This little bay in the center of the National Reserve of Paracas with its fascinating landscape of animal shaped rocky outcrops and islands like the Elefant or the Turtle and beautiful beaches offers a great number of marine diversity. Mundo Azul researchers determined in 2001 a total of 18 submarine habitats with different benthic communities. The bay offers a number of very nice diving spots, for example:
The outer central islands of mendieta beach offer dives on rocks covered with kelp forest.
|
| |
Fish: |
|
|
| |
Family: Blenniidae
Giant Blenny |
|
|
| |
Family: Cheilodactylidae
Peruvian Morwong |
|
Cheilodactylus variegatus |
| |
Family: Haemulidae
Peruvian Grunt
Cabinza Grunt
|
|
Anisotremus scapularis
Isacia conceptionis
|
| |
Family: Labridae
Chameleon Wrasse |
|
Halichoeres dispilus |
| |
Family: Malacanthidae
Ocean Whitefish |
|
Caulolatilus princeps
|
| |
Family: Pomacentridae
Pacific Chromis |
|
Chromis crusma |
| |
Family: Serranidae
Peruvian Rock Seabass
|
|
Paralabrax humeralis
|
| |
Crustaceans: |
|
|
| |
Family: Calappidae
Chilean Sand Crab |
|
Hepatus chilensis
|
| |
Family: Cancridae
Hairy Rock Crab |
|
Cancer setosus
|
| |
Family: Diogenidae
Spotted Hermit Crab
|
|
Pagurus edwardsii
|
| |
Family: Porcelanidae
Sea Urchin Crab
Hairy Handed Crab
Magnificant Crab
|
|
Liopetrolisthes mitra
Pachichelys crinimanus
Petrolisthes desmarestii
|
| |
Family: Xanthidae
Pearly Mud Crab
Spotted Mud Crab
|
|
.Pilumnoides perlatus
Gaudichaudia gaudichaudii
Amphipholes squamata |
| |
Molusks: |
|
|
| |
Family: Chitonidae
Chiton
Chiton
|
|
Chiton cumingsii
Tonicia elegans
|
| |
Family Bucciniidae
Whelk
|
|
Cantharus inca
|
| |
Family Calyptraeidae
Spiral Cup and Saucer Limpet,
Spiral Slipper Limpet
Banded Cup and Saucer Limpet,
Banded Slipper Limpet
Common Cup and Saucer Limpet,
Common Slipper Limpet
|
|
Calyptraea trochiformis
Crepipatella dilatata
Crucibulum quiriquinae
|
| |
Family Columbellidae
Dove Shell
Dove Shell
Dove Shell
|
|
Anachis nigricans
Mitrella unifasciata
Mitrella unicolor
|
| |
Family: Fissurellidae
Keyhole Limpet
|
|
Fissurella peruviana
|
| |
Family Nassariidae
Dog Whelk
|
|
Nassarius gayi
|
|
Family Thaididae
Dye Shell
Chocolate Rock Shell
Dye Shell
Dye Shell
|
|
Crassilabrum crassilabrum
Thais chocolata
Thais delessertiana
Xanthochorus buxea |
| |
Family Trochidae
Pearly Top Shell
Pearly Top Shell
Pearly Top Shell
Toothed Pearly Top Shell
|
|
Tegula atra
Tegula euryomphalus
Tegula luctuosa
Tegula tridentata
|
| |
Family Hiatellidae
Little Gaper, Rock Borer
|
|
Hiatella solida
|
| |
Family: Veneridae
Taca Clam
|
|
Protothaca grata
|
| |
Sea Urchins: |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Brittle Stars: |
|
|
| |
Peruvian Common Brittle Star |
|
Ophiactis kroeyeri |
| |
Brachiopoda: |
|
|
| |
|
|
Discinisca lamellosa |
