Recent News
End-to-End names charities to benefit from 2023 eventSaturday, February 18, 2023
Five charities will benefit from money raised at this year’s Convex End-to-End, it was announced today.
Funds raised will go to the Bermuda Zoological Society’s Microforest Project, Gina Spence Productions, the Eliza DoLittle Society, the Skills Development Programme and Vision Bermuda.
Juvenile Seal Rescued From Clearwater Beach
Saturday, February 18, 2023
A seal was seen at Clearwater Beach today [Feb 18] and it returned to the ocean before BAMZ staff could arrive to provide assistance, and they noted that a “seal in Bermuda is in distress” so have advised that anyone sees the seal please keep your distance and contact the BAMZ Animal hotline at 293-2727.
BZS Lionfish Chowder Competition
Saturday, February 18, 2023
The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] held an Eat’Um to Beat’Um Lionfish Chowder Competition event this afternoon [Feb 18] at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo [BAMZ], with crowds of people coming out to taste the various chowders.
Micro forests take root across the island
Thursday, January 19, 2023
An effort to establish a series of “micro forests” across the island has established ten thriving plots, according to the Bermuda Zoological Society.
Successful First Year of Micro Forest Project
Thursday, January 19, 2023
The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] has highlighted the BZS Micro Forest Project, which has an aim to plant 1,500 native-compatible and endemic plants each year for three years.
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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.