LERINS BIODIVERSITÉ FAUNA & FLORA SKEMA BACHELOR LERINS BIODIVERSITE Christophe Mocquet, PhD SKEMA Bachelor - C. Mocquet 2016
FAUNA & FLORA 1. Fish 22016 Mediterranean Fauna & Flora
Fish Wrasses Breams FR Labres FR Sparidés LAT Labridae LAT Sparidae Combers FR Serrans LAT Serranidae Others Rocky bottoms 3
Fish Basic fish anatomy Operculum Eye Snout Dorsal fins Lateral line Caudal fin Mouth Peduncle Pectoral fin Anal fin Pelvic fin Rocky bottoms 4
Fish > Breams This species is widespread in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Black Sea and in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, at depths of 0 to 160 m, more commonly between 0 and 30 m. It inhabits mostly rocky bottoms and seagrass beds. On sandy bottoms, it can be often found following species that dig the sand and trying to steal their food. SAR À TÊTE NOIRE COMMON TWO-BANDED SEABREAM Diplodus vulgaris 5
Fish > Breams Native to the eastern Atlantic and western Indian Oceans. It is found from the Bay of Biscay southwards to South Africa, including Madeira and the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean and (rarely the Black Sea. Active fish, they inhabit the surf zone, but they may be found down to 50 m. They consume small crustaceans, mollusks and some seaweed and coral, using their strong jaws to crush shells. Individuals can reach 45 cm, but average 22 cm. SAR COMMUN / SARGUE WHITE SEABREAM / SARGO Diplodus sargus 6
Fish > Breams It resembles the white seabream or "Sargo"/"Sarago" and can reach a length of 60 centimeters and a weight of 1.5 to 2 kilos. It is a benthopelagic species, on stony floors and in depths from 0 to 150 m. It is a fairly gregarious species since it forms fairly large shoals; however, it is often met alone or in smaller groups. It feeds on seaweed, worms, smaller molluscs, and shrimp. Its flesh is white and very tasty. SAR A MUSEAU POINTU SHARPSNOUT SEABREAM Diplodus puntazzo 7
Fish > Breams Found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern coastal regions of the North Atlantic Ocean. It commonly reaches about 35 centimetres (1.15 ft in length, but may reach 70 centimetres (2.3 ft and weigh up to about 17 kilograms (37 lb. The gilt-head bream is generally considered the best-tasting of the breams. It is typically found at depths of 0 30 metres (0 98 ft, but may occur up to 150 metres (490 ft. It mainly feeds on shellfish, but also some plant material. DAURADE / DORADE GILTHEAD SEABREAM Sparus aurata 8
Fish > Breams It is found over seagrass and rocky bottoms in the Mediterranean Sea, Bay of Biscay, Madeira, Cape Verde, Canary Islands and Strait of Gibraltar to Angola. It can be found between 0 and 30m, but more commonly between 5 and 20m. Often can be found near surface, not far away from the shore. OBLADE SADDLED SEABREAM Oblada melanura 9
Fish > Breams Native to the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean. Individuals can reach 24 cm. SPARAILLON ANNULAR SEABREAM Diplodus annularis 10
Fish > Breams Native to the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Individuals can reach 36 cm, but average 20 cm. A demersal and semi-pelagic feeder, it can generally be found down to 100 m, and infrequently down to 350 m. It consumes seaweed, crustaceans, and some plankton, in schools that rise to the surface at night. It is commercially fished, with 37,830t taken in 2008. BOGUE BOGUE Boops boops 11
Black caudal fin Black between eyes and snout Yellow longitudinal lines S. cantharus Pointed snout D. puntazzo Grey transversal stripes Blotch on peduncle Mark on pectoral base Black border of caudal Yellowish hue No stripes + plain caudal fin Black blotch on tail peduncle D. annularis D. vulgaris Two thick black bands, one in line with pectoral and one on the tail peduncle No stripes Dark grey face Grey transversal stripes Blotch on peduncle Black border of caudal D. sargus O.melanura Oval body shape Dark blotch on tail peduncle Bright white bands on both sides of blotch Breams Disambiguation
Fish > Breams Adults = 35 cm average. Body is oval and compressed laterally, silvery with 10 to 12 bright yellow longitudinal stripes. The golden eye is big and close to the mouth. They live in schools near the shoreline where they are fond of seagrass (Posidonia) and rocky bottoms. Their activity is mainly diurnal are mostly vegeterian. Fish almost not commercialized Its consumption may lead to hallucinations SAUPE SALEMA PORGY Sarpa salpa 13
