Floreana Island
Every single day in this enchanted archipelago is a very special one. For it is a real privilege to be here interpreting the natural world in one of the most famous protected natural areas in the whole world: the Galápagos National Park. Just yesterday, one of our guests asked me if I ever got bored doing what I am doing. My answer, followed by a big smile, was an emphatic no! For me all these years have been filled with the excitement and the joy that only nature in its purest way can offer. Every day brings out a surprise or an extraordinary sighting. Today it was not the exception. Our water activities were highly succesful. In one of the glass bottom outings a huge manta ray was spotted. What a sighting! It is not easy to spot one of these creatures in the open oceans, you can imagine how surprising was to see one of them passing by like a giant under the glass. Snorkeling was nothing less than extraordinary. From playful and cheerful sea lions to white tipped sharks, the rest of marine critters created an idyllic show. One fish species, in particular, attracted the attention of its observers: the guinea fowl puffer (Arothron meleagris). Throughout its life, this puffer species goes through several coloration phases. Its juvenile golden phase is glorious; just take a look at the vibrant yellow seen in today’s picture. Its changing color phase shows a fish with yellow and whitish blotches against dark patches. Its mature coloration phase is black with white spots!
I believe the great puffer sighting was a highlight, but the morning gave me a big surprise today. During a birding Zodiac ride around Champion Island I saw a fish species I had never seen before. We observed with amazement two little blue fish, with unusually long and fine fins, floating close to the surface. As soon as possible, once on board and after checking scientific literature, the unknown – for the moment – fish was fully identified. What we saw was a juvenile African pompano (Alectis ciliaris). I will share some of the information I found that was part of a recap tonight: “Among all juvenile jacks, Alectis are the most spectacular. Individuals less than 16 cm long have the dorsal and anal fin rays modified into elongated, delicate, trailing filaments. These prolonged extensions may allow the juvenile fish to resemble a sea jelly and thus avoid predation. Like the sea jellies, Alectis live in surface oceanic waters, but there is no association between them” (Grove, Jack 1997). It is difficult for me to express with words the satisfaction and joy I have had today. Wow!
Every single day in this enchanted archipelago is a very special one. For it is a real privilege to be here interpreting the natural world in one of the most famous protected natural areas in the whole world: the Galápagos National Park. Just yesterday, one of our guests asked me if I ever got bored doing what I am doing. My answer, followed by a big smile, was an emphatic no! For me all these years have been filled with the excitement and the joy that only nature in its purest way can offer. Every day brings out a surprise or an extraordinary sighting. Today it was not the exception. Our water activities were highly succesful. In one of the glass bottom outings a huge manta ray was spotted. What a sighting! It is not easy to spot one of these creatures in the open oceans, you can imagine how surprising was to see one of them passing by like a giant under the glass. Snorkeling was nothing less than extraordinary. From playful and cheerful sea lions to white tipped sharks, the rest of marine critters created an idyllic show. One fish species, in particular, attracted the attention of its observers: the guinea fowl puffer (Arothron meleagris). Throughout its life, this puffer species goes through several coloration phases. Its juvenile golden phase is glorious; just take a look at the vibrant yellow seen in today’s picture. Its changing color phase shows a fish with yellow and whitish blotches against dark patches. Its mature coloration phase is black with white spots!
I believe the great puffer sighting was a highlight, but the morning gave me a big surprise today. During a birding Zodiac ride around Champion Island I saw a fish species I had never seen before. We observed with amazement two little blue fish, with unusually long and fine fins, floating close to the surface. As soon as possible, once on board and after checking scientific literature, the unknown – for the moment – fish was fully identified. What we saw was a juvenile African pompano (Alectis ciliaris). I will share some of the information I found that was part of a recap tonight: “Among all juvenile jacks, Alectis are the most spectacular. Individuals less than 16 cm long have the dorsal and anal fin rays modified into elongated, delicate, trailing filaments. These prolonged extensions may allow the juvenile fish to resemble a sea jelly and thus avoid predation. Like the sea jellies, Alectis live in surface oceanic waters, but there is no association between them” (Grove, Jack 1997). It is difficult for me to express with words the satisfaction and joy I have had today. Wow!
