Pisces is the Latin plural for fish which gives me the excuse to post some fishy photos but I have taken the letter P a stage further and my fish begin with P (though I've sort of cheated by using both scientific names and English names to show some of the more interesting ones). Most of the photos were taken in Chester Zoo or Liverpool Museum (where they have some great aquaria of live fish - not just stuffed specimens)..
Many fish have a number of common names. This Green White-spotted Pufferfish (Arothron hispidus), for example, is also known as the Stars and Stripes Puffer, Hispid Puffer, Whitespotted Puffer, Spiny Balloon Fish, and Fugu. Or, if you are in Hawaii it's the Oopuhue or Makimaki. In Japan it is referred to as Sazanamifugu. The flesh contains the toxin tetrodotoxin and human poisoning from tetrodotoxin is a major public health concern in Japan, where "fugu" is a traditional delicacy.
The European Plaice is commonly on the table in English restaurants. It qualifies for the letter P three times over being Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).
A common fish in small home aquaria is the Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi). These are from the days when I kept tropical fish at home.
This is the Regal Tang or Blue Surgeonfish whose scientific name is Paracanthurus hepatus
Another attractive species – the Emperor Angelfish (Pomocanthus imperator)
Definitely unattractive is the vicious Pike (Esox lucius) which can gobble up a lot of other fish in our English rivers.
Some Lionfish species (also known as Dragonfishes) are in the genus Pterois. This is the Red Lionfish or Peacock Lionfish (Pterois volitans)
This chap is the Porcupine Pufferfish (Diodon histrix).
And while we are around the sea bed there are a few other Ps like this Peacock Fan-worm
A Protoplaythoa species of coral.
And a Purple Sunstar (Solaster endeca) which isn't necessarily purple!
But my favourite has to be the Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus).
Let me know if you are a Pisces! And for a lot more interpretations of the letter P please visit the ABC linksite.
Being born exactly one and a half hours too late for being Pisces, I am Aries, so that does not count, does it?
ReplyDeletePikes eat ducklings and anything else they can get, not just other fish, at least they do that here in German ponds and rivers.
My dad used to have aquariums at home, and he had the same fish as the one you mention as being from your own aquarium. In German they are called Neonfisch.
I also had Neonfisch (Neon Tetras as we call them) - they are closely related to the Cardinals but have slightly less red.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful fishes. I love pufferfish, they always look so adorable bumbling through the water.
ReplyDeletea plethora of pretty fish.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Pisces, BTW
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
That peacock fan worm...wow, sometimes, these living things are just incredible to behold.
ReplyDeleteThanks for some great photos.
Oh, and glad you liked my last post. I LOVE that book, A Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady, one of my favorites.
A good smattering of Ps there CJ. I'd be hard pressed to choose a favourite though.
ReplyDeleteI am a proud Pisces and as I write this my neon tetra is just waking up. Toronto is getting a new aquarium sometime soon, so maybe that's where I'll get to see some of these strange looking creatures!
ReplyDelete~Sightlines
Thank you for tht v thoughtful comment on my blog. They were so good tht I had to add them up in my post - I hope u don mind.
ReplyDeleteLuved those pics ... dono which is ma fav ... diff to pick one from the lot... lol!
Beautiful pictures ! You could also have used the French word for fish = poisson or the Italian one = pesce, lol without going back to the old romans !
ReplyDeleteWow you've put some work into this. Or maybe you already had them all neatly stored in alphabetical order? There are some strange creatures living in deep waters, for sure... I think my favourite must be that blue one with yellow stripes. Swedish colours!
ReplyDeleteLovely P pictures of fish. I used to have a tropical fish tank and Neon Tetras too.
ReplyDeleteI used to be stationed on Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides while in the W.R.A.C. certainly is colder there than in the South east of England. Little did I know it was just preparing the way for life in Atlantic Canada...LOL I've known temps now as low as -35.. The Outer Hebrides ain't so tough after all ...Hehe
Perfect fish - so beautiful. One of my daughters is a Pisces.
ReplyDeleteI remember neon tetras! Love your fish photos!
ReplyDeletePerfect pisces post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your wonderful shots. And thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment;o)
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Hope you are having a happy week***
So PRETTY and perfect for P! Late visiting from ABC Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteYou can find my Presidents of the United States entry through the link. Thanks!
Cool blog! Great job! :)
ReplyDeleteYou've outdone us all with all your 'p's! I'll have my place on a plate with chips please! (I so miss good fish and chips).
ReplyDeleteHello.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of fish!
Some of them are really strange though. My favorite has to be the blue & yellow.
Thanks for sharing & visiting. Much appreciated.
Probing Into Your Thoughts
Love pufferfish! They are so adorable! Lovely photos.
ReplyDeletethese are great - love the Picasso Triggerfish
ReplyDelete