Professor Alan Deidun recently shared on social media a photo and sighting reported by local diving instructor Lewis Mark Sell of a beautiful and unusual Sea Slug – Tethys fimbriae, which according to Prof. Deidun is a native species of the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. More information about this beautiful creature from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethys_fimbria
Post by Alan Deidun on Facebook on the 29/08/2023 The perfect predator….shoals of the largest barracuda species in the Mediterranean….the European barracuda (Sphyraena sphyraena, ‘lizz’ in native Maltese), whose shoals can be 200 strong…this species reproduces in late spring, with a single female lying up to 300,000 eggs…the body is perfectly streamlined for fast speeds Read More
Post by professor Alan Deidun on Facebook on the 28/08/2023
Post by Professor Alan Deidun on Facebook on the 26/08/2023
Post by Professor Alan Deidun on Facebook on the 23/08/2023
Post by Professor Alan Deidun on Facebook on the 21/08/2023
Post by Professor Alan Deidun on Facebook on the 18/08/2023
A creature out of this world…the slender snipe eel..Nemichthys scolopaceus…a deep-water species recently caught in Maltese waters….thanks to Clayton Carabott for the photo…. #oceanographymalta#oceanography#marinebiologylife#marinebiodiversity#marinebiologist#marineecology#marinecology#fish@ioihq Alan Deidun in Facebook Post
This moray eel does not look so pale because it got scared when it saw you, but rather because it’s a distant cousin from colder waters! Thanks to Alan Deidun for sharing the information in a FB post! Look at those fangs! The fangtooth moray (Enchelycore anatina), a species originally native of the north-east Atlantic Read More
The mermaid’s wineglass….one of the largest single-celled organisms around! The scientific name of this miniature umbrella, encountered in 1 or 2m of water, is Acetabularia acetabulum, with ‘acetabulum’ representing the Greek word for a shallow plate used for the dipping of bread…. A post by Alan Deidun on Facebook on the 19/07/2023
An indicator of healthy waters…..prairies of the brown algal group Cystoseira, which are sensitive to pollution and some of which are endemic to the Mediterranean Sea…. Posted by Alan Deidun on 17/07/2023 on Facebook
An armoured tank underwater…..the Mediterranean slipper lobster (Scyllarides latus….xkall in Maltese)….this clumsy species makes up for the lack of claws, normally found in lobsters, through its thick body armour…it generally prefers caves and shaded overhangs during the day and it is frequently poached, unfortunately….photo courtesy to colleague Alessio Marrone…. Post by Alan Deidun on Facebook
It’s box jellyfish season….this species luckily is far LESS dangerous than its renowned cousin, the sea wasp (Australian box jellyfish), prefers yacht marina and harbour areas, is mostly visible at night and has relatively good eyesight…best treatment for its stings is vinegar…..thanks to Kersten for the video, taken a few days ago…..Spot the Jellyfish campaign…. Read More
Where’s your shell buddy? This is a nudibranch, a mollusc with no shell whose name literally stands for ‘naked gills’……these flamboyant species are favourites for underwater photography….this could potentially be Fjordia lineata, although caution is advised given the difficulty in pinning down the exact species for this group…photo courtesy of colleague Alessio Marrone… Post by Read More
Grumpy old Sam…..this is a fine specimen of red scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa), fully decked in its camouflage suite….known as cippullazza in Maltese and, despite its venomous spines, is a highly-prized fish in local restaurants….photo courtesy of colleague Alessio Marrone Post by Alan Deidun on Facebook
Serpentine arms for walking around….this is a brittle star, a close relative of Starfish and sea urchins which uses its flexible arms to move around….it can lose most of its arms and can re-grow all of them as.long as it still has one left…..nocturnal predators….photo courtesy of colleague Alessio Marrone Post by Alan Deidun on Read More
Loggerhead turtle encounter off the Maltese Islands….one of the 2 marine turtle species known to nest on Mediterranean beaches….thanks to Gabriel Bugelli for the great videos! Post by Alan Deidun on Facebook
Dolphins ahoy! Up and close with these graceful creatures in the south Comino Channel (Maltese Islands, central Mediterranean) during our annual Oceanography Masters bootcamp…thanks to Sarah Abela, Beatrice Greiner and Dr. Adam Gauci for the videos…..stop thinking about it! Join next year’s MSc in Applied Oceanography (one-year, starting from next October)! Post by Alan Deidun Read More
This Jellyfish surely knows its way about…..the compass Jellyfish….a rare visitor to Maltese waters and kicking a nasty punch (as its a close relative of the mauve stinger)…..thanks to Philip Spiteri for the great photos…..Spot the Jellyfish campaign Post by Alan Deidun on Facebook
One can never be too cautious….stalked eyes and long antennae to sense and ‘taste’ one’s surroundings…..this hermit crab is always on the lookout…great photo by colleague Alessio Marrone Post by Alan Deidun on Facebook
Marine Biologist Alan Deidun shared this picture of a Sawback Angel Shark who was caught in Maltese waters as bycatch. It was nice to hear from Prof. Deidun that the fisherman involved has released it back alive! He also shared some interesting information, including a reminder that it is a proected and endangered species! A Read More
The lesser amberjack (Cervjola tal-faxxi; Seriola fasciata), a close relative of the amberjack (accjola) and native of the west Atlantic (Caribbean sea, etc)……the species was first recorded in Maltese waters almost 20 years ago and it frequents lampuki floats…thanks to Gabriel Bugelli for the video! Spot the Alien Fish campaign….. Post by Alan Deidun on Read More