Fish > Wrasses It can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the northeast Atlantic Ocean from Sweden to Senegal Sequential hermaphrodite: Initial-phase individuals (considered female) can turn into the larger secondary-phase males. At a length of about 18 cm (7.1 in) all individuals are males. There is a marked difference in the appearance of the two phases. Female It is typically found near the shore in places with seagrass or rocks. It is usually found at depths of 0 60 m (0 197 ft), but occurs as deep as 120 m (390 ft) GIRELLE COMMON WRASSE Coris julis 14 Male
Fish > Wrasses Native to the warm eastern Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Gabon and the oceanic islands and into the Mediterranean Sea. Prefers warm waters. This species inhabits areas of rocks and seagrass in coastal waters at depths from 1 to 150 m (3.3 to 492.1 ft), though rarely below 50 m (160 ft). Male 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 GIRELLE PAON Female ORNATE WRASSE Thalassoma pavo 15
Fish > Wrasses Native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Spain to Morocco and through the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This species inhabits rocky areas usually within beds of eelgrass at depths from 1 to 30 m (3.3 to 98.4 ft). It can reach 17 cm (6.7 in) in standard length, though usually not more than 12 cm (4.7 in). This species is sought by local peoples as a food fish and can also be found in the aquarium trade. CRENILABRE A CINQ TACHES FIVE SPOTTED WRASSE Symphodus roissali 16
Fish > Wrasses Native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Spain to Morocco and in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This species lives around rocks surrounded by eelgrass and can also be found in brackish waters in lagoons. It occurs at depths from 1 to 50 m (3.3 to 164.0 ft). This species can reach 44 cm (17 in) in standard length, though most grow no larger than 25 cm (9.8 in). This species is sought as a game fish and is also important to local peoples as a food fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Male Female CRENILABRE PAON PEACOCK WRASSE Symphodus tinca 17
Fish > Wrasses Small cleaner fish to be found often associated with other larger fish they scan in detail in order to feed their parasites. It is easily recognizable by its black tail edged with fine light stripes. His body is usually beige or gray livery, but it can also be blue for breeding males. It is quite common to meet in rocky areas or near seagrass. LABRE NETTOYEUR / A QUEUE NOIRE BLACKFIN WRASSE Symphodus melanocerus 18
Thalassoma pavo Patterns are vertical Caudal is crescent shaped Face is marbled bright blue Coris julis Patterns are horizontal Caudal is truncate Darker mark around pectoral fin Main wrasses Disambiguation
Fish > Combers It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. The painted comber is orange to red in color with bluish to brown vertical stripes. It grows to a length of 28 centimetres (11 in Serranus scriba spends much of its time in rocky caves. It is usually solitary or in small groups. It comes out of hiding around dusk to feed on various crustaceans, fishes, and worms. These fish are hermaphrodites and can fertilize themselves. Spawning is seasonal and controlled by the moon's phase. SERRAN ECRITURE PAINTED COMBER Serranus scriba 20
Fish > Combers It lives in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Atlantic coast from the British Isles to the Cape of Good Hope. 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. SERRAN CHEVRE COMBER FISH Serranus cabrilla 21
Serranus cabrilla Orange horizontal bands Brown vertical stripes Dark border to caudal Generally smaller than S. scriba Serranus scriba Thick brown vertical stripes Larger with a thicker body Pointed head Yellow fins Main combers Disambiguation
