Recent News

American Students Participate In BAMZ Course
Thursday, July 03, 2014

The Atlantic Conservation Partnership [ACP] and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo [BAMZ] recently hosted a group of students from Flagler College in Florida as they participated in a study abroad course, which is a part of their Coastal Environmental Science major. The group included 12 students and two professors.


Flagler College and BAMZ partner for study abroad course
Thursday, July 03, 2014

The Atlantic Conservation Partnership (ACP) and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo recently hosted a group of students from Flagler College as they participated in a study abroad course, which is a part of their Coastal Environmental Science major. The group included 12 students and two professors.


Saltus student collects natural history award
Wednesday, July 02, 2014

Saltus Grammar School student Ruskin Cave has won a natural history award after attending a camp on Nonsuch Island.


Concern as fewer predatory fish are being seen on reefs
Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Anecdotal reports on the numbers of predatory reef fish following the weekend’s Reef Watch survey are “not good”, according to Bermuda Zoological Society chief scientist Thad Murdoch.


Bermuda Aquarium Receives AZA Accreditation
Saturday, June 28, 2014

Following a rigorous process, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo [BAMZ] recently received accreditation from the United States based Association of Zoos and Aquariums [AZA], Minister of Health, Seniors and Environment Jeanne Atherden said.



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All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!

Two fish recognised as unique to Island’s waters
Royal Gazette
Tuesday, December 03, 2013

By Owain Johnston-Barnes
Published Dec. 3, 2013 at 8:00 am (Updated Dec. 2, 2013 at 10:33 pm)

RG_131203_1a.jpeg
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.

RG_131203_1b.jpeg
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.