water rose shrimp jParapenaeus longirostris

Has a thick, pale abdomen, similar to the striped shrimp.Inhabits deep muddy bottoms, with other shrimps.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

Food delicacies

Shrimps and lobsters arethe quintessence of Medi-terranean gastronomy.With a pleasant and dis-tinctive taste, they can attain very high prices inthe fish market.


lobsters crustaceans

•Slipper lobster Scyllarides latus tGathers on the ceilings of shallow water cavesin spring to lay its eggs. For the rest of the yearit probably lives deeper and is active only atnight. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

0 15cm 89

t•Pink spiny lobsterPalinurus mauritanicus

Similar to the common spiny lobster,it is paler, its head carapace has twoconspicuous lateral rows of spines, andlives at greater depths than its relative.Fish markets often stock the royal spinylobster (Panulirus regius), with greenand purple hues, sourced from abroad.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Lobster Homarus gammarus jtHas huge claws, weighs up to 6 kg. Inhabitsmuddy bottoms with rocks. The species usuallyfound in markets is its relative, the Americanlobster (Homarus americanus). 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

t•Spiny lobsterPalinurus elephas

[Crawfish] An important target forfishermen, its populations have decreasedsharply due of overharvesting. Has long larvalstage –up to five months in the plankton– that allowslarvae to spread widely; new recruits at a site mayoften have come from very distant locations.Caught with nets and basket traps. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

th•Small slipper lobsterScyllarus arctus

Hides during the day insidecaves, under boulders andamong seagrass rhizomes, butis active at night.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m


ht•Broad-clawed porcelain crabPorcellana platycheles

Easy to identify by its hairy body, it always hidesin shallow waters, under rocks, insideholes or among seagrass rhizomes.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

t•Sponge

crabDromia personata

This crab grips sponges,sometimes tunicates, with

its rear legs to cover its velvetbody. Moves slowly and can

be seen mainly in submergedcaves while diving.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

crustaceans crabs

92

• Calappa granulata jClaws very wide and cover the front of thebody. Inhabits gravel and maërl bottoms,

where it is caught in nets.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Warty crab Eriphia verrucosa itLives in very shallow waters, usually in

the surf zone, where it hides insidecrevices. Has a tough body, and can run

suprisingly fast. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Nut crab Ilia nucleus jhInhabits muddy bottoms and seagrassmeadows, where it buries itself in the

sediment to hunt. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

Oyster crabNepinnotherespinnotheresCan occasionally befound as a commensalinside fan mussels, alsoinside tunicates. Foraysoccasionally outside itshost, but returns quicklywhen it senses danger.

•Hairy crab tPilumnus hirtellus

Resembles a miniature warty crab.Very common at shallow and medium

depths, were it is often unnoticedbecause of its small size.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

0 4cm


t•EdiblecrabCancer pagurus

Large and pulpy, thisnocturnal crab inhabits both rocky and

sedimentary bottoms. It is very rare in theMediterranean and all crabs found in fish

markets come from the AtlanticOcean, where it is very abundant. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

j•Harbour crabLiocarcinus depurator

Carrion feeder, itinhabits muddy and sandybottoms. Caught intrawl nets, it is soldin fish markets.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Runner crab iPachygrapsus marmoratus

The most abundant crab foundoutside the water, scampering onlittoral rocks. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

93

• Common shore crab Carcinus aestuarii jhoFound in estuaries, in seagrass beds and on thesediment. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

•Portunid crab jMacropipus tuberculatus

Head with two pointed lateralextensions. It is sold in fishmarkets.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 1000 m

crabs crustaceans

•Velvet swimming crab Necora puber jtVery tasty and considered a delicacy, most velvetswimming crabs in fish markets come fromthe Atlantic Ocean. This species is rare in the

Mediterranean, where it inhabitsshallow, highly sedimented

rocky bottoms.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 1000 m

0 4cm

Sea urchin crabPercnon gibbesiOriginally from the Atlan-tic Ocean, it has recentlyspread all over the Medi-terranean. Hides in crevi-ces, at shallow depths.

