Recent News

Press Release: Lionfish project
Tuesday, March 13, 2018

It is often said that good things come in groups of three, and that might be the case for a trio of research projects aimed at reducing a threat to Bermuda’s marine biodiversity: the invasive lionfish.


Video: Sharks Feed On 30 Foot Dead Whale
Thursday, March 01, 2018

Calling it a “once in a lifetime encounter,” Weldon Wade posted video footage showing sharks feeding on dead 30-35 foot sperm whale floating off Bermuda, with the video also showing Marine Biologist Choy Aming on top of the whale capturing GoPro footage from a very unique perspective.


Bridget the turtle prepares for return to sea
Friday, February 09, 2018

When Aerial Williams went fishing, a turtle was the last thing she expected to find at the end of her line.


Video & Photos: Turtle Successfully Rehabilitated
Thursday, February 08, 2018

A sea turtle that was accidentally caught by a young girl has been successfully rehabilitated following surgery to remove a fishing hook, with a group gathering today [Feb 8] at the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo [BAMZ] to make the announcement, while also educating the public on how injured sea turtles should be handled.


BZS Set To Host “A Home For A Bluebird”
Sunday, February 04, 2018

The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] is getting set to host an event titled “A Home For A Bluebird” on Sunday, March 4, with the first presentation to take place from 10.00am to 11.30am and the second presentation to take place from 1.30pm to 3.00pm.



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Latest News

All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!

Two fish recognised as unique to Island’s waters
Royal Gazette
Tuesday, December 03, 2013

By Owain Johnston-Barnes
Published Dec. 3, 2013 at 8:00 am (Updated Dec. 2, 2013 at 10:33 pm)

RG_131203_1a.jpeg
The yellowfin chromis, one of two species recently recognised
as being endemic to Bermuda by the Smithsonian Institution.

A pair of Bermuda fish species have been recognised by the Smithsonian Institution as being unique to Bermuda’s waters.

The yellowfin chromis and the Collette’s halfbeak have been classified as endemic to Bermuda in an update to the authoritative 1999 Fishes of Bermuda publication. Both species have been known in Bermuda’s waters for some time but were only recently determined to be endemic.

Report writers William Smith-Vaniz and Bruce Collette also identified differences between the endemic Bermuda creole wrasse and its Caribbean relatives, suggesting they may also prove to be endemic.

“We recently became aware of two colour photographs, one of a school and the other of a single individual ... of wrasses from Bermuda (Lucas 2012) identified as clepticus parrae,” the researchers wrote.

RG_131203_1b.jpeg
The Collette’s halfbeak, one of two species recently recognised as being endemic
to Bermuda by the Smithsonian Institution. ((Photo credit to Heidi M. Banford))

“Terminal phase adults are distinctive in having very elongate outer caudal-fin rays, mostly solid blue body and fins and a bright yellow snout. We predict that subsequent research will show these fish to be another Bermuda endemic. All records of clepticus parrae from Bermuda apparently are based on misidentification of this undescribed clepticus.”

They noted the terminal male yellowhead wrasse, called “Redbacks” locally, have different colouration than its counterparts elsewhere in the region.

The Smithsonian also listed several species not previously known to reside in Bermuda, such as the whitenose pipefish, the roughtail stingray, a deepwater opah and blackear wrasse.

A Bermuda Zoological Society spokeswoman said: “In all, 24 new records were listed, and five older records have been discounted as errors, reminding us that we still have much to discover about life on our reefs and that diligent citizen scientists, fishermen and naturalists all have key roles to play.”

The research paper is available at the Natural History Museum Library at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo.