Species of the Mediterranean Zone

Octopus vulgaris, also known as the common octopus, is a cephalopod found in temperate and tropical waters, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It lives on rocky or sandy seabeds, where it hunts crustaceans and molluscs.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Cephalopoda
    
  • Order: Octopoda
    
  • Family: Octopodidae
    
  • Species: Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Capros aper is a small fish found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It lives at depth over rocky or coralligenous seabeds, where it feeds mainly on small planktonic crustaceans.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Perciformes
    
  • Family: Caproidae
    
  • Species: Capros aper (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Macroramphosus scolopax is a fish found in tropical and temperate waters. It lives in schools at depths of between 50 and 500 metres, where it uses its tubular snout to suck up small invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Syngnathiformes
    
  • Family: Centriscidae
    
  • Species: Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Scyllaridae sp., also known as slipper lobsters, are marine crustaceans with flattened bodies and broad, paddle-shaped antennae. They live on rocky or sandy seabeds or in crevices, where they hide during the day and feed mainly on small invertebrates and organic matter.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Malacostraca
    
  • Order: Decapoda
    
  • Family: Scyllaridae
    
  • Species: Scyllaridae sp.
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

 

Bolma rugosa is a marine gastropod found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It lives on rocky seabeds covered with algae, which it grazes for food.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Gastropoda
    
  • Order: Trochida
    
  • Family: Turbinidae
    
  • Species: Bolma rugosa (Linnaeus, 1767)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Paracentrotus lividus is a sea urchin found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It lives on rocky seabeds and in Posidonia seagrass meadows, where it grazes on algae and marine flowering plants.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Echinoidea
    
  • Order: Camarodonta
    
  • Family: Parechinidae
    
  • Species: Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Echinaster sepositus is a common sea star found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It lives on rocky seabeds, in seagrass meadows and in coralligenous areas, where it feeds on microorganisms and detritus.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Asteroidea
    
  • Order: Spinulosida
    
  • Family: Echinasteridae
    
  • Species: Echinaster sepositus (Retzius, 1783)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Eunicella singularis is a Mediterranean gorgonian that lives on well-lit rocky seabeds. It captures plankton from the water and also benefits from symbiotic algae.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Anthozoa
    
  • Order: Alcyonacea
    
  • Family: Gorgoniidae
    
  • Species: Eunicella singularis (Esper, 1791)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN Status  : Near Threatened (NT)
  • CITES : Not applicable
  • EEP : Not applicable
  • Population trend: Decreasing

Cerianthus sp. are burrowing anemones found throughout the world’s oceans. They live in tubes buried in sand or mud, where they capture plankton and small invertebrates with their long tentacles.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Anthozoa
    
  • Order: Spirularia
    
  • Family: Cerianthidae
    
  • Genus: Cerianthus (Delle Chiaje, 1830)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

The short-snouted seahorse is a small fish found in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is recognisable by its short snout and lives mainly in Posidonia or eelgrass meadows.

• Taxonomy :
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Syngnathiformes
    
  • Family: Syngnathidae
    
  • Species: Hippocampus hippocampus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Data Deficient (DD)
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • EEP: Not applicable

The broad-nosed pipefish is a European coastal fish with a slender, elongated body. Its green or brown colour and flattened snout allow it to remain camouflaged among eelgrass.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Syngnathiformes
    
  • Family: Syngnathidae
    
  • Species: Syngnathus typhle (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable

Anthias anthias is a fish found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It lives in schools near reefs, caves and coralligenous seabeds, where it feeds on plankton.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Perciformes
    
  • Family: Serranidae
    
  • Species: Anthias anthias (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Chromis chromis is a small, common fish found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It lives in large schools above rocky seabeds or seagrass meadows, where it feeds on zooplankton.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Perciformes
    
  • Family: Pomacentridae
    
  • Species: Chromis chromis (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Diplodus sargus is a coastal fish found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It inhabits rocky areas exposed to strong water movement, where it feeds mainly on shellfish, sea urchins and crustaceans.

• Taxonomy :
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Perciformes
    
  • Family: Sparidae
    
  • Species: Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

This coastal and intertidal fish of the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean lives in rocky areas. Using its five sensory barbels, it hunts small crustaceans and worms at night.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Gadiformes
    
  • Family: Lotidae
    
  • Species: Ciliata mustela (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Oblada melanura is a fish found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It lives in schools close to the surface above rocks or seagrass meadows and is recognisable by the black, white-edged spot on its tail.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
    
  • Order: Perciformes
    
  • Family: Sparidae
    
  • Species: Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Population and conservation :
  • IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
  • CITES: Not applicable
  • EEP: Not applicable
  • Population trend: Stable

Sphaerechinus granularis, or purple sea urchin, is an echinoderm from the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, living on rocky bottoms, seagrass meadows and sandy areas (down to approximately 100 m), where it feeds mainly on algae and various invertebrates.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Echinoidea
  • Order: Camarodonta
  • Family: Toxopneustidae
  • Species: Sphaerechinus granularis (Lamarck, 1816)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not concerned
  • EEP: Not concerned

Cleidopus gloriamaris is a fish from Australian waters, living hidden in caves and under rocky reef ledges, where its bioluminescent organs serve to attract prey.

• Taxonomy:
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Beryciformes
  • Family: Monocentridae
  • Species: Cleidopus gloriamaris (De Vis, 1882)
• Population and conservation:
  • IUCN Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
  • CITES: Not concerned
  • EEP: Not concerned