Site 7 - Nonna Venus

It is a shoal formed by beautiful vertical walls full of ravines and cavities. The top, at a depth of 19 m, is covered by a Posidonia oceanica prairie and algal populations (Padina pavonica, Dictyotales spp., Stypocaulon scoparium, Asparagopsis armata). Descending in a southerly direction down to about 23 m, one notices, among the algae, the nudibranch Flabellina affinis, the colourful tufts of Sabella pavonina and the white gorgonian Eunicella singularis, as well as the wrasse Labrus merula and the damsel (Coris julis) in both male and female livery. As the substrate becomes vertical, imposing fans of the red gorgonian (Paramuriceaclavata) colour the landscape, also with the yellow colour variety. Some branches are covered by the alcyonaceous parasite Parerythropodium coralloides or host clusters of tunicates (Clavelinalepadiformis), but the most striking host is the rare ophiur Astrospartus mediterraneus. The yellow gorgonian Eunicella cavolinii also adds colour to the wall up to 30 m, together with the sea daisy (Parazoanthus axinellae), the cnidarian Alcyonium acaule, the sponges Hexadella racovitzai, Agelas oroides, Chondrosia reniformis, and algal concretions. The deep clefts that cut into the wall are carpeted with beautiful tunicates (Aplidium conicum, A. elegans, A. proliferum), the bryozoan Reteporella grimaldii, numerous sponges, and are inhabited by the brown grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), the starfish Echinaster sepositus and the urchin Centrostephanus longispinus. Swarms of the red damselfish (Anthias anthias) and the brown damselfish (Chromis chromis) populate the less illuminated environments. Amongst the passing fish, skipjack (Sarda sarda) can also be observed. The boulders at the foot of the wall, at 32 m, are similarly rich in benthic species, with large red and white gorgonians, colourful patches of sponges and encrusting, leafy (Flabellia petiolata, Sphaerococcus coronopifolius) and globose (Codium bursa) algae, and the star Hacelia attenuata.

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