The temperatures have soared over the past few days, from a somewhat pedestrian 18ยบC up into the mid thirties. There’s only one thing to do at a time like this: head for the sea. So let’s take ourselves down to Ferma Lagoon and see what we can find.
Before
we plunge in, we’ll just take a look at what’s beneath our feet,
to whit, a large expanse of Peacock’s Tail, Padina pavonica. You
could make your own anti-wrinkle cream with this; the ‘with PPE’
which you see on some products stands for Padina pavonica
extract. Just whisk it up in a jar of snail slime (a popular base
with the cosmetics industry), put a pretty label on it, and slop it
on your chops – if you can bear to, now that you know what’s in
it!
In
amongst the Peacock’s Tails (which are brown algae, but don’t
particularly look like it), are these brown fronds (which look like
brown algae but possibly aren’t). These, I think, are Hydrozoans,
animals related to jellyfish, corals and sea anemones. It is a colony
with hundreds of individuals (the silvery-white bits) growing from
the main, branching structure. A bit like houses on a housing estate.
It’s either that, or some sort of red algae trying to confuse me.
This sun is getting rather hot now, so let’s go and meet the fish.
The
sea feels a bit warmer now, compared with a couple of weeks ago, but
the temperature difference between the water and the sun-sizzled
shoulders is still enough to cause a sharp intake of breath.
So,
who’s about? Just beneath the surface, the tiny Sand Smelts,
Atherina
sp.,
are careening about. The larger ones are powdered with flour and
dropped into hot oil in Mediterranean cuisine. Down in the middle
layers we have one fish that is good to eat and a shoal which is
possibly wisest to avoid in a restaurant setting. Diplodus
sargus is
the White Sea-bream, a close cousin of the Common
2-banded Sea-bream
that we met a couple of weeks ago, and makes good eating. Sarpa
salpa,
the Salema Porgy, on the other hand, can cause hallucinations when
eaten, even (rarely) with fatal consequences. See The
Mind Blowing Dreamfish.
Down at the bottom we have a small shoal of Siganus,
or
Rabbitfish, so called because of their rabbit-like mouths. These are
Indian Ocean fish that have come up into the eastern Med. via the
Suez Canal.
Ah,
here’s something a bit different. Ignore the shell for the moment
and look at the two little animals crawling around it. These are
Marine Pill Bugs, of the family Sphaeromatidae. These are Isopods, an
order which includes the more familiar Pill Bugs and Woodlice that we
find on land. This is the first time that I’ve encountered their
marine brethren.
As
we sit back and dry off, looking over the tranquil Ferma Bay, with
the outcroppings of the Thriptis mountains in the background, I’ll
just introduce you to a few more friends that I noticed on the swim
back. On the underside of a flat slab of rock, the red algae,
Rhodophyta, are establishing themselves. I’m not sure about the
grey, glutinous blob; it looks like the egg sac of a lugworm,
Arenicolidae, but the substrate is not particularly sandy, which they
prefer, so the jury is still out on that one. The yellow one with the
black holes is a sponge, Halichondria, and the little fellows,
scurrying along the water’s edge here, are Sea Slaters, Ligia
italica, isopods with the ability to breathe on land or under
water. A sort of link between the Marine Pill Bugs and the fully
terrestrial Woodlice. I think you’d better turn over. You’re
turning a delicate shade of cooked prawn. Ah, this is the life!
Crisis, what crisis?
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See
sample pages of all my books and latest blogs, and keep abreast of
latest publications here:
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All
you need to know to identify any type of insect, spider, worm or
snail very simply and find out more about it.
Yvonne:
This
was a gift for a family so that the children can understand what
they see on days out. The second was for me. Logical and easy to
use. If you know anyone who likes nature you can be confident that
gifting this book will give years of pleasure.
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The
Eggs of Saramova
A
science fiction novella for those who don't like science fiction.
A fast-paced thriller that is, literally, out of this world (and
it starts right here in Crete).
Too
new for reviews yet!
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A
light-hearted look at life through the eyes of the fairer sex.
Janet:
If
you are short on time but enjoy reading and are maybe not into
long extended novels then Not Just For... Twisted Women provides
readers with concise stories that stand alone and most certainly
entertain with their ultimate twists. Loved it.
Helen:
A
very good read! Well written and entertaining!
Margaret:
Each
quick tale gives a glimpse into a character's life and has an
often humorous twist at the end. I would love to read more.
Yvonne:
These
days many people find it hard to find the time to read a novel, so
this book of short stories is ideal to dip into. It is also makes
a good gift.
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Crete
Nature Catch-up
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