Scientific name : Sarpa salpa

 

Family : Sparidae
Size : Up to 50 cm
Distribution : Atlantic, from South Africa to the Bay of Biscay, as well as the Mediterranean

 

Biology : The dreamfish grazes on algae on the seabed. It is the main herbivorous fish on our coasts. Although it is related to sea bream, its flesh is not much appreciated, as its diet gives it a bad taste. In addition, it can accumulate toxins produced by certain algae, which can cause food poisoning, sometimes with hallucinogenic effects.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Labrus mixtus

 

Family : Labridae (wrasses, napoleons… 559 species)
Size : Up to 40 cm
Distribution : European coasts, from the Mediterranean Sea to Norway

 

Biology : The old male coquette is brilliantly colored, proving that cold-water fish can be as colorful as their tropical counterparts.
The female is smaller and orange in color. The male builds a gravel nest and fiercely defends the eggs.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Actinia equina

 

Order : Actiniaria (sea anemones)
Size : Up to 8 cm
Distribution : Atlantic coast, from Portugal to Norway

 

Biology : This anemone lives clinging to rocks in very shallow water. It is regularly seen out of the water at low tide. To protect itself from the lack of water, it retracts its tentacles, taking on its characteristic tomato shape.
To feed, it uses its stinging tentacles to capture small animals that pass within range.

 

IUCN status : Not assessed

 

Scientific name : Palinurus elephas

 

Family : Palinuridae (spiny lobsters, 121 species)
Size : Up to 50 cm
Distribution : Northern European and Mediterranean coasts

 

Biology : Spiny lobster feeds mainly on sea urchins, starfish, and mollusks of all kinds. It can be found on rocky seafloors and hiding in crevices of rocks. It is common to find several of them in the same crevice.

 

IUCN status : Vulnerable

 

Scientific name : Sciaena umbra

 

Family : Sciaenidae (umbrina, corb, drum, 293 species)
Size : Up to 70 cm
Distribution : From Morocco to Brittany, via the Mediterranean Sea

 

Biology : A calm fish, it lives in small sedentary groups, settling in caves or between rocks. To communicate, it emits a growl that is perfectly audible and unfortunately very recognisable to underwater hunters. The corb is highly prized and easy prey, which is why a moratorium protects this species.

 

IUCN status : Near threatened

 

Scientific name : Sepia officinalis

 

Family : Sepiidae (cuttlefish, over 120 species)
Size : Up to 45 cm
Distribution : Eastern Atlantic, from Namibia to Norway, as well as the Mediterranean Sea

 

Biology : Cuttlefish have ten tentacles fitted with hooked suction cups. One pair of tentacles can be projected to capture prey. Unlike octopus, cuttlefish have fins. It also has a porous bone that allows it to float.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Anguilla anguilla

 

Family : Anguillidae (freshwater eels, 19 species)
Size : Up to 130 cm
Distribution : North Atlantic Ocean and fresh waters throughout Europe

 

Biology : The European eel is an exceptional migratory fish. The larvae are born in the Sargasso Sea, at the other end of the Atlantic Ocean. Then, they travel up the rivers of Europe, where they grow up before returning to the sea for reproduction purposes. There is still a lack of knowledge about its life cycle. Eels are seriously threatened by the domestication of rivers and pollution. 98% of the eel population has disappeared in 50 years.

 

IUCN status : Critically endangered

 

Scientific name : Pollachius pollachius

 

Family : Gadidae (pollack, cod and pout, 22 species)
Size : Up to 130 cm
Distribution : North-east Atlantic, from the Bay of Biscay to Norway and Iceland

 

Biology : This fish is closely related to the cod and can be recognised by its streamlined appearance and three dorsal fins. It is a fast predator that hunts many small fish. It prefers dark places such as rocky bottoms, forests of brown algae and shipwrecks. It can be found at depths of up to 200 m.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Atherina presbyter

 

Family : Atherinidae (atherines, 69 species)
Size : Up to 20 cm
Distribution : Coasts of Europe and North Africa

 

Biology : This small fish is typical of coastal and brackish waters. To protect itself from predators, it travels in compact shoals. It feeds on all kinds of invertebrates, including small crustaceans, worms and even insects, depending on the environment it frequents.

 

IUCN status : Least concern

 

Scientific name : Palaemon varians

 

Family : Palaemonidae (prawns, over 1,200 species)
Size : Up to 5 cm
Distribution : European coasts and Mediterranean Sea

 

Biology : This is a shallow-water species that inhabits lagoons, river mouths and often the rivers themselves. It is a hardy shrimp that tolerates wide variations in salinity, between 9 and 35 grams of salt per litre, as well as wide variations in temperature, between 1 and 30°C. They are an important source of food for fish migrating between freshwater and the sea.

 

IUCN status : Least concern