Murena Helena Attack Serranus Scriba

Murena Helena Attack Serranus Scriba intotheblue.it
Murena Helena Attack Serranus Scriba intotheblue.it

We are in Sardinia  in the stretch of coast near Capo Spartivento. Snorkeling and exploring the depths of one of the many wonderful beaches crowded with tourists, I managed to film the attack of a Murena Mediterranea (Moray Eel) to a  Sciarrano (Serranus Scriba), a fish of the Serranidi family, by pure chance.  Murena Helena Attack Serranus S

Attacco della Murena intotheblue.it
Attacco della Murena intotheblue.it

The video lasts a few minutes, it was done inside one of the many holes and caves where we see different marine organisms, from sea urchins, to sponges, to the Yellow-legged Crab (Percnon Gibbesi). While our unfortunate Serranidae tries to study the diver curiously, undecided whether to escape or remain in the hole, we see how lightning and fast is the attack of the Moray. Due to the fear of myself and the speed of the scene, I had to slow down the speed of the movie by about 4 times. The first part of the video is filmed at natural speed and the second is slowed down to try to save some images and to see everything better. Our pinnute friend still manages to save himself as seen from the last frames of the movie.

Murena Helena Attack Serranus Scriba intotheblue.it
Murena Helena Attack Serranus Scriba intotheblue.it
Attacco della Murena Helena al Serranus Scriba intotheblue.it
Attacco della Murena Helena al Serranus Scriba intotheblue.it

The video also shows us how easy it is to go from predator to prey. Serranus Scriba belongs to the Serranids, one of the most common predatory families in the seas around the planet, to which also the Groupers belong. It feeds on small fish, crustaceans and molluscs, and from what we have already documented in other videos is one of the few predators of Percnon Gibbesi, the Yellow-legged Crab, an alien species introduced into the Mediterranean and increasingly widespread in Sardinia since it has no practically predatory and thrives therefore practically undisturbed.

 

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