Mediterranean Shores

The swallowtail seaperch is found between 30 and 200 meters deep. It lives near cavities where it seeks refuge in case of danger. The male has large pectoral fins and is surrounded by a harem of about a dozen females. If he dies, the dominant female transforms into a male (protogynous hermaphroditism).

Fertilization is internal. The male uses his anal fin to fertilize the female. The female lays a batch of eggs that the male will keep in his mouth until the young hatch. During this period, he does not feed and can die from starvation if he has not accumulated enough reserves.

The grey triggerfish, is a fish found from the Black Sea to the Caribbean Sea. The males, larger than the females, defend their nest aggressively and provide care to their offspring.

The Mediterranean damselfish is a saltwater fish widely found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. In spring, males defend a spawning area and fan the eggs until they hatch. Juveniles are bright blue and live in small groups.

Large males can be recognized by their green backs, their white bellies and their broad orange line on the flanks. The coloration, associated with a characteristic swimming, is used to impress other males and attract the attention of females, but also predators.

Dicentrarchus labrax also known as European seabass is an emblematic fish of European coasts. The species has been known and appreciated for its meat since the Antiquity. Unfortunately, it is threatened by overfishing. Today, most of the seabass consumed in Europe are raised in aquaculture farms.

It differs from other bream species by its smaller size and golden reflections. It is a hermaphrodite species protandrous: males become females during their lives. Its meat is less appreciated than other sparidae (sea bream, bream ...).

They often live in small groups. It teeth allows it to crush the shells and shells of its prey (sea urchins, crustaceans, bivalves ...). It is prized for its meat, with a very fine taste.

It is sometimes called the "Saint Anthony" because of the black strip on the back of it head that resembles the hood of a monk. It is often found in groups with other species of bream. It is highly sought after by fishermen.

The dusky grouper is a major predator of shallow rocky areas, hunting stealthily for octopuses, invertebrates, and fish. Despite its global distribution, it is threatened by overfishing. This species has been protected on the French Mediterranean coast since 1993. The combined effects of regulations, climate change, and marine protected areas contribute to the successful restoration of grouper populations, which are increasing once again.

It differs from the green wrasse (Labrus viridis) with a blue border on the fins. During breeding, the females visit male territories and mate with the most attractive. Around the age of 4 years, they change sex (protogynous hermaphroditism), but not color.

When young, it easily hides among the Posidonia (underwater flowering plants): it is green with a large white line. The female’s body is covered with small white spots. Around the age of 5 years, it can change sex (hermaphroditism protogynous) and color.

This nocturnal animal also feeds on animal carcasses. Its bite is not venomous, but very painful. Its body, devoid of roughness (scales, pectoral fins...), allows it to easily back into a hole.

Unlike many other sea Sparidae (sea bream, bream ...), it lives near the surface. It is sometimes found in ports where it feeds on waste. In some countries, it is highly prized by fishermen although its flesh is rather soft.

During the day, it lives in schools and often "grazes" Posidonia leaves (underwater flowering plant). It also eats small animals that live hanging on the leaves. Juveniles live in very shallow waters. It flesh, soft and bland, is not appreciated.

It often lives below 30 meters depth. In the spring, it goes close to the surface to spawn in the sea grass. Its spines are venomous. The sting is very painful, but rarely fatal. It is one of the essential ingredients of bouillabaisse.

It breeds easily in captivity. During mating, which can last between 30 and 45 minutes, the male forms a loop around the body of the female. Its flesh is edible, but it liver is toxic. Its reproductive behavior has been studied at the University of Liège.

It is very aggressive towards fishes from its species, except during the breeding season: In the spring, at nightfall, a pair forms and performs a complex courtship. It is a synchronous hermaphrodite: male and female at the same time. Very curious, it often approach divers.

The Mediterranean parrotfish is a rare representative of the Scaridae in temperate zones. It is native to the warm waters of the south and east Mediterranean. It feeds mainly on algae and inhabits rocky areas up to a depth of 30 meters.

During breeding, the bream groups enter lagoons and estuaries to mate. Sought after since the Antiquity for the quality of its meat: the Romans fattened bream in tanks. Its intensive pisciculture has developed since the 80s.

It differs from other species of wrasses because of the elongated shape of it head. Those who live in the Posidonia meadows (underwater flowering plants) are entirely green. The male builds a nest of seaweed and gravel where it distributes the eggs until they hatch.

During breeding season, its color becomes brighter and it builds a large nest with plant debris. It attracts the attention of females by performing a characteristic swimming. It will mate with several of them and it will protect and ventilate the eggs until they hatch.

Its shape and color helps it hide perfectly among the underwater plants. There are similarities in the way it reproduces compared to seahorses. The male has no pocket, but it carries egg rows glued to a ventral furrow.

It is one of the most colorful Mediterranean fish. The female has a black spot on the dorsal fin. The stain will disappear and its color becomes more vivid when it will change sex (hermaphroditism protogynous). It is more abundant in the northern Mediterranean.