Recent News
Bermuda hailed for turtle conservation roleSaturday, April 23, 2016
Green turtles have been removed from the endangered species list in Florida, with a researcher saying Bermuda played an important role.
College Class Visits Trunk Island ‘Classroom’
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
The Bermuda College’s Introduction to Biology students were given the special treat of having a ‘hands-on’ class on Trunk Island, the Bermuda Zoological Society’s “Living Classroom”.
Author Mykkal to share butterfly photos
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Author Ras Mykkal will be sharing his spectacular collection of butterfly photographs when he talks at the latest Bermuda Zoological Society lecture next week.
Stitches removed from loggerhead turtle
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
A loggerhead turtle that underwent life-saving surgery to have a rusting hook removed from her throat could be released to the wild later this spring.
Photos: Injured Turtle Has Stitches Removed
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Daisy — the loggerhead turtle that has been residing at the Bermuda Museum, Aquarium & Zoo since she underwent life-saving surgery to remove a rusting hook in her throat three months ago — has had her stitches removed and it is hoped she can be released back into the wild in late spring/early summer.
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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!
By Owain Johnston-Barnes
Published Dec. 3, 2013 at 8:00 am (Updated Dec. 2, 2013 at 10:33 pm)
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.
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.