Comber (Serranus cabrilla) Linnaeus, 1758 - Χάννος - Cyprus

Photo Larnaca  by Costas Constantinou

Comber (Serranus cabrilla), is a species of fish in the family Serranidae.

It lives in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Atlantic coast from the British Isles to the Cape of Good Hope, including the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. The habitat are rocky or sandy sounding-deeps at depths of 0–200 metres (0–656 ft). Size can vary from 5–25 centimetres (2.0–9.8 in) in normal individual to up to 40 cm (16 in).

The comber feeds on other fish, cephalopods and crustaceans.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Underwater photos at Akrotiri by Kostas Aristeidou

Photos 8.05.2016 by Costas Constantinou

Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Cuvier, 1797 - Cyprus

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is the most studied of all octopus species.
O. vulgaris is considered cosmopolitan. Global in its range in the eastern Atlantic extends from the Mediterranean Sea and the southern coast of England to at least Senegal in Africa. It also occurs off the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde Islands9. The species is also common in the Western Atlantic

O. vulgaris grows to 25 cm in mantle length with arms up to 1 m long. O. vulgaris is caught by bottom trawls on a huge scale off the northwestern coast of Africa. More than 20,000 tonnes are harvested annually.

The common octopus hunts at dusk. Crabs, crayfish, and bivalve mollusks (two-shelled molluscs such as cockles) are preferred, although the octopus will eat almost anything it can catch. It is able to change colour to blend in with its surroundings, and is able to jump upon any unwary prey that strays across its path. The prey is paralyzed by a nerve poison, which the octopus secretes in its saliva, and the octopus is able to grasp its prey using its powerful arms with their two rows of suckers. If the victim is a shelled mollusc, the octopus uses its beak to punch a hole in the shell before sucking out the fleshy contents.

Photo George Konstantinou

Training experiments have shown the common octopus can distinguish the brightness, size, shape, and horizontal or vertical orientation of objects. They are intelligent enough to learn how to unscrew a jar and are known to raid lobster traps. O. vulgaris is the only invertebrate animal protected by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in the UK; it was included because of its high intelligence.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Underwater photos Larnaca  by Costas Constantinou

Underwater photos and video at Akrotiri 2015 by Kostas Aristeidou
https://vimeo.com/124113891

Ornate wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) Linnaeus, 1758 - Γύλος, Γαϊτανούρι - Cyprus

The ornate wrasse, Thalassoma pavo, is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Gabon and the oceanic islands and into the Mediterranean Sea. This species inhabits areas of rocks and eelgrass in coastal waters at depths from 1 to 150 m (3.3 to 492.1 ft), though rarely below 50 m (160 ft). It can reach 25 cm (9.8 in) in length, though most do not exceed 20 cm (7.9 in). This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, is also popular as a game fish, and can be found in the aquarium trade.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Underwater photo Larnaca July 2014  by Costas Constantinou

Female

Male

Underwater Photos Akrotiri,  November 2023 by Kostas Aristeidou

Male

Το γαϊτανούρι ή Γύλος (επιστημονική ονομασία: Thalassoma pavo) είναι είδος ψαριού ιθαγενές στις βραχώδεις ακτές του ανατολικού Ατλαντικού Ωκεανού και της Μεσογείου Θάλασσας. Αυτό το είδος είναι μικρής σημασίας για την τοπική εμπορική αλιεία, αλλά είναι δημοφιλές ως θήραμα και μπορεί να βρεθεί στο εμπόριο για ενυδρεία.

