Tag Archives: Lionfish

The Red Sea

The Black Volitan Lionfish

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The Black Volitan Lionfish in the Red Sea in Jordan. It is closing in on a Sea Urchin.

The Black Volitan Lionfish in the Red Sea in Jordan. It is closing in on a Sea Urchin.


Pterois miles, the devil firefish or common lionfish, is a species of ray-finned fish native to the western Indo-Pacific region. Seen in many places of the Red Sea. It is a venomous fish.


These fish pose a serious threat to reef fish populations and thus to coral reef ecosystems and the people who depend on them.


Usually we have seen the common lionfish, which is red brown beige in color. The black volitan lionfish I have only seen in the Red Sea in Jordan.

Jordan, The Red Sea

Adventures on the beach, in the sea and in the air – in Jordan

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Tala Bay is a perfect vacation place in Southern Jordan.  The sandy beach is perfect for sun bathing and the Red Sea offers a unique possibility to photograph exotic fish species. If you prefer swimming pools instead of the sea, you find many nice pools to swim or relax in.

Allas ja poreallas

ps. click on the photos to see them enlarged

The food is fabulous in Jordan, just like in Egypt. Baba ganoush, hummus, tabbouleh, fried fish, tasty desserts and the hot chili stuffed olives…

Baba Ganoush

We love the Red Sea. In Tala Bay we had some great adventures in the sea. We got many exciting photos of the sea life.

The Arabian Boxfish:

Arabian boxfish_Jordania
Arabian boxfish_Jordania

 

The Black Peacock Lionfish:

Black Peacock Lionfish and black sea urchin

Some funny looking corals:

Corals in the Red Sea in Jordan
Corals in the Red Sea in Jordan

 

We experienced also some adventure in the air. When I came to the surface to take a break from photographing the fish, I heard and felt a rumbling noise. I looked around. From the boarder in the south, where Jordan and Saudi Arabia meet, a huge helicopter flew towards a ship nearby.

Armeijan helikopteri

The helicopter approached the ship and commandos jumped with ropes from the helicopter to the ship.

Helicopter approaches the shiip

My husband and I did not know what was going on. Was this a training session, a show for the tourists… or? Everything happened very fast. I did not have time to switch the camera from underwater mode to normal mode, but I got a few good photos.

Ilmassa_kommandojen helikopteri_2

You can experience many things on holidays 😉

I love the adventures below surface. Watching and photographing the beautiful and interesting fish. Here is a Flagtail Halfmoon Triggerfish:

Flagtail_Halfmoon triggerfish

Stay tuned! More stories to come and many photos of the sea life in the Red Sea 🙂

 

 

 

Jordan, The Red Sea

Jordan: Beneath the Red Sea surface…part 2

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Pterois Volitans, the Lionfish is quite an amazing creature. The colouring of one of them includes white, beige and brown. The Lionfish is part of the Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) species, which take their name from the venomous spines positioned on the dorsal fin.

Lionfish are voracious predators.

Lionfish_Siipisimppu_RedSea

The Two-spot Lizardfish is usually found within the depth range of 1 – 10 meters. The maximum recorded length of a Two-spot male lizardfish  is about 18 cm, but the common length is around 10 cm.

Lizardfish are harmless.

Two spot lizardfish_Synodus binotatus schultz

The Boxfish (Ostraciidae) is certainly one of my favourite fish. It is also called Cofferfish, Cowfish and Trunkfish. There are 24 extant species in seven extant genera. The adults are in general quite square in shape, young Ostraciidae are more rounded. The young often exhibit brighter colours than the adults.

ps. to enlarge the photos, click on them 🙂

Lossorekala_Boxfish_Ostraciidae

Black Peacock Lionfish and black sea urchin

The Black Peacock Lionfish is astonishing with its beautiful black colour, showy pectoral fins and venomous spiky fin rays.

Diadema Antillarum, the Black Sea Urchins, were all over the bottom of the Red Sea in Jordan. We had to be very careful not to touch them by mistake. This sea urchin is characterized by its exceptionally long black spines.

When the population of sea urchins is at a healthy level, they are the main grazers, which prevent algae overgrowth of the reef.

Black sea urchins

The corals in the Red Sea at Tala Bay, Jordan, were a bit different than the ones we had seen in Marsa Alam, Egypt. Less colour, but nonetheless very beautiful and amazing to explore.

Corals in the Red Sea

Jordan, The Red Sea

Jordan: Beneath the Red Sea surface…

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Domino fish_Dascyllus trimaculatus_Täpläpreussinahven

Dascyllus trimaculatus, the Three Spot Domino fish, is actually quite neat though it is territorial and a bit aggressive. Dascyllus is a genus of fish in the family Pomacentridae. It is quite a small fish as it grows only up to 13 cm in length. You recognize the fish for the three white spots, of which one can though sometimes be absent.

ps. to enlarge the photos, click on them 🙂

Lionfish and Halfmoon triggerfish_Sufflamen chrysopterus

The Halfmoon or Flagtail triggerfish, Sufflamen chrysopterus, is very beautiful with its black velvet like colour. The tail is white and yellow, as you can see in the picture above. It can grow up to 30 cm in length.  This triggerfish feeds on a variety of invertebrates and the occasional small fish.

A small Lionfish, Pterois Volitans, swims above the triggerfish (in the above picture). Can you see it? It is just a baby and the colouring is white, beige and brown. The Lionfish is part of the Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) species, which take their name from the venomous spines positioned on the dorsal fin.

Flagtail_Halfmoon triggerfish

Above is a funny photo of  the Halfmoon triggerfish. Look at those lips. Can you see the small rainbow on the sand

 

 


Ostracion cyanurus, the Arabian boxfish, is only 15 cm as an adult. It likes to swim close to the bottom We suddenly saw one below us and took this photo. The Arabian boxfish inhabits areas of moderate coral growth  and is usually found close to shelter.

Ostracion meleagris_Black spotfish_Spotted boxfish

Ostracion meleagris, the Black or Spotted boxfish, explores the bottom of the Red Sea on the bottom of this photo. The male is more colourful than the female. The colouring can be blue to black and the dots can be white or black. The female is dark with white spots. This boxfish does not grow past 25 cm. The one we saw was only about 20 cm in size.

The Black sea urchins at the top of the photo are fabulous. But remember to keep your distance from them. Keep your feet off the bottom.

Clownfish_Anemonefish_Amphiprion_1

The Red Sea Clownfish, also known as the  Twobar anemonefish, Amphiprion bicinctus, is one funny and beautiful fish. It is one of the most common Clownfish in the Red Sea. It can grow up to 14 cm, but is usually smaller.