Translated from Arabic by Zeina Nasser
Citizens and experts observed natural phenomena which we have never seen before in Lebanon, particularly in marine life, with “more than 110 types of invasive fish discovered so far,” the marine life specialist Professor Michel Barrish confirmed to “greenarea.info”. All those marine organisms draw the attention of marine biologists and experts, and raise the curiosity of citizens, fishermen, diving enthusiasts, and scientific research centers.
New organisms have invaded our sea, and this is due to several factors, including climate change. Tackling the existence of these organisms is increasing through scientific research, while years before that, they were just looked at as any news in the media.
The attention we are witnessing today is due to the awareness regarding our environment (it might be threatened), as well as the evolution of technology and availability of information platforms which did not exist previously, and therefore, the interest of websites specialized in research and studies, has increased, especially towards issues related to the environment. Hence, our website “greenarea.info” emerged as one of the most important environmental and scientific websites in the Mediterranean, and it is turning into a scientific center, aiming to provide a link between citizens, experts and research centers.
An Artist’s Painting
In this context, one of the activists sent a picture of one of the exotic sea creatures, which seems as if it was an artist’s painting at first glance. We were informed that this marine organism exists among one of the citizens living in Tyre.
We were also informed that Ahmed Hodroj from the southern town of Qana, has caught this organism, and he confirmed to “greenarea.info” that he found “two of these marine organisms in (Al-Jamal area) in the city of Tyre. He said: “I thought it was one of the new types of fish that we are seeing lately”, adding that “I was mesmerized by its beautiful colors and shape.” He requested to be provided with information and to follow up with the issue scientifically.
Hodroj confirmed that “He does not want to sell the marine organisms, and he would like to know more about them”, adding that “after the spread of the pictures, I received several phone calls from people involved in the study of marine organisms asking to buy them, but I refused.”
Hodroj, who kept these two organisms in a large Aquarium at his home, said that he would like to cooperate with our website to know more about the organisms. He was feeding the marine organisms with algae.
Marine Science Center
We Immediately contacted Dr. Sharif Jomaa from the “National Center for Marine Sciences” in Batroun, which is related to the “Scientific Research Council.” We sent him the photographs, and he informed us that “this creature exists in our sea,” pointing out that “It is not a fish but a type of marine mollusk, which falls within the invasive species type”.
Sarji: many types and different forms
In order to know more about these two marine organisms, we showed the photos to the environmental activist, and head of the “Professional Divers Syndicate in Lebanon,” Mohammad Sarji. He explained that “It is a known invasive type of marine organisms, that has been in our sea for a long time”.
He added: “I have seen this creature, and caught it, took pictures of it, and documented it since more than 20 years ago.” Sarji said that” this kind falls under the scientific name Nudibranch, and there are many kinds of it, with different forms and colors”.
Barish: A strange type coming from the Red sea
Professor Michel Barish confirmed to “greenarea.info” that “this creature belongs to the type of Goniobranchus (sea slug), and it is one of the strange creatures coming from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal,” pointing out that “this kind is registered in Lebanon since 2007.” He also said that “it is one of the mollusks and marine snails that have lost their shells and horns over time, and they have back gills to help them breathe. ”
Second Highest rank in the animal kingdom
The Nudibranch is one of the types of mollusks, also known as “marine slugs” or “marine rabbits”, and their size does not reach more than a few inches. There are many types of it in very large numbers, and scientists expect the presence of more types in the same amount. They constitute 80% of the organisms belong to this type, and they are ranked second in the animal kingdom.
These creatures are characterized by their bright and vivid colors, and they have visible gills, and a couple of feelers. They have no shell, and it is likely that they have lost their shells through the years, and had their present form. One of the species belonging to this marine organism has been discovered and classified by the famous Japanese marine biologist Kikutaro Baba in 1938 off the coast of Japan. The creature has also been found in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of the Philippines.