Περιγραφή

Το γαϊτανούρι παρουσιάζει σεξουαλικό διχρωματισμό. Τα θηλυκά είναι πρασινωπό-καφέ με μια σκούρα μπάρα σε κάθε λέπι και πέντε γαλαζωπές κάθετες ρίγες. Τα αρσενικά έχουν κόκκινα κεφάλια με μπλε σημάδια. Αμέσως πίσω από το θωρακικό πτερύγιο έχουν μια κατακόρυφη μπλε λωρίδα με κόκκινα όρια. Το ουραίο πτερύγιο και στα δύο φύλα είναι τιρκουάζ. Τα νεαρά είναι ολόκληρα πράσινα και έχουν μια μαύρη κηλίδα στο μέσο της πλάτης, τοποθετημένη αμέσως κάτω από το ραχιαίο πτερύγιο. Το σώμα είναι επίμηκες και πλευρικά συμπιεσμένο με αιχμηρό, οβάλ κεφάλι. Το ρύγχος είναι κοντό με μικρό, στόμα στην άκρη και χοντρά χείλη. Στα νεότερα ψάρια το ουραίο πτερύγιο και καθώς το ψάρι ωριμάζει γίνεται κοίλο με επιμήκεις εξωτερικές ακτίνες που σχηματίζουν νήματα.[2] Μπορεί να φτάσει τα σε μήκος τα 25 εκατοστά, αν και τα περισσότερα δεν ξεπερνούν σε μήκος τα 20 εκατοστά. Το ραχιαίο πτερύγιο έχει οκτώ άκανθες και 12-13 μαλακές ακτίνες ενώ το πρωκτικό πτερύγιο έχει τρεις άκανθες και 10-12 μαλακές ακτίνες

Το γαϊτανούρι είναι είδος του ανατολικού Ατλαντικού Ωκεανού και της Μεσογείου. Στον ανατολικό Ατλαντικό εμφανίζεται από την Πορτογαλία προς τα νότια κατά μήκος της ακτής της Δυτικής Αφρικής μέχρι τη Σενεγάλη. Εμφανίζεται επίσης γύρω από τη Μακαρονησία, τα αρχιπελάγη των νησιών του Πράσινου Ακρωτηρίου, των Καναρίων Νήσων, της Μαδέρα και των Αζορών. Στη Μεσόγειο εμφανίζεται σε όλες τις αφρικανικές και ασιατικές ακτές και στις περισσότερες από τις βόρειες ακτές εκτός από τα βόρεια τμήματα της Αδριατικής και ορισμένα τμήματα της βορειοδυτικής Μεσογείου. Ωστόσο, η υπερθέρμανση του πλανήτη μπορεί να επιτρέψει στο γαϊτανούρι να επεκτείνει το εύρος του προς τα βόρεια, σε ολόκληρη τη θάλασσα της Λιγουρίας και στα ανοιχτά της Προβηγκίας. Απουσιάζει από τη Μαύρη Θάλασσα.

Το γαϊτανούρι απαντάται σε βραχώδεις περιοχές όπου υπάρχουν φύκια και θαλάσσια λιβάδια Ποσειδωνίας, σε βάθος από 0 έως 50 μέτρα. Μπορεί επίσης να βρεθεί να ζει σε ανθρωπογενείς δομές, όπως ναυάγια, προβλήτες και προβλήτες. Τα θηλυκά και τα ανήλικα ζουν συνήθως σε μικρές ομάδες ενώ τα ενήλικα αρσενικά είναι μοναχικά. Στην αναπαραγωγική περίοδο τα αρσενικά γίνονται εδαφικά και φυλάνε ένα χαρέμι. Η διατροφή του αποτελείται από μικρά μαλάκια και μαλακόστρακα και τα νεαρά θα λειτουργήσουν ως ψάρια καθαριστές, τρέφονται με τα εξωπαράσιτα που αφαιρούνται από το δέρμα άλλων ψαριών. Καθώς κυνηγά τη λεία του κολυμπά με γρήγορες σπασμωδικές κινήσεις. Θάβονται σε αμμώδεις περιοχές τη νύχτα κουνώντας έντονα την ουρά τους, περνώντας τη νύχτα με το πλευρό τους στην άμμο.

Το γαϊτανούρι είναι πρωτόγυνο ερμαφρόδιτο και τα θηλυκά μπορεί να μεταμορφωθούν σε αρσενικά, κάτι που υποδηλώνεται από την αλλαγή του χρώματος. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι ο πληθυσμός κυριαρχείται από μεγάλο αριθμό νεαρών, γόνιμων θηλυκών που μπορούν να παράγουν μεγάλο αριθμό ωαρίων. Τα μεγαλύτερα μοναχικά αρσενικά είναι λιγότερα σε αριθμό καθώς τους ασκείται μεγαλύτερη πίεση θήρευσης. Η ωοτοκία γίνεται την άνοιξη και τα αυγά είναι πελαγικά. Από τη Βικιπαίδεια, την ελεύθερη εγκυκλοπαίδεια.

