Barcelona Photoblog: animals
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts

April 13, 2010

Boqueria Fish: Fresh Gallo

Boqueria Fish: Fresh Gallo

As with all species mentioned here in the past, there is a certain percent of error in the classification I give since many times I forget to write down names when I take pictures. This one looks like a John Dory or Zeus Faber (Gallo, Ceo, Zeo or Pez de San Pedro in Spanish).

The name Gallo (rooster) is also given to other species of fish in Spanish that are different in appearance and have different scientific names such as Lepidorhombus wiffiagonis aka Megrim.

This is not an ichthyology treaty so just concentrate on the fresh appearance and the fact that you can buy some at La Boqueria market in Barcelona or maybe other fish posted in Barcelona Photoblog recently.

Update 2023: Due to the huge popularity of the original post (for reasons still unknown to me) the frustrated scientist in me (who dreamed of being a marine biologist) has decided to abound in the topic and do some justice to the beauty of a John Dory or Gallo fish.

The Zeus Faber: A Remarkable Species with Many Common Names

The Zeus Faber: A Remarkable Species with Many Common Names

The Zeus Faber, also known as the John Dory, is a unique and iconic fish species found in the coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. As a fan of marine biology and ichthyology, the study of fish, I am fascinated by this distinctive fish and its many common names across languages.

In English, the Zeus Faber goes by several colorful names, including John Dory, St. Peter's fish, and dory. The name John Dory is thought to be a corruption of the French jaune doré, meaning golden yellow, referring to the striking yellow and black patterning on the fish's body. St. Peter's fish comes from the myth that the dark spot on the fish's flank is the thumbprint of St. Peter, left there when he removed a coin from the mouth of a fish.

In Spanish, this fish is known by two main names: gallo and pez de San Pedro. Gallo means rooster in Spanish, an apt description of the Zeus Faber with its tall dorsal fin resembling a rooster's comb. Pez de San Pedro mirrors the English St. Peter's fish, referencing the biblical apostle.

In Catalan, Zeus Faber is called Gall de Sant Pere or Gall or Sant Pere. Gall means rooster, like the Spanish gallo. Sant Pere means St. Peter.

It is fascinating how the common names in English, Spanish, and Catalan all draw comparisons to a rooster's comb or reference St. Peter. These creative names speak to the Zeus Faber's distinctive appearance and religious legends surrounding the species. However, it is important to note that gallo in Spanish refers to a different fish species in some regions.

Taxonomy and Classification

From a taxonomic perspective, the Zeus Faber belongs to the family Zeidae under the scientific order Pleuronectiformes. As a flatfish, it is closely related to other dorsally-asymmetrical fish like sole, flounder, plaice, and halibut. Its genus name Zeus derives from the Greek god, while its species name Faber comes from the Latin word for craftsman.

The Zeidae family contains just one other species - Zeus gurnardus, or the gurnard John Dory. The John Dory is larger in size and has a deeper body than the gurnard John Dory. Both species are found in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.

Key Characteristics

The Zeus Faber exhibits several unique external characteristics that distinguish it from other fish:

  • Tall, extended first dorsal fin resembling a rooster's comb
  • Distinctive black and yellow color pattern on body
  • Large, spiny head
  • Small mouth with teeth
  • Asymmetrical, flat body shape
  • Dark spot on flank thought to be St. Peter's thumbprint

The John Dory can grow up to 60 cm in length and weigh up to 2.3 kg. It has a compressed, oval-shaped body and is broader than it is deep. The eyes are located on the right side of the head, with the left side of the body appearing white or blind. Small, fine teeth line the jaws.

The flank patterning features a golden yellow background with six distinct black vertical bands. Black or blue markings surround the pectoral and caudal fins. The John Dory's scaleless skin is very thin and semi-transparent.

Habitat and Distribution

The Zeus Faber inhabits the coastal waters over sandy, muddy, and rocky seafloors along the eastern Atlantic coast from Norway to South Africa. It is abundant throughout the Mediterranean and found as far east as the Black Sea.

John Dory live mainly at depths between 10 - 250 meters, but occasionally venture to 350 meters deep or come to the surface. They prefer saltwater temperatures between 10 - 20°C. Though mostly solitary, these fish occasionally form small schools around rocky coastal areas or reefs.

Predators and Prey

With its large mouth and sharp teeth, the John Dory is an opportunistic carnivore that feeds on a variety of smaller fish, cephalopods like squid and octopus, and crustaceans. Some key prey items include anchovies, sardines, mackerel, shrimp, and crabs.

