Côte d’Azur Marine Life – Fish

This post is dedicated to different types of fish in the Côte d’Azur. This is an overview of what types of fish you will see diving in our part of the Mediterranean. I will be updating it regularly with more and more fish.

You can see many of my critter photos geo-located on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/azur-diving/map?&fLat=43.6915&fLon=7.2985&zl=3

See Marine Animals here:

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Aguillette, Gar Fish

The aguillette (or needlefish) has been known to be attracted to flashy objects, sometime propelling themselves towards the object while airborne. In other countries, these fish are a huge danger to fishermen while fishing at night. They will occasionally hurl themselves out of the water towards the light source, and stick their shark points into whatever they hit, including people. Their sharp beaks can pierce arteries, organs, and flesh. I even read one report (the only known report) of a young man in the Mediterranean who was pierced through his nose and out the side of his cheek. A little bit of surgery later, and he was good as new. Don’t worry, these guys are very rare, and their attacks are very spotty. The chance of being inured by one is extremely microscopic.

Doris Link (French): link

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Apogon, Cardinal Fish

Apogon are quite common, even though they are easy to miss. Despite their bright coloration, they can be tricky to find. This is because they only hang out under things or in heavily shadowed areas. You often find two or three of them huddled under an overhang, or a single apogon under a small rock formation. You will usually start seeing them 5 meters and deeper.

Doris Link (French): link

Fishbase Link: (English): link

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Baliste, Common Triggerfish

The Common Triggerfish is a pretty rare sight indeed. I saw this one in Corsica, and have never seen one near the coast. They typically feed on mollusks and crustaceans in rocky areas, and are very timid.

Doris Link (French): link

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Bar commun, Loup, or Bass (Great Britian)

I personally haven’t seen too many of these, probably because they tend to hang out in water 30 or more meters deep. However, I have seen them occasionally in very shallow waters. They are not terribly afraid of humans. As long as you are not moving too much, they will approach divers. They have a distinctive (but very slight) hump on the top of their heads which makes them easy to distinguish oby their profile.

Doris Link (French): link

Fishbase Link: (English): link

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Barracuda, bécune à gueule jaune, Yellowmouth Barracuda

They usually hang out in groups suspended in water 20-25 meters or so. A group of barracuda is called a “battery” for your next game of Trivial Pursuit! You can see youngsters hanging out in shallower waters from spring through late summer. Once they hit about 30 cm, they tend to move out to deeper waters. They are very impressive as adults, and it can be quite intimidating swimming through a group of full grown ‘cuda. Not to worry though, they are quite harmless to humans. There are stories of bites, but it is generally agreed that these are either out of confusion, or bites from smaller sharks (no sharks in Nice). Anyways, don’t be afraid of the ‘cudas unless you are handling live ones!

Doris Link (French): link

Wikipedia Link: (English): link

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Blennie

I lumped all the blennies together, when in reality there are many different species and varieties, including several I have yet to see. Long story short, blennies come in all shapes and sizes, can be found at just about any depth from just near the surface to the depths where most people can dive, and can be found in just about any underwater ecosystem and substrate. They tend to be small, so look carefully, and you will be almost guaranteed to catch sight of a blennie or two.

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Castagnole, Damselfish

They hang out at a lot of different depths, and whether diving or snorkeling, you are probably going to see them. They can be found in small groups, or in large ones. The tiny juveniles are a very distinct, almost neon blue color. As adults they are not typically too afraid of humans, and will follow a snorkeler on occasion. Very friendly, these are one of my personal favorites.

Doris Link (French): link

Fishbase Link: (English): link

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Chapon

Chapon are very similar to the rascasse, although quite a bit larger. They are usually found below 15 meters on rocky faces. If you see one, be sure not to touch it. Their spines are quite venomous.

Doris Link (French): link

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Crénilabre à cinq taches, Five-spotted wrasse

You’ll typically find these guys between 0 and 36 meters. They are usually grazing on small crustaceans, and other invertebrates on the sea floor. Pretty timid, they like to hide when a diver or snorkeler approaches.

Doris Link (French): link

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Crénilabre Paon, Peacock Wrasse

Adults are found near rocks mainly in eel-grass beds, sometimes in salty lagoons. Often gregarious. Nest of seaweed built and kept by male with one or more females spawning. Feed on sea urchins, ophiuroids, bivalves, shrimps and crabs. I rarely see them, however, sometimes you can coax them out if you knock stones together on the bottom and release plenty of food into the water. They will come out to feed on the morsels released. This is how I got this photo.

