The Sarpa salpa has 10 to 12 horizontal golden bands and yellow eyes. It swims in compact schools as a defensive strategy and to catch food. The salpa is one of the few herbivorous species of fish in the Mediterranean, and so plays an important role in the ecosystem.
This striking little fish is a classic of the Mediterranean coast. Its bright green colouring, the blue swirls on its head and the frenetic movement of its pectoral fins make it easy to identify.
It belongs to the family of the Serranidae, which include over 30 species such as the grouper. Its name “scriba” comes from the marks on its head that look like a labyrinth of Arabic symbols. The origin of the term “Serranus” comes from its one saw-shaped dorsal fin.
Sea fans belong to the phylum of cnidarians, along with jellyfish, anemones and corals. They are living organisms (warning, they are not plants!!!) that live in colonies and are fixed to the substrate, from where they grow at right angles to water currents to catch food, giving them the shape for which they are named.
Morays, predators of the night
The Epinephelus marginatus, commonly known as dusky grouper, is a very robust bony fish that usually measures about a metre and a half long an
Posidonia oceanica (Neptune grass) is a marine plant that can be found throughout the Mediterranean, where it forms extensive thousand-year-old meadows on sandy bottoms at up to 40 metres in depth.
Discover the meaning of nature in the raw!
Practising ecotourism gives you the chance to immerse yourself in nature in its wildest form. Discover the plant and animal species that inhabit the wide range of protected areas and their ecosystems. Learn by observing their needs. What do they eat? Where do they live? You can do all this while you enjoy the surrounding area and its nature.
If you're passionate about nature and love watching animals roaming free, the Region of Valencia gives you the chance to watch dolphins and whales in their wildest state.
The Region of Valencia has a number of strategic locations where you can watch dolphins and whales responsibly. The headland of Cabo de San Antonio in the province of Alicante is famous for sightings of bottlenose dolphins and fin whales. Sightings are on the rise year by year, offering a real spectacle for visitors who travel to the towns of Xàbia and Dénia especially to witness this superb natural spectacle.