Julien Renoult, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
About
A species of ray-finned fish in the family Atherinidae. Individuals can reach 20cm, typically 8-15cm. Elongated, nearly transparent body with a distinct silvery lateral stripe that gleams in the light. A very slender body, pointed snout, large eyes. Always moves in large, dense schools a few centimetres above the seabed.
Distribution and habitat
Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea. A coastal species found on pebble and sandy beaches, and in estuaries.
Behaviour
Schooling, pelagic. Feeds on zooplankton and small crustaceans. Carnivorous. Repeated egg-laying reproduction. Lives 3-4 years.
Danger level
Harmless. Edible, much sought-after for frying. Has no spines or toxins.
Photos
Felimare picta (Regal Sea Goddess)
Felimare picta
Also known as: Regal Sea Goddess
Rare
Common Stingray
Dasyatis pastinaca
May - October
Rare
Decorator Crab
Maja crispata
May - September
Occasional
Fried Egg Jellyfish
Cotylorhiza tuberculata
Also known as: Τηγανητό Αυγό, Μεσογειακή Μέδουσα
June - October
Very Common
Common Pandora
Pagellus erythrinus
May - October
Occasional
Two-Banded Seabream
Diplodus vulgaris
April - October
Common
Black Scorpionfish
Scorpaena porcus
Also known as: Μαύρη Σκορπίνα, Scorpaena, Black Scorpionfish
All year round. In summer they are more in shallow waters.
Very Common
Snakelocks Sea Anemone
Anemonia viridis
All year round
Very Common
European Anchovy
Engraulis encrasicolus
June - September
Common
Silver-Cheeked Toadfish
Lagocephalus sceleratus
June - October
Rare
Sand Steenbras
Lithognathus mormyrus
May - October
Very Common
Gilthead Seabream
Sparus aurata
April - October
Very Common
Flying Gurnard
Dactylopterus volitans
Also known as: Καπόνι, Χελιδόνα, Flying Gurnard
May - October, peak July-August
Common
Common Sole
Solea solea
April - November
Occasional
Sea Hare
Aplysia fasciata
Also known as: Κρασάς, Γυμνοσάλιαγκας της Θάλασσας
May - October
Occasional
Purple Sea Urchin
Paracentrotus lividus
All year round
Very Common
Brown Meagre
Sciaena umbra
June - September
Rare
Greater Weever
Trachinus draco
May - September
Common
Mediterranean Horse Mackerel
Trachurus mediterraneus
June - October
Common
Garfish
Belone belone
May - September
Common
Mediterranean Moray Eel
Muraena helena
All year round
Occasional
European Pilchard
Sardina pilchardus
June - September
Common
Salema Porgy
Sarpa salpa
May - September
Common
Striped Red Mullet
Mullus barbatus / Mullus surmuletus
Also known as: Κουτσομούρα, Μπάρμπουνος, Μπαρμπουνάκι
May - October - that's when they are in shallow waters and you can see the small schools
Very Common
Nomad Jellyfish
Rhopilema nomadica
Also known as: Nomad jellyfish
July - October
Occasional
Wide-eyed Flounder
Bothus podas
Also known as: Γλώσσα, Πλατύ, Wide-eyed Flounder
All year round
Very Common
Mediterranean Parrotfish
Sparisoma cretense
May - October
Occasional
Bucchich's Goby
Gobius bucchichi
Also known as: Γωβιός, Bucchich's Goby, Γκιόζος
All year round, more active in summer
Very Common
Picarel
Spicara smaris
May - September
Common
Dusky Grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
June - September
Rare
Sea Cucumber (Holothuria tubulosa)
Holothuria tubulosa
Also known as: Θαλάσσιο Αγγούρι
Occasional
Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Also known as: Οχταπόδι
All year round, easier during the summer months
Common
Barrel Jellyfish
Rhizostoma pulmo
Also known as: Μέδουσα Βαρέλι
May - October
Common
Mediterranean Hermit Crab
Clibanarius erythropus
Also known as: Κλειτσινάρι, Παγούρι
April - October
Very Common
Sea Stars
Echinaster sepositus
All year round
Occasional
Greater Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
Also known as: Τούνα (καταχρηστικά), Ricciola, Lecha
July - September (juveniles in shallow waters)
Common
Mediterranean Damselfish
Chromis chromis
Also known as: Χρωμίδα, Καλογριά, Καλογρίτσα
May - October
Very Common
Giant Salp
Salpa maxima
Also known as: Πελαγικό Χορδωτό
March - August
Rare
Bogue
Boops boops
May - October
Very Common
White Seabream
Diplodus sargus
April - October
Common
Saddled Seabream
Oblada melanura
April - November
Very Common
Compass Jellyfish
Chrysaora hysoscella
April - September
Occasional
Long-snouted Seahorse
Hippocampus guttulatus
Spring - Autumn
Rare
Mediterranean Mussel
Mytilus galloprovincialis
All year round
Very Common
Red Scorpionfish
Scorpaena scrofa
All year round
Rare
Mediterranean Green Crab
Carcinus aestuarii
April - October
Very Common
Pillow Coral
Cladocora caespitosa
Also known as: Pillow coral, Μαξιλαράκι της θάλασσας, Cladocora
All year round, best seen in summer with clear waters
Common
Noble Pen Shell
Pinna nobilis
Rare
European Seabass
Dicentrarchus labrax
May - November
Occasional
Short-Snouted Seahorse
Hippocampus hippocampus
May - September
Rare
Black Goby
Gobius niger
April - October
Common
Annular Seabream
Diplodus annularis
April - October
Very Common
Common Cuttlefish
Sepia officinalis
March - May
Occasional
Black Seabream
Spondyliosoma cantharus
April - October
Common
Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse
Coris julis
Also known as: Γαϊτανούρι, Λεμοναριά
All year round
Very Common
Peacock Wrasse
Symphodus tinca
All year round, more active May - October
Very Common
Flathead Grey Mullet
Mugil cephalus
All year round
Very Common