Fish > Others It occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic, from Portugal to Angola. Inhabits littoral, mainly in rocky areas from 2 to 40 metres (6.6 to 131.2 ft in depth, in open water. It can grow up to a size of 25 centimetres (9.8 in in length, with a common length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in.[citation needed] Adult The body is oval, deep, laterally flattened. Very young specimens are brilliant iridescent blue in color, young specimens have blue stripes and dorsal and anal fins outlined with blue stripe, while adults are dark brown-blueish. Juvenile CASTAGNOLE DAMSEL FISH Chromis chromis 23
Fish > Others It is a small pelagic fish species which occurs near the surface in the littoral It is found in the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean, including the inshore lagoons. Body is rather long, slender, moderately flattened. Eyes are large. Head and body are scaly. There are two separate dorsal fins, with all rays of first and 1-2 anterior rays of second dorsal fin being unsegmented. ATHERINE / JOEL ATHERINA Atherina boyeri 24
Atherina Narrower body profile Lateral line brighter someomes appears electric blue in the water Boops boops Larger, more oval body profile Golden lateral lines Small blotch on pectoral fin base Bogues & Atherinas Disambiguation
Fish > Others Coastal fish of the family Mugilidae, typically about 32 cm long. Females are larger than males. Mature at age 2, lifespan up to 12 years. Feeds mainly on benthic diatoms, epiphytic algae, small invertebrates and detritus May migrate Northward when temperatures increase too much in summer. Reproduction occurs during winter. The thicklip grey mullet is valued both as a food fish and as a tenacious game fish MULET GRIS THICKLIP GREY MULLET Chelon labrosus 26
Fish > Others It is widely distributed in the Mediterranean and along the eastern Atlantic coast from Portugal to Gulf of Guinea. These fishes can grow up to 15 cm long and prefer coral reefs from 10 m to 200 m in depth. They can be found closer to the surface when partly hidden in caves. APOGON CARDINAL FISH Apogon imberbis 27
Fish > Others It has a long eel-like body and is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Its bite can be dangerous to humans. It prefers rocky bottoms and lives in depths of from 16.5 to 264 feet (5 to 80 meters). It is a solitary and territorial species. Spends most of the day in cavities and clefts between rocks and is more active at night. It hunts fishes, crayfishes and cephalopods, but also feeds on dead animals. MURENE COMMUNE MEDITERRANEAN MOREY Mureanae helena 28
Fish > Others Mullus surmuletus Mullus barbatus ROUGETS MULLUS Mullus sp. 29
Fish > Others Scorpaena maderensis Scorpaeana notata Scorpaeana porcus Mullus barbatus Scorpaeana scrofa RASCASSES SCORPION FISH Scorpaena sp. 30
Fish > Others Uranoscopus scaber Trachinus draco Trachinus radiatus URANOSCOPES URANOSCOPES Uranoscopus sp. & Trachinus sp. 31
Fish > Others Blennie gattorugine Parablennius gattorugine Trypterigion delaisi Parablennius incognitus BLENNIES BLENNIES 32
Fish > Others Gobius Bucchichi Gobius cruentatus Gobius geniporus GOBIES GOBIES 33
One dorsal fin Blennies Gobies 2 separate dorsal fins 6cm+ generally Gobies & blennies Disambiguation
2016 FAUNA & FLORA 2. Invertebrates Mediterranean Fauna & Flora 35
Invertebrates > Polychaetes Larger Mediterranean tube-worm, up to 35 cm. The body is in a soft tube made of mucus and sand. Many colored filaments spread out in sprawling crown with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm from the mouth of the animal. Develops from the surface to 40m deep, attached to hard substrates. Very sensitive to vibrations, it retracts entirely into the tube at the slightest alarm. Its filaments are involved in food intake and in breathing. It feeds on microscopic organisms suspended in the water. SPIROGRAPHE SPIRAL TUBE WORM Spirographis spallanzanii 36
Invertebrates > Mollusks Bivalve shell between 30 to 50cm long. It attaches itself to rocks using a strong byssus composed of many silk-like threads. he inside of the shell is lined with brilliant motherof-pearl Endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, where it lives offshore at depths ranging between 0.5 and 60 m. It could be found buried beneath softsediment areas Relatively fragile to pollution and shell damage, it is an indicator of good health of ecosystems GRANDE NACRE NOBLE PEN SHELL / FAN MUSSEL Pinna nobilis 37