Yellow tube sponge (Aplysina aerophoba) Nardo, 1843 - Cyprus

 Body irregularly massive to digitate (up to 20–30 cm in diameter and height). Colour bright yellow in vivo and dramatically changing in a few minutes after collection or preservation (both alcohol and formalin, but also in dry conditions) into a very dark violet or most frequently pure black. Evident oscules on the top of sponge body or digitations. Sponge body surfaces seasonally covered by thin outgrowths (asexual propagules) up to 5 cm in length and 1 cm in diameter; outgrowths are lost by the mother-sponge as propagules at the end of summer. Consistency firm and fleshy. Surface smooth to slightly conulose, showing a fine (but evident) superficial fibrous network. Skeleton fragile, with fibres of a single dimensional class (80–150 µm) arranged in a regular three-dimensional scaffold. Fibre structure laminar with a large axial core (30–70 µm) inconspicuous in dry condition. From Encyclopedia of Life


See also
Yellow tylodina or Yellow umbrella slug - Tylodina perversa (Gmelin, 1791) - Cyprus

Photos Liopetri April 2014  by Costas Constantinou

Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, formerly Epinephelus gigas) (Lowe, 1834) Ορφός - Ροφός - Cyprus

The Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, formerly Epinephelus gigas), or Merou is the best known grouper of the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa coast. It is said to have the best taste of all Mediterranean fishes.
The Dusky Grouper has a big body with a big mouth. One long dorsal fin and a rounded tail. Its color varies from brown to green depending on the season and the age. It is green during its juvenile phase. The adult is upper brown with yellow spots and lower yellow. On the Operculum there are three spines.

The dusky grouper is a solitary fish. It likes to live alone in rocks, at depths from the coast to 300 meters, but it's rare to find it below 60 meters. It has a barometric distribution, where the younger specimens are found near the coast and the older ones at the depths.

It normally has one cave considered as home and several other caves as temporary refuges. Its home has a minimum of two exits, and a size slightly bigger than the grouper, so no bigger animal can enter in. In case of biting attack or other force to extract it, the grouper opens its mouth, and the operculum spines wedge it inside the cave.

It can be found in the Mediterranean, the African west coast (Azores, Canary Islands) and the coast of Brazil. It is rare in the waters of the western Indian ocean, Uruguay, Argentina, north of France and the British Isles.

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, i.e. the young are predominantly female but transform into males as they grow larger. Reproduction normally takes place between the summer months.

It feeds mainly on other fish, crabs and octopus. It is very greedy and one of the major predators in the Mediterranean sea.

In some countries the dusky grouper is considered a delicacy. Referring to its preference among restaurant guests, the Spanish say 'De la mar el mero y de la tierra el carnero' (From the sea the dusky grouper, from the land the lamb).

Due to overfishing, it is now considered an endangered species.

It normally grows to lengths of between 50 and 100 cm, and between 3 to 10 kg. But it is not rare to find exemplars of more than 40 kg. It can grow up to 150 centimeters in length and 60 kilograms in weight.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Underwater photo by Costas Constantinou

Underwater photos  at Akrotiri , Limassol  21/2/2016 by Kostas Aristeidou

Grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) J. F. Gmelin, 1789

The grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) is a ray-finned fish in the triggerfish family. The species is native to shallow parts of the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Argentina and also the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and off Angola on the west coast of Africa.

In its appearance and habits, the grey triggerfish is a typical member of the genus Balistes except for its drab, uniformly grey colouration. It is a relatively small fish, usually less than 2.3 kg (5 lb) in weight. It is fished recreationally and despite its tough skin, is an excellent food-fish.

The grey triggerfish is a medium-sized fish that can grow to 60 cm (24 in), but a more common length is 44 cm (17 in). The small beak-like mouth at the tip of the snout has fleshy lips. The eyes are set far back near the top of the head. The body is laterally compressed and deep-bodied with a tough, leathery skin. The front dorsal fin has three spines, the first being very strong and much longer than the other two. The second dorsal fin has 26 to 29 soft rays and is much the same size and shape as the anal fin directly below it which has no spines and 23 to 26 soft rays. The pectoral fins are small and rounded. The outer rays of the caudal fin are elongated in larger individuals. The scales on the head and front half of the body are large while those on the hind half are smaller and smooth.

