Red Sea fish: description and features. Flora and fauna of the Red Sea

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

The flora and fauna of the Red Sea is unique. This is because no river flows into it. That is why this part of the world's water basin is characterized by the purest water. Read about the fish that live in the Red Sea in this article.

Instances eaten

Many people wonder: "Where is the Red Sea?" It is located near the state of Egypt, popular with tourists from all over the world. Travelers tend to get to know the flora and fauna of the local sea and, of course, they want to taste Egyptian delicacies. They, as usual, are prepared from edible fish from the Red Sea. For example:

Fugu is a popular dish that came to the Gulf countries from Japan. It is made from a fish called "ballon". It swells and becomes like a ball in moments of danger. It does not attack humans, but its needles are very poisonous. Therefore, the preparation of fugu is trusted only by highly qualified chefs. You need to master the special recipes perfectly in order to neutralize the dangerous poison.
Karanx reaches a length of 40-150 cm. Its meat has good taste, which is why fish is often fried, baked and stewed.

Mackerel is a valuable commercial fish, the meat of which contains a large amount of vitamin B_{12 and he althy fats for humans. In addition, it has no bones and is delicate.}
Marlin is a representative of the ichthyofauna, whose body can reach 4 m in length. Its dorsal fin is stiff and its muzzle is spear-shaped. Marlin is an object of sport fishing. Often caught individuals are released back into the sea. Their meat is considered a delicacy and is served only in the best restaurants.

Parrotfish

Probably, this representative of the ichthyofauna is one of the most common in the waters of the Red Sea. The appearance of the parrot fish is fully consistent with its name. The color is very bright: blue-green, orange-red or yellow. On the forehead is a growth resembling a bird's beak. These Red Sea fish are large and can reach a length of 50 cm. However, they are not poisonous. Nevertheless, the bites made by their powerful jaws are of great danger to humans. The fact is that they are quite painful. A feature of the parrot fish is its means of self-defense: a jelly-like cocoon that appears at night. So the representative of the ichthyofauna prevents the attack of predators and parasites. Even the hypersensitive moray eel can't find a parrotfish by smell.

It's all about looks

Its name is Napoleon fishreceived due to a large growth on the head, similar to the cocked hat of the notorious French emperor. Another name is common among the people - "gubach", which the fish received because of its peculiar appearance. It seems that individuals of this species have huge plump lips. The fish can reach a length of 2 meters. However, external severity does not reflect the good-natured disposition of representatives of this species. The Napoleon fish is very sociable. Often, individuals swim up to divers and try to get to know each other better. But they never attack people.

Double band amphiprion

Red Sea fish are unique. Most of the species living here have an unusual coloration. For example, the amphiprion got its name from the fact that its body is painted with bright orange-white stripes with a black outline. Sometimes there may be another name for this species - "clown fish". Very often, representatives of this species become the object of photography. They are absolutely not afraid of divers and underwater photographers. For protection from predators, these fish settle near sea anemones. These marine inhabitants are completely safe for representatives of this species, but other inhabitants of the water expanses eschew such places. The fact is that there is poison in the tentacles of anemones. But a special mucus protects the body of amphiprions.

Butterflyfish

This species is easily recognizable by its high oval stigma. It is heavily flattened. Also, individuals belonging to this species have an unusually long dorsal fin. The body of the fish is usually yellow-orange, on a bright background there are white elongated spots in a thin black border. These representatives of the ichthyofauna live at shallow depths. They lead a daily life. Because of this, they have long been studied by divers and scientists. Usually fish either live in pairs or gather in a few flocks. The color in different populations can vary: from blue-orange and red-yellow to black-silver.

Imperial Angel

Red Sea fish belonging to this species have an unusual color. Their body is covered with stripes, spots, specks. The predominant colors are yellow, white and blue. They can be combined in different ways, smoothly move from one to another, or even merge, turning into a completely new shade. The drawing can be directed in different directions. It can be circular, diagonal, wavy, transverse or vertical. While no two imperial angels are exactly alike, these exotic Red Sea fish are easily recognizable.

Predatory inhabitants of the deep sea

Aggressive representatives of fauna and even flora can live at great depths. Many fish and marine animals attack in self-defense. They will not attack a person if they do not feel threatened by him. However, you can provoke their aggressive behavior. For example, predatory instincts are heightened if a person has an open wound, which causes the smell of blood to come from him. In order not to get hurt while relaxing onRed Sea, you need to follow a few simple rules:

Don't touch the fish, even if they seem harmless and you really want to touch them.
Don't swim at night as visibility decreases at night and you may not even notice a predator approaching you.