Despite being predators themselves, John Dory fall prey to larger carnivorous fish like groupers, larger tuna, barracuda, and sharks. Their camouflage coloration helps them avoid detection from above. John Dory have also been observed following venomous weever fish, likely for protection from predators.

Gallo in Spanish

As mentioned earlier, the name gallo in Spanish also refers to a different species - the whiff, or Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis. The whiff belongs to the same order as the John Dory, Pleuronectiformes, and shares its asymmetrical flat shape. It is found in the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Like John Dory, whiff possess camouflaged coloration, although they lack the distinctive patterning. Instead, whiff display sandy brown, yellowish, or reddish hues to blend in with seabeds. They have a slightly oblong, oval profile.

While whiff and John Dory overlap in range, their depth and temperature preferences differ. Whiff stay closer to shore in shallower, warmer waters of 80 - 150 meters depth. The similar body shape and habitat likely accounts for the shared common name of gallo, despite being different species.

Culinary Significance

The Zeus Faber holds an important place in European cuisine and food culture. In England, the John Dory has long been revered as one of the finest eating fish. Due to its notoriously low population numbers, however, it remains an expensive and prized delicacy reserved for gourmet seafood lovers.

Valued for its fine white flesh and subtle flavor, John Dory are often baked, pan-fried, or grilled. Chefs carefully fillet the spiny fish to remove bones and skin. The meat stands up well to a range of sauces and spice rubs.

In Catalonia, John Dory appears in classic seafood stews and rice dishes.

Overfishing Threats

Regrettably, John Dory populations have declined over the last several decades due to overfishing. They are extremely vulnerable to trawl and gillnet fishing methods. Their habitats have also been degraded by destructive bottom trawling practices.

John Dory reproduce slowly, taking 2-3 years to reach sexual maturity. Their low fertility and slow growth mean they are very slow to recover from population declines. For these reasons, sustainability organizations like Seafood Watch recommend avoiding Atlantic-caught John Dory.

However, fisheries in the Mediterranean have made progress with more responsible management. Mediterranean-caught John Dory are a better choice for sustainability. With conscientious consumer demand and smart regulations, we can prevent the loss of this iconic species.

The Zeus Faber remains one of the most unique and cherished fish in the ocean. While many know it as John Dory, St. Peter's fish, or gallo, marine biologists recognize its scientific name that pays homage to both mythology and taxonomy. Safeguarding this species for future generations will require a collective effort between scientists, fisheries managers, chefs, and consumers who appreciate its value. With some care, this fabulous fish can continue thriving for centuries to come.

December 17, 2009

Barcelona Predators: Seagulls - Strange Animal Behavior?

Seagull holding dead pigeon - Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona, Spain

Food, speaking on global terms and not western world standards, is scarce, and this is valid for animals as well that urged by that innate code mother nature gave them tend to change their behavior and even their habitat pushed by this irrational human vicious conduct of throwing stones into our own fragile roof. It is well known that we are happily helping degrade our planet, "nobody lives forever so f*** the future" many think, therefore creatures of the earth find it hard to survive in such a mess. Who has not heard of thinner than ever polar bears coming into towns for food, birds not migrating when or where they are supposed to, insignificant fish captures due to drastic changes in ocean temperatures as a result of global warming of the planet caused by men. I remember those times, when a seagull used to be near the shore feeding on fish or crabs and carrying their prey to their nests in nearby hills. In Barcelona it has become rather common to see these noisy, cunning and robust birds nesting on the roof of our buildings, claiming their territory against pigeons and smaller species and in some cases attacking children in school backyards to steal away a sandwich. Seagulls are carnivores and sometimes scavenge a little so it is not strange that they kill a small sick bird or take profit from their decaying corpse. The ackward thing to me is to find it in the middle of the Ciutadella park surrounded by people, holding an animal so big as an adult pigeon and looking at me so defiantly in the most pure Hitchcock-The Birds style. Times are achanging my friend and for the bad.

December 09, 2009

Still Life: Wild Partridge Showcase, La Boqueria Market, Barcelona

Wild Partridge Showcase, La Boqueria Market, Barcelona, Spain

Like a painting depicting hunting trophies or a still life portraying dead animals, specially those of hares and birds, appeared before my eyes, imbued with a ghostly bluish-yellowish light, the wild game stand in La Boqueria market. From the mixture of species on display, I cropped this rack of wild partridges so you could take a good peek at the strange artistic beauty that inspired painters in the past, at that mysterious blend of nature, food, life and death evoked with traditional austerity in many Spanish bodegones where dead animals hung from a hook waiting to be skinned and free of any banquet luxury or adornment so often present in similar paintings from other countries in Baroque times. I know this is just a picture of dead wild partridges and you may not find it artistic at all but I wanted you to think about this aspect of painting and the peculiar relationship between art, men and dead animals regarded as something aesthetic.

