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Turtle travels 3,000 miles to reach IslandWednesday, June 10, 2015
A hawksbill turtle that was accidentally caught on a fishing line in St David’s had travelled more than 3,000 miles to get to Bermuda, The Royal Gazette has discovered.
Animals live long and prosper at Island zoo
Thursday, June 04, 2015
At 95 years old, Crooked Nose the Galapagos tortoise holds a unique record at the zoo.
The Bermuda Zoological Society plays an important role in the Conservation of Bermuda's Environment
Monday, June 01, 2015
For many years, the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) has filled a special role in promoting the conservation of Bermuda’s environment.
Reef Watch offers sea, sun and fun
Friday, May 29, 2015
Bermuda Zoological Society’s annual Reef Watch event is due to take place on the last Saturday of next month.
Quick-thinking pair save stricken turtle
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Animal welfare experts have praised the kind-hearted actions of members of the public that helped to save the life of a hawksbill turtle that swallowed a hook and fishing line.
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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.