Doris Link (French): link

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Dolphins

They are around, but you won’t be likely to see many here in Nice. They pass occasionally, but you will be far more likely to see them out to sea, or near Corsica. I have seen them from teh boat just about every trip to Corsica, and I have also seen them while diving out near Bastia. I hope, one day, to be able to get close, but no luck so far.

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Dorade Royale, Gilthead Seabream

Dorade Royale are quite common, but they really tend to be quite shy with people. You will probably be near one if snorkeling or diving, but you probably won’t know it. They tend to hang out at the very edge of visibility. They usually hightail it out of the area right away when snorkelers or divers arrive, making seeing or photographing them quite difficult. They are easily recognizable by the band or “crown” on the front of their head that connects the eyes. Large adults tent to fill out and have more pronounced, more blunt-looking foreheads.

Doris Link (French): link

Fishbase Link: (English): link

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Dragonnet, Common Dragonet

Occurs on sand and muddy bottoms from very shallow to 200 m and to 400 m or more. Feeds on small invertebrates, mainly worms and crustaceans. Territorial, males aggressive with each other. Complex courtship behavior consists of 4 phases: courtship, pairing, ascending, releasing eggs and milt.

Doris Link (French): link

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Girelle, Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse

You will see these guys everywhere. They are usually near the sea floor, hanging out in singles or small groups. Females can be differentiated by the strip of yellow-pink on their bellies.

Doris Link (French): link

Fishbase Link: (English): link

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Girelle-Paon, Ornate Wrasse

These are pretty common at shallower depths (snorkelers have a high chance of encountering them). They can typically be found either roaming solo, or in small groups. They feed on small mollusks and crustaceans, and tend to inhabit surf and tide areas. The males and females feature different coloration and can be easily differentiated.

Doris Link (French): link

Fishbase Link: (English): link

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Mérou brun, Dusky Grouper

You probably won’t see any unless you are diving beneath 15 meters or so (juveniles can be seen at shallower depths from time to time). If you do get to see them, you are in for a treat, these are beautiful fish. You’ll likely see them from relatively far away, but sometimes you can get really close. In fact, some individuals of this species can even get downright friendly with divers, approaching them and letting you touch them. Don’t believe me? Check out the video for the Merou Calin à Port-Cros:

Original Post here, special thanks to Alexandre Boscari for the footage.

Doris Link (French): link

Wikipedia Link: (English): link

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Mulet, Flathead Mullet

 

They can be seen usually between 0 and 10 meters. You see them feeding over sandy bottoms either singly, or more often, in groups. They are generally pretty shy, but you can get pretty close every so often.

Fishbase Link: (English): link

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Oblade, Saddled SeaBream

Normally, you find Oblades between 5 and 20 meters, but they can be found shallower or deeper. Single or in groups, they tend to not be too shy of humans. They eat mostly zooplankton with adults eating smaller sea animals.

Doris Link (French): link

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Poisson Lune, Mola Mola

Doris Link (French): link

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Rascasse – Scorpionfish

One of my personal favorites, Rascasse, or Scorpionfish are difficult to see due to their amazing camouflaging. Divers beware, their dorsal spines are quite venomous, so never touch them! They can put you in the hospital with fever should their fins pierce the skin. Fortunately, they are not aggressive, and will never sting unless you step or put your hand directly on top of them.

Doris Link (French): link

Fishbase Link (English): link

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Serran-chèvre or Comber taken at Villefranche

Somewhat common at just about any depth up to 90 meters, this little fish is extremely curious. Whether snorkeling or diving, you’ll often find one regarding you quite intently. They love to stare, and will suspend looking directly at you. They are kind of fun, and often will let you get quite close.

Doris Link (French): link

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Serran écriture, Painted Comber

A shy fish, you can see them usually within 20 meters of the surface. Relatively common, you likely will encounter individuals as they are a solitary fish . Their distinctive feature are the 5-7 black bands which were thought to resemble Arabic calligraphy. They also feature (most times) a blue to reddish-blue dot on their underside. Not too common 15 years ago, they have evidently become much more common over the years.

Doris Link (French): link

Fishbase Link (English): link

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Sole

Adults occur at a temperature range of 8.0-24.0°C. Usually solitary. They burrow into sandy and muddy bottoms. Retreat to deeper water during winter. Feed on worms, mollusks and small crustaceans at night. They are very difficult to see, since they blend in with the bottom so well. You have to look very carefully, they are usually birued or partially buried in sandy areas.

Doris Link (French): link

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Triptérygion blackfaced blenny

 

 

 

Males and females have different coloration. It’s the males that have the distinct red or yellow coloration during mating season. You’ll see a lot in the springtime, and stragglers year round. If you do find them, they will typically be found between 0 and 10 meters of the surface.

Doris Link (French): link

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Vive, Greater Weever