This fish is predominantly pale grey, greenish-grey or yellowish-brown. The body has three indistinct broad dark bars and there is a pale streak on the chin. The upper part of the orbit of the eye is blue and there are some small blue spots and lines on the dorsal fins and upper parts of the body, and sometimes white dots and irregular lines on the lower parts of the body. Both the second dorsal and the anal fin present a somewhat marbled appearance. The body colour fades a little as the animal gets older: juveniles are more colourful.

The grey triggerfish is principally a fish of shallow waters in the western Atlantic Ocean. Its native range extends from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and Bermuda, and southwards to Argentina. It is typically found over hard bottoms on reefs and rocky areas, in lagoons and in bays, at depths down to about 55 m (180 ft). It is also found on the other side of the Atlantic, around the British Isles, in the Mediterranean Sea and off the coast of Angola. It may have crossed the Atlantic as a result of the movement of water in the Gulf Stream. It does not breed in the waters around Britain but does do so in the Mediterranean.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Underwater photo Larnaca July 2014  by Costas Constantinou

Spondylus gaederopus Linnaeus, 1758 - Γαϊδουροπόδαρο - Σπόνδυλος - Cyprus

Spondylus gaederopus is a species of marine bivalve mollusc, a thorny oyster in the family Spondylidae. This species is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. S. gaederopus has low fecundity as they lay up to 404 858 ± 248 014 female eggs per season starting at the age of 3. Additionally, they live to be up to 18 years old.

 Family Spondylidae

Description

Spondylus gaederopus attaches itself to the substrate with its lower valve, which is usually white, while the upper valve is usually purple. Specimens that are all white, or all purple do, however, exist.

Uses

The mollusc is edible, and is consumed in Sardinia.

Spondylus is a genus of bivalve molluscs, the only genus in the family Spondylidae. As well as being the systematic or scientific name,Spondylus is also the most often used common name for these animals, though they are also known as thorny oysters, spiny oysters, and as spondylids. The meat of these bivalves is edible.

The many species of Spondylus vary considerably in appearance and range. They are grouped in the same superfamily as the scallops. They are not closely related to true oysters (family Ostreidae), however they do cement themselves to rocks, rather than attach themselves by a byssus. Their key characteristic is the two parts of their shells are hinged together with a ball-and-socket type of hinge, rather than a toothed hinge as is more common in other bivalves. They also still retain vestigial anterior and posterior auricles ("ears", triangular shell flaps) along the hinge line.

Liks scallops, Spondylus spp. have multiple eyes around the edges of their shells, and have relatively well-developed nervous systems. Their nervous ganglia are concentrated in the visceral region, with recognisable optic lobes connected to the eyes.

Spondylus shells are much sought after by collectors, and a lively commercial market exists in them.

The genus Spondylus originated in the Mesozoic era and can be found in fossil forms in Cretaceous rocks in the Fort Worth Formation of Texas and in the Trent River Formation of Vancouver, as well as other parts of North America.

Archaeological evidence shows people in Neolithic Europe were trading the shells of S. gaederopus to make bangles and other ornaments through much of the neolithic. The main use period appears to have been from around 5350 BC to 4200BC^] The shells were harvested from the Aegean Sea, but were transported far into the centre of the continent. In the LBK and Lengyel cultures, Spondylus shells from the Aegean Sea were worked into bracelets and belt buckles. Over time styles changed with the middle neolithic favouring generally larger barrel-shaped beads and the late neolithic smaller flatter and disk shaped beads  Significant finds of jewellery made from Spondylus shells were made at the Varna Necropolis. During the late Neolithic the use of Spondylus in grave goods appears to have been limited to woman and children.

S. princeps is found off the coast of Ecuador, and has been important to Andean peoples since pre-Columbian times, serving as offerings to the Pachamama, as well as some kind of currency. In fact, much like in Europe, the Spondylus shells also reached far and wide, as pre-Hispanic Ecuadorian peoples traded them with peoples as far north as present-day Mexico and as far south as the central Andes. The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped animals and the sea, and often depicted Spondylus shells in their art. 

.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Underwater photo Ayia Napa 3mts deep,07.06.2015  by Costas Constantinou