Invertebrates > Mollusks Class cephalopoda. Grows to 25 cm in mantle length with arms up to 1 m long. They prefer the floor of relatively shallow, rocky, coastal waters, often no deeper than 200 meters. The common octopus hunts at dusk. Crabs, crayfish, and bivalve mollusks (two-shelled molluscs such as cockles) are preferred. Able to change colour to blend in with its surroundings More than 20,000 tonnes are harvested annually POULPE (pieuvre) OCTOPUS Octopus vulgaris 38
Invertebrates > Cnidarians ANEMONE VERTE SNAKELOCKS ANEMONE Anemonia viridis TOMATE DE MER BEADLET ANEMONE Actinia equine 39
Invertebrates > Cnidarians PELAGIA PELAGIA Pelagia noctiluca MEDUSE ŒUF AU PLAT FRIED EGG JELYFISH Cotylorrhiza tuberculata 40
Invertebrates > Echinoderms OURSIN NOIR (male) BLACK SEA URCHIN Arbacia lixula OURSIN PIERRE (comestible) BROWN SEA URCHIN Paracentrotus lividus 41
Invertebrates > Echinoderms Grows to a length of between 20 to 45 cm, diameter up to 6cm. Roughly cylindrical with a flattened base with tube feet. It has a tough, leathery skin. Shade of brown/grey surface covered with darkcolored thorn-like projections. It secretes a protective film of mucus to which bits of seaweed and sediment may adhere. Found on sandy seabeds, among seagrass (Posidonia spp.) and on muddy rocks to a depth of about 100 metres HOLOTHURIE (concombre de mer) SEA CUCUMBER Holothuria tubulosa 42
Invertebrates > Echinoderms ETOILES DE MER LISSE SMOOTH STARFISH Hacelia attenuata ETOILES DE MER ROUGE RED STARFISH Echinaster sepositus 43
2016 FAUNA & FLORA 3. Flora Mediterranean Fauna & Flora 44
Flora Algae FR Algues = Seaweed Seagrass FR Phanérogames = plantes à fleurs Rocky bottoms 45
Flora > Seagrass A buried stem or rhizome holds the roots downwards, with long (up to 3m) and thin ribbon-like leaves that are dark green and yellow in color. The tips of leaves is square or slightly rounded. Flowers form conspicuous clusters at the tip of the short stem. Only present in clean waters. Most often grow on sandy or silty shores. Posidonia is endemic to the Mediterranean sea.. Meadows form a hard substrate very important because of the oxygen and organic matter they produce, but also the homes they provide to numerous marine organisms. POSIDONIE POSIDONIA Posidonia oceanica 46
Flora > Seagrass CYMODOCEE CYMODOCEA Cymodocea nodosa ZOSTERE ZOSTERA Zostera marina 47
Flora > Algae Green algae FR Algues vertes LAT Chlorophyceae Brown algae FR Algues brunes LAT Phaeophyceae Red algae FR Algues rouges LAT Rhodophyceae Other 48
Flora > Algae > Green Native to the Indian Ocean, it is widely used ornamentally in aquariums. Appearance of a vascular plant with "leaves" like a fern. Firstly observed in Med. Sea in 1984 off the Monaco Oceanographic Museum. Following year, it had grown to cover 30km2 and was preventing native plants from growing. The aquarium strain reproduces asexually. Rate of growth up to 1 cm/day. If any small part is severed from the rest of the alga, it will regrow into another alga CAULERPA TAXIFOLIA CAULERPA TAXIFOLIA Caulerpa taxifolia 49
Flora > Algae > Green Size: 50-100 mm (grapes 1-3 mm) Characteristics: Forms miniature clusters of green grapes, attached to a cylindrical stipe. Habitat: An invasive species in the Mediterranean it is found in the shallow sub-littoral zones, often intertwined within mats of other algae. CAULERPA RACEMOSA CAULERPA RACEMOSA Caulerpa racemosa 50
Flora > Algae > Green Size: 2-10 cm Characteristics: Slender stipe with leafy foliose, smooth fronds with yellowish edges. Leaf-like branches. Habitat: Sandy or muddy bottoms in sheltered lagoons, often among seagrass. Found up to several meters depth. CAULERPA RACEMOSA CAULERPA RACEMOSA Caulerpa racemosa 51
Flora > Algae > Green Size: 50-200 mm Characteristics: Cactus-like appearance. Dark green coloration hidden by epiphytes and calcification. Discoid segments (1.5-2 cm and semicircular) connected by flexible joints and branching in the same plane. Appears glossy when dry. Habitat: Found year round in shaded areas, from surface up to 80 m deep. HALIMEDA (monaie de poséidon) ACETABULARIA Acetabularia acetabulum 52
