Discover the Black Sea (EP3)

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Mullus barbatus

 In the Black Sea, Mullus barbatus (red mullet) is a native and important species, though its population dynamics differ somewhat from those in the Mediterranean due to environmental and ecological differences.  

Habitat

• Found along the coastal zones of all Black Sea countries (Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia).

• Prefers muddy or sandy bottoms at depths of 10–150 meters.

• Typically found in warmer seasons in shallower waters, moving deeper during colder months.

Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)

The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) Turkish: Lüfer (smaller ones called çinekop, juveniles defne yaprağı) is a predatory marine fish that is widely found in the Black Sea, where it plays a crucial ecological and economic role.

Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus)

These are the only seahorse species documented in the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

Habitat in the Black Sea:

• Prefers shallow coastal waters, seagrass beds, and algae-covered rocks

• Often found in estuaries, lagoons, and sheltered inshore habitats

• Limited and fragmented distribution due to habitat constraints