Pennant’s swimming crabPortumnus latipesInhabits shallow sandybottoms. Some popula-tions are now extinct be-cause of human activities.


molluscs cockles, venus and clams

108 0 4cm

j•Spiny cockle

Acanthocardia aculeata

Valves with radialribs covered in rows

of sharp spines. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

•Smooth clam jCallista chione

[Brown venus] Shellsmooth, bright, striped.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

j•Rough cockleAcanthocardia tuberculata

[Warty cockle] Thickvalves, with radial ribs,without spines. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

o•Lagoon cockle

Cerastoderma glaucum

Valves with radial ribsand concentric stripes.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

j•Striped venusChamelea gallina

Shell small, withconcentric ridges. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

•Calico clam oVenerupis decussata

[Checkerboard] Valves withthin concentric ridges andradial rays. Siphons separatefor their entire length. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

jo•Golden carpet clam

Polititapes aureus

Valves with thin concentricridges. Colour variable.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

oc•Manila clam Venerupis philippinarum

[ Japanese calico clam] Invasive, differs from the calico clam by itsrougher shell and by having its siphons largely joined together.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

•Flask shell tRocellaria dubia

Inside rocks. Possibleto locate only by thepresence of two smallholes carved on rocks.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

j•Oxheart

clamGlossus humanus

Shell heartshaped when

viewed from the side. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Prickly cockle jAcanthocardia echinata

Valves with radial ribscovered with rows of

wide, scaly spines.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

j•Warty venus Venus verrucosa

Valves thick, large, andwith wide and prominentconcentric ridges. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

j•Venus casina

Less thick than the warty venus.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

Holes carved by Rocellariadubia on rocks indicateits presence.


j•OttershellLutraria lutraria

[Lutraria clam] Can beabundant on beachesof fine sands.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

Common shipwormTeredo navalisWorm-shaped, it has twosmall valves on one side.Burrows in all kinds ofwood, capable of even-tually destroying any

man-made woodenstructure.

j•Wedge shellDonax trunculus

Other similar Mediterranean speciesbut this is the most common onbeaches, close to the surf zone. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

o•Flat tellinScrobicularia plana

[Peppery furrow shell]Large shell, white or palegrey, growing buried in themud in estuarineenvironments.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

•Rayed through shell Mactra stultorum joLarge shell, white or with concentric and radial stripes.Inhabits shallow fine sands.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

•Common piddock Pholas dactylus jWhitish, long-ribbed shells that dig outgalleries in compact muddy bottoms. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

109

jo•Grooved razor-shellSolen marginatus

Straight, long and wide shell. Digs out vertical burrows in thesediment. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

j•Curvate razor-shell Ensis ensis

Differs form other razor shells by itscurved shape. Most razor shells we

buy in fish markets and seafoodshops come from the Atlantic Ocean,

where they are far more abundant. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

•Short razor shell jSolecurtus strigilatus

[Stout clam] Common butnever abundant in fine sandsand muddy bottoms.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

Cut through shellSpisula subtruncataVery abundant in finesands in front of bea-ches. Often unnoticedbecause of its small size.

jo•Sword razor-shellEnsis minor

Shell very long and straight,adorned on the outside withdark and pale stripes.Commercially important. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 m

wedge shells and razor-shells molluscs

0 3cm


j•Golden anemone Condylactis aurantiaca

Large anemone of sandy sedimentary bottoms. Hasgrey tentacles with violet tips. Used as a refuge by

different species of crab and small shrimp.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

•Actinia cari tGreen, with dark concentric lines and short and

abundant stinging tentacles that can retract completely. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

ti•Beadlet anemone Actinia equina

Dark bright red, with stingingtentacles that can be

completely retracted. Lives always atthe sea level, both in sheltered and

exposed areas. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Trumpet anemone tAiptasia mutabilis

Large and with grey, apparentlyfragile, marbled tentacles. Usually

hides in small rock crevices. 0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

114 0 10cm

Cylinder anemoneCerianthusmembranaceusLong retractable tubes,fixed in the sediment.More than 100 variously-coloured tentaclesemerge from the tops of the tubes. Ubiquitous,including in harbours.

Berried anemoneAlicia mirabilisForms a bulky cone-sha-ped violet mass whenretracted. When exten-ded, the tube measuresup to 40 cm long, isbulky, grey, and withlong, curled tentacles atthe end.

jt•Parasitic anemone

Calliactis parasitica

Typical, although not exclusive, of deadsnail shells occupied by hermit crabs.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Fat anemone Cribrinopsis crassa tUsually found on rocky bottoms, it has a colour pattern similarto the golden anemone but its tentacles are shorter and thicker.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

t•Snakelocks anemone

Anemonia viridis

Very abundant at some shelteredlocations. Although tentacles sting,

it is considered a delicacy in someareas, where it is eaten fried.

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cnidarians anemones


•Sunset cup-coral tLeptopsammia pruvoti

Calcified, bright yellow solitary coral.Especially abundant in coralligenousoutcrops and at cave entrances, always inlow-light conditions.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

115

Hidden cup-coralPhyllangia americanamoucheziiSmall calcified colonieswith large polyps. Veryattractive, transparent,marbled tentacles cove-red with white dots andwith bright white tips.

