Species of the Month

Over the last couple of weeks there have been a few sightings of John Dorys in the waters around St Abbs harbour (Wuddy Rocks and Black Carr) as such here is a bit of information about these eye-catching fish!

Despite their distribution circling all around the UK as well as coastal waters around Europe, these fish are rarely seen in our Northern waters! The increase in sightings in more northern waters are thought to be a indication of our changing climate as the sea warms. John Dorys are found in warmer coastal waters and are solitary fish.
They can be easily identified by the dark spot with a yellowish border on their side and the strong extended fin rays of their dorsal fin. They are golden grey/green or silvery bronze in colour as well as quite tall and laterally flattened making them very distinguishable. They feed on smaller fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. Reproduction of this species takes place in June-August around western English Channel and Bay of Biscay as well as the north-eastern Atlantic around the beginning of spring.
So keep a look out next time your under the waves here at the reserve!
Photograph by Jim Greenfield