Among the bizarre rocks and intricately intertwined reefs of the Red Sea, intricately cut by crevasses and grottoes, numerous underwater animals have found a wonderful home. On the rocks and reefs, which have taken the form of giant pillars and mushrooms, communities coexist, which include a variety of animals, shellfish and fish of the Red Sea. The photos show the stunningly beautiful landscapes of his underwater world.
The coastal strip of the Red Sea, furrowed with fabulously beautiful rocky reef reliefs, stretched for at least 2000 kilometers. About 200 varieties of corals settled in its open spaces, countless sponges, jellyfish, starfish.
The richness of flora and fauna has provided the sea with the indisputable status of the world's natural aquarium. There are dolphins, lion fish, sea turtles, sharks and other animals in it. The kingdom of coral reefs is dominated by echinoderms, mammals, arthropods, coelenterates, bony and cartilaginous fish.
Lionfish
The range of this colorfulrepresentatives of the bright coral world captures not only the tropical waters of the Red Sea. Its population feels great among the reefs hidden by the Pacific waters. These colorful individuals are found in the Indian Ocean. Their habitat is the coastal strips stretching along Japan, China and Australia. Lionfish spotted in the Caribbean near Cuba, Haiti, the Cayman Islands and Florida.
Origin of the name
This fish has a couple of other names besides the established name. She is also called lionfish, zebra. The fish, rich in names, got them for a reason. Each reflects its characteristic features. The fins of the animal, assembled from movable flexible ribbons in the form of bright fans, bloom, forming a mane similar to a lion's. This feature is the reason for the name "lion fish".
The fish owes its second name to the wide gray, brown and red stripes that adorn its small body. Zebra stripes - great! Let's call the colorful predator "zebra fish". The third nickname, the most romantic, appeared due to the pectoral fins. Painfully, they are similar in shape to bird wings. So the sea beauty was called "lionfish".
Description of zebra fish
The length of the lionfish does not go beyond the range of 24-40 centimeters. The maximum weight of each of them does not exceed one and a half kilograms. Intense coloration does not allow individuals to go unnoticed even at decent depths. It is no coincidence that they were given a bright body. This is a kind of signal to other inhabitants of the sea, saying:“Beware, we are poisonous.”
The head of a fish with spikes, slightly flattened on the sides, disproportionately large in relation to the body. Near the mouth, she has tentacles in the form of small leathery growths. The oral cavity is large with an oblique incision and velvety teeth. The fins are equipped with soft prickly rays, similar to ribbons. The pectoral fins, thickened below, have no rays. Lionfish do without a swim bladder.
Poison Fins
Threat lurks in chic fins. They contain 18 sharp needles containing poisonous glands. The needles are dispersed along the back, abdomen and near the luxurious tail. The lionfish, which lives in the Red Sea and other places, uses its weapon as soon as it senses danger. If a person does not intend to get close to her, let alone touch her, the risk of getting a poisonous injection is practically absent. Rybina retreats rather than attacks.
Poison has a nerve-paralytic effect. A pricked person needs outside help, as temporary paralysis sets in, making it difficult to move in the water. In addition, he needs a doctor who can neutralize the poison. Poisoning is very difficult to tolerate even with competent medical care.
No deaths from lionfish stings have been recorded. However, this does not mean that someone will not be very lucky. With hypersensitivity, the poison can provoke a powerful allergy, leading to death.
Master of Disguise
Merge with corals for a bright fish in a matter of seconds. Happylion fish is not prone to activity. She, huddled in coral weaves, clings to the bottom with her belly, spreads luxurious fins, consisting of rays-protrusions, and freezes. In this state, it is impossible to distinguish it from corals.
She starts hunting at dusk. Lionfish is a predator. The basis of her diet is small fish, shrimps, crabs and shellfish.
Lionfish hunting methods
The Predator uses two methods of hunting. With its long fins, it tries to drive the victim into a trap (usually into a gap formed by corals) and swallow it with lightning speed. The second option for hunting is cunning. Frozen, with its fins open and its mouth open, the zebra fish is likened to colored algae adjacent to coral reefs.
All small living creatures that dared to swim past the open mouth of the insidious predator instantly turn into its prey. The glutton swallows its victims whole, not neglecting even smaller tribesmen. However, she herself gets for lunch to larger rogue hunters.
The habits of lionfish
A dexterous hunter - a fish-lion - prefers loneliness. She fiercely defends her chosen domains. Lionfish mercilessly drives out all competitors from them, including relatives. Males tend to be overly aggressive.
Predator migrates quickly. She is often found in an unusual habitat for her. Such migration causes serious concern among environmental scientists. These Red Sea fish, whose photos are unusual and colorful, belong to an invasive species.
Voracious predators, experiencing the heyday of a population explosion, are rapidly destroying the young populations of indigenous animals that inhabit coral plantations. They greatly crippled the number of parrots, swallows and other small fish. Ichthyologists believe that complete confusion befell local individuals due to a lack of understanding of where the threat comes from.
Lionfish are very prolific. The female is capable of laying up to 30,000 eggs. A few days later, the larvae hatch. At first, plankton serves as food for them. One and a half and two centimeter individuals are switching to a bottom lifestyle.