Polycyathus muelleraeFlat calcified colonieswith several separatepolyps variable in colour.Inhabits ceilings and projections, in relativelyshallow waters.

Jewel anemoneCorynactis viridisSoft, colonial or indivi-dual animals with anirregular geographicaldistribution. Colour pat-tern very variable, withthe apical parts of thetentacles rounded. Alsofound in harbours.

0 2cm

•Yellow star coral Astroides calycularis tLarge, bright yellow, calcified colonies thatmainly inhabit shallow and exposed rockybottoms. Distribution restricted to thesouthernmost part of the western basin and tothe Adriatic Sea.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

•Pig tooth coral tBalanophyllia europaea

Calcified brownish solitary coral,hosts symbiotic algae. Inhabitswell-illuminated rocky bottoms.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

• Caryophyllia inornata tCalcified coral, both solitary or

in small colonies, white topinkish. Has transparenttentacles with white dotsconcentrated at the tips.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

t•Pillow coral

Cladocora caespitosa

Hemispheric calcified coloniesof hundreds of brown polyps,

with symbiotic microalgae.Can aggregate in favourable

places.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m

star corals, cup-corals and jewel anemones cnidarians

•Golden star coral Balanophyllia regia tCalcified, orange solitary coral, very small, presentamong algae, on shallow rocky bottoms.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 200 500 m


122 0 10cm

hjo•Little Neptune grassCymodocea nodosa Rhizomes pink with annularscars, the upper margins ofthe leaves are finely dentate.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

•Tape grass hjcHalophila stipulacea

Invasive species from the Red Sea. Eastern basin.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

ho•Eelgrass Zostera marina

Almost completely restrictedto coastal lagoons and bays

with estuarine conditions, itsrhizomes are thin and not

enduring. Flowers enclosed inthe sheaths of the leaf bases.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

seagrasses and lichens

ho• Zostera noltii

Very thin leaves, up to 2 mmwide; mainly in estuaries

and bays.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

Seagrasses: flowering plantsSeagrasses evolved from terrestrial plants, and all species stillproduce flowers that bear fruit after fertilization. This is themain feature distinguishing flowering plants from the rest ofmarine photosynthetic organisms. They can form huge meadowson sedimentary bottoms but some species can also thrive onrocks.

•Neptune grass htjPosidonia oceanica

Mediterranean endemic, it is made up by shoots composed ofseveral ribbon-like leaves up to 1 meter long, bunches of en-during rhizomes that grow upwards and creates long lasting

reefs, and small thick roots. Flowers in autumn. Floatingfruits are released in May and are known as sea olives.

0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

VerrucariaamphibiaEnduring, hard, blackcrusts that grow severalmeters above the sur-face, mainly on north-oriented rocks.

Lichens


1230 5cm

• Cladophora pellucida tHas a very long basal cell. Bright green, it inhabits darkexposed locations.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

• Cladophora prolifera tDark green, the basal cell is coveredby annular rhizoids, which originateabove. Mainly found in shelteredlocations.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

Ulva compressaGreen sheets, shapedlike an elongated bag.This and other similarspecies proliferate in nu-trient-rich locations.

Sea lettuceUlva rigidaDark green,lobed flat sheetsirregularly shaped, witha thick base. This andother similar species arefound in nutrient-rich lo-cations.

• Cladophora vagabunda toiLong, branched filaments aggregated in masses, very common in pools, bays and coastal lagoons.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

• Chaetomorpha aerea tUnbranched filaments resemblingstiff strands of hair. Lives on littoralrock, mainly in sheltered places androckpools.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

• Chaetomorpha linum oBundles of entangled unbranchedfilaments, not attached to the bottom.Found in bays and coastal lagoons.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

i• Chaetomorpha mediterranea Clumps of unbranched, slender,entangled filaments, on littoral rock.0 1 2 5 10 25 50 100 500 m

SeaweedsSeaweeds do not strictly exist as a distinct group in the pureevolutionary sense since they share no common ancestor. Theorganisms presented here have three common features: theyall have cells with a well-differentiated nucleus, they processlight to grow (and therefore have chlorophyll) and they neverproduce flowers or fruits. They are the main elements in well-lit, rocky seascapes and are therefore omnipresent in the mosthuman-accessible marine environments.

green

red

Ulva fasciataGreen, lobed flat sheets,irregularly shaped.Usually submerged, seldom above the waterlevel, proliferate in nutrient-rich locations.

green seaweeds

brown


Marine Wildlife of the Mediterranean

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