Flora > Algae > Green Size: 20-140 mm Characteristics: Dark green, blackish ball like shape. Sponge-like, hairy, with a velvet texture. Internal filamentous branched network becomes looser as size increases. Habitat: It occurs in the sub- littoral zone, at about 10 m maximum, in both well-lit and sheltered areas. Often found unattached. CODIUM A BOULE CODIUM BURSA Codium bursa 53
Flora > Algae > Green Size: 5-50 mm Characteristics: Dark green, brain like appearance. Perrenial species that lives in small groups of individuals. Habitat: Grows on the rocky shore usually around the inter-tidal zone CODIUM CORAIL CORAL CODIUM Codium coralloides 54
Flora > Algae > Green Characteristics: Light to dark green thallus is a flat, translucent, and often deeply divided wth a somewhat crinkled surface. Attached by discoid holdfast. Habitat: In the entire tidal zone to the subtidal. Often found unattached. ULVE ULVA Ulva rigida 55
Flora > Algae > Brown Size: 10-50 mm Characteristics: Thallus with stipe-like base attached to a wide, fan-shaped, leaf-like lamina. Lamina folded like a coronet, margins often divided or radially torn. Concentric zonation. Olive brown to whitish grey brown. Habitat: Species occurs on rocks in the sub-littoral zone in well-lit and shaded areas up to 20 m depth. PADINE QUEUE DE PAON PADINA Padina pavonica 56
Flora > Algae > Brown Size: 10-55 m Characteristics: Thallus with bushy, yellowish-brown dichotomous branches. Ribbon-like fronds repeatedly forking at the same length in a regular manner. Frond tips are blunt and Y shaped. Habitat: Occurs in shallow water (less than 50 m depth) on firm substrata. Can also grow intertwined with other algae species. DICTYOTA DICTYOTA Dyctiota implexa 57
Flora > Algae > Brown Description: Endemic species is distinguished from other cystosiera species by Has spiny primary branches especially near the base (no spines on secondary branches) Several stipes coming from the same irregular base Habitat: Found on rocks CYSTOSEIRE CYSTOSEIRA Cystoseira brachycarpa 58
Flora > Algae > Brown Size: 50-200 mm Characteristics: Has a smooth thallus (no spines) and cylindrical ribbon-like branches with compressed basal thallus. All branches rise from a common holdfast. Branches can have dark dots and oval float bladders. Yellow-brown, dark-brown, or olivebrown. Habitat: Most abundant in the upper infra littoral (1-3 m) in well lit sheltered areas. CYSTOSEIRE CYSTOSEIRA Cystoseira compressa 59
Flora > Algae > Brown ASPARAGOPSIS COLPOMENIA 60
Flora > Algae > Red Size: 10-40 mm Characteristics: Thallus made up of harpoon shaped tufts, that are cloud like and very soft. Harpoons have barbed hooks (very characteristic of this species). Reddishpink to light gray. Habitat: below the intertidal zone or in deeper pools. Found anchored onto other algae with hooks or often found free floating ASPARAGOPSIS ASPARAGOPSIS Asparagopsis armata 61
Flora > Algae > Red Size: 20-50 mm Characteristics: Paler in brightly lit sites. Pinnate branches and strongly calficified. Thallus is segmented and brittle. Habitat: It occurs in the upper mid littoral, may form dense carpets in surface waters. Frequent in polluted harbors. Forms a fringe around rock pools in well-lit areas. CORALLINE ALLONGEE CORALLINA Corallina elongata 62
Flora > Algae > Red Size: 20-80 mm Characteristics: Grows in brittle tufts made up of repeatedly forking branches (dichatomous) that are cylindrical or barrel shaped. Anchored by a discoid holdfast. Pink to brown- purple. Habitat: found attached to other macro algae or firm substrata. It occurs in welllit and sheltered areas in up to 30 m depth. JANIA JANIA Jania rubens 63
Flora > Algae > Red Size: 50-100 mm Characteristics: covered by labryinth-like calcareous crest Thick calcareous crust or dichotomous thin branches. Pale pink or white. Habitat: Typically a mid-littor species that may be submersed or emerged. Occurs on shaded vertical reefs at the upper level of the mid-littoral zone, particularly abundant in exposed environments, or occurs in inclined, well-lit areas LITHOPHYLLUM TROTTOIR LITHOPHYLLUM BYSSOIDES Lithophyllum byssoides 64
Flora > Algae > Red Size: 5-40 mm Characteristics: Purplish pink encrusting algae, forming flattened crusts that are not entirely attached to the substratum. Turns gray when dead. Habitat: Rocky and wavy areas near surface. LITHOPHYLLUM FRONDE LITHOPHYLLUM FRONDOSUM Lithophyllum frondosum 65