Invaders from the Red Sea continue to be seen on the beaches of Haifa, and this time - the poisonous mustache fish, known as the "Nasrallah fish"
After the "massive attack" of the sea urchins on the beaches followed by the final sea urchins, it is now the turn of the poisonous mustache fish, or as they are called "Nasrallah fish". These fish have a certain age on the shores of Israel, and were discovered here several years ago. They were recorded by me for the first time in a group, on the "Theodore Herzl" ship, sunk at the horse beach in Acre.
The name Nasrallah was given to this fish following the article published in 2009 in the newspaper "Maariv", in which I was asked by the reporter Yoni Hilleli what these fish remind me of, and I answered: "Hezbollah soldiers". This is how the nickname "Nasrallah fish" stuck to them. See the picture:
These fish were occasionally seen in Israel in the past in individual schools, among others in the Bat Galim area. The current documentation is from the last week and a half, when the thing that caught my attention, is the number of flocks I encountered, 6 in number, all of young individuals and the same size, about 7-8 mm, which I encountered near the breakwater at Meridian Beach in Haifa.
like a rolling ball
The poisonous whisker fish is so called because of the teeth it is equipped with at the front of its mouth, which resemble the shape of a whisker. It moves in groups of about 200 individuals in each group, and when they swim they look like a rolling ball, in this way they collect their food from the top of the rocks and the sandy soil.
When the whisker fish grow to a size of several centimeters, they separate from the flock and become solitary. Only then, in fact, is the person exposed to them, due to their tendency at this stage of their lives to dig in the sand, and those bathing in the sea, may unintentionally step on them.
This fish also enters the rocks in the cushion areas, on which the fishermen stand. Even in shallow water that is 25 cm deep, these fish were recorded in the Olga Hill area.
Shy fish
The size of the fish reaches up to 20 cm and their color changes as they mature from black to brown.
The mustache is a "shy" fish that does not approach humans by nature, so the chance of encountering it is very small. When the fish feels threatened if it is a shadow near it, or by some movement, its dorsal fin that carries its venom sticks out and is ready to sting, but it should be noted that its action is not offensive but passive.
Don't worry
Bathers should not be afraid of it, since the area where it is located near the breakwater is closed to bathers and the lifeguards do not allow anyone to swim near it, due to the eddies in the place.
There was a case in Israel in the past, in which a woman, probably out of curiosity, touched such a ball with her foot and got stung, but this is not something that usually happens.
Nasrallah's bite is not as severe as that of Hazarun, but it obviously depends on the number of bites and the amount of venom, as with any other bite.
We know that these fish have been here for a long time, it must be assumed that long before we noticed them and certainly before we reported their existence, but the special thing about my current encounter with them is that this time it is a new totula, I can say that based on the number of shriveled shoals I encountered and their size the identity
Please meet: Bintan Forskal
To leave you with a good taste for this weekend, I will tell you that good things from the Red Sea also arrive at our Meridian beach. Bintan Forskal. These fish move in small schools in the shallow reefs of Shikmona and Bat Galim.
In Sed, why should Rabbi Ovadia Zetzel and Rabbi Kanievski Shalita be mentioned?
The grasshoppers of the rocks and not the grasshoppers of the rocks.
Hagvu is a gorge. A grasshopper is an animal.
I recommend that you proofread your articles before publishing them
You forgot to mention that this is Mayor Einat Kalish's fault, she stopped the thinning.
Thank you Eli.
Very very very very interesting article
Hello Talia
Too bad you don't have a photo.
This is probably a burn of what we mistakenly call jellyfish eggs.
Probably, a small mezuza or the hunting arms of a medusa.
If it was a mustache... the pain would be very strong.
And it's a good thing it's not a mustache.
Very interesting. Thank you very much
I read about the fish that came to us... "Nasrallah" and at the beginning. This week on Sunday, I was with my son at Meridian Beach.. in shallow water.. and when we got home.. my son had a small burn mark on his leg.. below the knee.. the next day in Hoker.. he complained It's very itchy and stinging..we thought it was jellyfish eggs, it turned out not..it's just like a seal..the size of a coin..10 NIS around..pimples..inflammation..we immediately went to a dermatologist..and got treated..I guess..that's the only activity And the experience we had..I guess it's real..from the place and the Nasrale fish...pay attention..
Hello Raphael.
Thank you very much and Shabbat Shalom
True Tzur
And he also had more venom.
About six years ago, in early spring, I took such a whisker with a cast roller to the bottom at Sdot Yam beach, from the northern fishing tables. Length about 20 cm. It was taken out from a depth of approximately 1.8 meters, at a distance of about 120 meters from the line of the Kurkar cliff.
Moti, a very interesting article, Shabbat Shalom
Thank you very much, Motti, from where you are. Have a nice Saturday. ?
Hello Kg
The real fish has been here for a long time, about 2005 if I'm not mistaken. The first detail that was reported was in Ashkelon. And I found the big group in Acre. Since then they have been here. But the documentation of several bands in Meridian. This is the first time.
Follows the articles
They see that you are really an experienced and knowledgeable diver in the great sea.
Thank you very much for the information, blessed sharing
Thank you so much Dan.
Shabbat Shalom
Thanks for the interesting and educational article
Nice article. The photos of the young fry are interesting.
These fish have been in our area for about twenty years. The fish also has poisonous spines in its abdominal fins, so if you hold the fish, the chance of being stung by a poisonous spine is high!
Thank you very much Hanit.
Shabbat Shalom
Hello Shlomo.
Yes, it's true, it's migration from the Red Sea. And it takes time for them to spread.
Hello Samdar.
Yes they have been documented for a long time.
The newspaper article is my first in over ten years.
But the current article is about a new Tetula in the area of Meridian Beach.
And that's not encouraging.
And it's good that we don't get bitten by it. With a wink... the fish recognized you thanks.
Shabbat Shalom
Muti Mendelssohn my friend you always write real things on the live site here. Good luck to you. Shalom and blessed Sabbath.
As usual, I liked the article.
I heard about this fish when I was 14 years old from a recent trip to Lachamit where I came across the Romanian fish that opens its dorsal fins and the spines with the poison stick out of my dorsal fins even then the fishermen from Gaza said you must not touch this fish with your hand but it has scales to eat
Thank you, dear Motti, great article, have a magical weekend and a blessed Saturday ❤️??
Hi Momo
I definitely understand you, there were people who were stung because they saw a cute fish.
I was told that the name of the fish was changed by the Hebrew Language Academy.
From now on they are called Dagi Ovadia after Rabbi Ovadia because they are more reminiscent of yeshiva students in a demonstration.
The Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox were also promised that the next poisonous fish to be discovered would be called the Kanievsky fish, and this for the sake of fairness and equality.
Thanks Deb.
Shabbat Shalom
In fact, I even managed to save a mustache when I didn't know it was poisonous... I found it squirming when it was tied to a hook and a weight. I held her in my hand, released the hook and sent her free, luckily without damage...
The two above mentioned fish also appear in the fishing line and the Gador reserve. They have been there for at least 5 years
I am the one who got stung by this damned fish when it died on the breakwater in Bat Galim and out of intoxication I touched it and the pain that is hard to forget radiated to the whole arm for more than two hours until I decided to go to (Visitor Ropa) and there I received a Titanus injection and was released.
Caution very very poisonous.
Interesting, thank you very much
Maybe it's enough to glorify the psychopath pant from Lebanon? What sin did the fish associate with the oppressor?
You can find other nicknames for fish
Interesting article