Attack of fish can result in serious injury. Their attack carries a potential danger to human life.

Deceptive Appearances

Dangerous Red Sea fish can seem kind and friendly. In order not to fall for the "hook" and not be deceived by their pretty appearance, you need to know the "enemy in the face." So, one of the most dangerous for humans is the surgeon fish.

To protect themselves from attacks by stronger predators, representatives of this species release sharp spikes hidden in special recesses on the caudal fins. In their sharpness, they are not inferior to surgical scalpels. This is where the fish gets its name from. The length of individuals is about 1 meter. The body is very brightly colored. It can be blue, pink-brown and even lemon. However, you should not try to pet these sea creatures, because this may end badly.

Rockfish

Inconspicuous in appearance, this representative of the ichthyofauna blends into the seabed in shape and color, burrowing into the soft ground. Her appearance is repulsive: the entire gray body is covered with warty growths, which allows the fish to disguise itself. Because of this, it can be overlooked and accidentally stepped on. A prick on thorns,located on the dorsal fin can cause death. Therefore, you should immediately seek medical attention at the nearest hospital.

After intoxication with poison, a person experiences excruciating pain, he begins to cloud his consciousness. Vascular disorders and problems with heart rhythms are signs that a swimmer has stepped on a member of this species. It is possible to heal, but the process is very difficult and time consuming.

Lionfish

What other fish are there in the Red Sea? These include the lionfish, which has ribbon-like fins and poisonous needles. When it is hit by spikes, a person loses consciousness, he begins to experience respiratory spasms. Due to their coloring, representatives of this species resemble a fan: brown-red scales are covered with wavy stripes. For this reason, it has another name - "zebra fish".

Stingrays

Where the Red Sea is located, or rather in its waters, there are two types of rays - electric and stingray. An attack by these fish can lead to serious consequences, however, without a reason, stingrays do not show aggression. What can happen if you provoke these representatives of the ichthyofauna to attack?

Firstly, the victim will probably receive an electric shock. It is so strong in power that it can cause heart failure or paralysis.

Secondly, a venomous thorn injection is a very painful wound, the healing of which is problematic and longprocess.

However, no stingray deaths have been reported at this time.

Sea Dragon

These poisonous Red Sea fish are perhaps the most unpredictable predators. On their body are dark stripes and spots. In general, the fish is inconspicuous, its length is no more than half a meter. The body is elongated. The eyes are set high to make it easier to hunt. The sea dragon warns of an attack by spreading the fan of its dorsal fin. However, the victims do not always have time to notice this gesture. All needles located on the elongated body of the fish are very toxic. Spikes are also found on the gill covers.

Representatives of this species can hunt in shallow water, near the coast, as well as at a depth of up to 20 m. Sometimes people inadvertently stepped on a dragon lying in the sand. An interesting fact is that the fish is still poisonous for several hours after death. Therefore, it poses a great danger to fishermen. An injection of a poisonous dragon leads to the appearance of edema, paralysis. Heart failure has a high risk of death.

Barracuda

Big fish of the Red Sea can reach a length of 2 m. Barracuda in appearance resembles a pike. She has small scales and knife-like teeth. With their help, the predator firmly captures the prey. She does not show aggression towards a person, but she can confuse his limbs with fish in troubled waters. In addition, during the hunt, predatory fish of the Red Sea join the sharks, and this increases the risk of injury. It is believed that certain varieties of barracuda are edible. Moreover, their meat is very valuable. However, after tasting such a delicacy, a person can get severe poisoning with many symptoms. These include violations in the work of some organs, and this, in turn, can lead to death.

Coral reefs

The pearl of Egypt and the Red Sea are coral reefs. These are invertebrate organisms. They absorb calcium from the water and then use it to build colonies. Simply put, they create their own skeleton. The most mesmerizing coral views open at night. It is at this time of day that they begin to "hunt" and reveal their full color range.

Flora

The Red Sea is home to amazing plant life. Among them is the blue-green alga Trichodesmium. During mass reproduction, it acquires a pronounced red or brown color. The bright pigment is called phycoerythrin. During such periods, it seems as if the water itself “blooms”. It is because of this that the Red Sea got its name.