September 19, 2009

Humming Bird Moth Feeding

Humming Bird Moth Feeding [enlarge]

Certainly one of the weirdest topics in the blog in the past was the famous moth that I mistook for a bird. Now I had the chance to spot another one with better luck. Here is a beautiful specimen of Macroglossum stellatarum or Hummingbird Moth. In the following two videos you will appreciate the difference between this moth and a real hummingbird:



August 12, 2009

Owl: What are you looking at?

Owl [enlarge]

Although this owl seems to have ears or horns nothing further from the truth. The auditory system is on both sides of the bird's head behind the eyes and covered by the feathers of the facial disc. I took this picture at Cim de les Aligues or Eagles Peak which has been covered in previous posts. The bird was in captivity.

July 29, 2009

One-Week-Old Yorkshire Terrier Puppy

One-Week-Old Yorkshire Terrier Puppy

Some pet photographs well deserve some space in this blog. Granted that dogs are a very well trodden subject when it comes to photography but of course, depending on how they look. I guess puppies are beautiful enough to be portrayed with some decent results so here it goes: a one-week-old Yorkshire Terrier puppy I photographed this weekend for my neighbors who seemed to be very happy with the newborn babies, four beautiful black puppies. The hair comes further on so now they could be easily mistaken for other breeds. If you don't believe me notice the mother's hair on the top right corner of the picture.

July 10, 2009

Snake Eagle at Cim d'Aligues

Snake Eagle's Detail [enlarge]

In order to foster the animal lover in you even though you arrived in here searching for Barcelona photos, I want to show you this nice specimen I was able to capture with my camera at Cim dels Aligues (Eagles' Peak): A Snake Eagle. I hope I am not in a mistake as to identifying the animal. Nevertheless, bird watchers or zoologists could help me with taxonomy here.

May 22, 2009

Captive Vulture

Vulture

Vultures, feed on corpses or carrion. Scavengers as they are they do the dirty job for us like many creatures in this world who are there for something. They keep the delicate balance, the ecological equilibrium. Take a look at that bill used to tear dead meat apart, the perfect tool for a nauseating task. Imagine this vulture gliding above the Iberian peninsula spotting putrid preys. What a wonderful invention of nature, a spontaneous garbage man that only works for the food. Isn't that great? This guy was captive though and doesn't have the chance to go on a cleaning spree often. The picture I took in Cim d'Aligues mentioned in: Golden Eagle and Girl Holding Eagle.

May 05, 2009

Eastern Imperial Eagle at Cim D'Aligues, Barcelona

Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila Heliaca at Cim D'Aligues, near Barcelona

This is a young Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). The purpose of my blog is not to offer accurate taxonomy or deepen into the biology of any given animal I happen to photograph, although being concise does not mean saying: "this a bird!". The eagle is one of the many species of birds of prey that can be admired at Cim d'Aligues, a special center on the hills of Sant Feliu de Codines near Barcelona.

There is an old post with a link and some further explanation about Cim d'Aligues (Eagles' Peak). If you have time try to reach this town. There is a magnificent view of the valley once you are inside the aviary. During the day there is a show where trained vultures, owls, hawks or eagles are released and claimed with bait using falconry techniques. You can admire them gliding over your head and exploring the neighboring lower areas. They take some time to return but eventually they are all back.

April 26, 2009

Fish Eyes

Red Fish at La Boqueria Market[enlarge]

Sorry if you came looking for the lenses. This is only a very quiet scene with some dead actors staring at the audience with very fishy looking eyes. Stop staring at me! Well, you can try moving from left to right and viceversa. See how they follow? Should anyone know the name of the species please help me on this. For the moment they are just some red fish at La Boqueria market, those small ones we normally use to make paella known here as peix de roca (fish living in the bottom rocks), in other words, with benthonic habits. They look like some sort of squirrelfish or Candil to me although those are tropical. Hmm, maybe.

December 09, 2008

Feeding a Snake: Mesmerizing the Prey

Snake about to eat mouse

Look at me in the eye or watch the spiral swirl, whatever you choose, but keep looking, do not blink, don't twitch a muscle. Stay calm, stay focus, take a deep breath and keep watching. I am moving to you slowly, very slowly... gulp. Poor snake, in fact it was the mouse performing the hypnotizer. Again one of the many animals kept in captivity in Barcelona, the snake I mean. The mouse was just the food, and alive. Sometimes they are preserved frozen and served dead of course. Yes, people keep them in the fridge. I wonder what she prefers.

October 04, 2008

Exotic Animals in Barcelona: Pyxicephalus Adspersus

 [enlarge]

The exotic animals market in Barcelona is a prosperous business but I am not here to denounce anything. Many things are not right in this world. It is just this stupid obsession we humans have to collect things up. I will merely show you the frighten face of this beautiful Pyxicephalus adspersus or African Bullfrog. Check this other bullfrog image by Phil Bishop found via CalPhotos database. I had to look at several pictures to find the correct name since I foolishly forgot to take it down properly. Well, in fact he doesn't look scared but I imagine he must be under stress in the hands of this disgusting pale being that curiously comes everyday and feeds him. Here is a comprehensive database on amphibian species: AmphibiaWeb.

April 24, 2008

Rats at Exotic Animals Stall in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Rats at Exotic Animals Stall in Las Ramblas, Barcelona [enlarge]

Some baby rats at exotic animal stall in Las Ramblas, Barcelona. As I am no expert and I can't tell a rat from a mouse I leave you a link about these rodents' morphology: Rats and Mice: Differences. Of course the study of animals is not the purpose of this blog. The rats were in Barcelona and they happened to make a perfect pack.

March 26, 2008

Baby Rabbits in Nest at a Farm in Vallverd, Lleida

Baby Rabbits in Nest at a Farm in Vallverd, Lleida [enlarge]

Although Barcelona pictures are in high demand, especially buildings or street photos, I remind you that this blog is always open to other topics that may seem irrelevant sometimes. Such is the case of flowers, assorted objects or animals I find along the way. Moreover, as specified in the description on top there is the possibility of including neighboring towns and by that I mean any place in Catalonia i.e. the Spanish authonomy or the country (according to the political thoughts of its inhabitants) of which Barcelona is the capital. Once said that I wanted to show you a nest of baby rabbits in a small friend's farm in Vallverd, Lleida (map), one of the four Catalan provinces. Everyone knows rabbits but all of them together waiting for mummy in the cage next door to feed them seemed cute enough to portray and a way to shake you off the architectural hypnosis I exposed you to in the last posts.

February 25, 2008

Dwarf Rabbit in Pet Stall at Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain

Dwarf Rabbit in Pet Stall at Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain

Like some sort of scared Pikachu, this dwarf rabbit finds the most faraway corner to escape the tip of my lens stuck as they were on the cage's bars. The rabbit is part of the bizarre blend of exotic species in animal stalls along Las Ramblas, Barcelona.

January 12, 2008

Strong Horse at Tres Tombs Parade, Sant Andreu, Barcelona, Spain

Strong Horse at Tres Tombs Parade, Sant Andreu, Barcelona, Spain [enlarge]

I swear I had never seen such strong a horse although I am aware of morphology and breeds. This animal in the equine world would be the equivalent of a pro bodybuilder on growth hormones. Look at those legs, that's not only hair! And that in the background is not a cardboard rock. No, that was a huge stone on top of a sturdy cart. It makes no sense to force the beast to handle such a heavy load for such futile purpose but traditions are traditions and Tres Tombs parade is no less.

January 11, 2008

Horse Closeup At Tres Tombs Parade, Sant Andreu, Barcelona

Horse Closeup At Tres Tombs Parade, Sant Andreu, Barcelona [enlarge]

This is a close shot of a horse during Tres Tombs parade in Sant Andreu district, Barcelona. It was a very bright day but I think it turned out right in spite of the harsh light. Further on I will explain what this parade is about.

January 08, 2008

Three Little Pigs Photograph

Three Little Pigs [enlarge]

Three little pigs playing in the straw. I am sorry but it was impossible to catch them all facing the camera, so one of them is clearly being somewhat rude. Those of you craving for more city pictures may be disappointed when I make these abrupt changes of topic. I think it is good to diversify and to create expectations about the future, like, what the heck is gonna show next time? The place, the medieval fair of Suria again. Long time ago, I know, this is from my archives so the poor creatures are not with us anymore.

January 01, 2008

Butterfly Shot to Welcome the New Year

Butterfly Shot to Welcome the New Year [enlarge]

To celebrate the start of a new year and though this poor white lepidopteran aka butterfly is long gone since I took this picture in Sant Pol de Mar last October, I decided to show you something fresh that mitigates the sad and transcendental mood portrayed in the previous post, that is, last year!
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