Announcement from FIN Executive Director Mary Ann Bimbao

On September 2012, SeaLifeBase Project Coordinator M.L. Deng Palomares accepted the position of Associate Scientific Director for the FishBase Information & Research Group, Inc.(FIN) which manages both FishBase and SeaLifeBase projects.
          
Deng joins Nicolas Bailly who was appointed as FIN's Scientific Director in January 2011, with the latter and the former to lead and manage FishBase and SeaLifeBase, respectively. Her appointment will balance the relationship and work between the two databases, whose programs will further be well coordinated for upcoming projects particularly directed towards an ecosystem approach.
           
Nicolas and Deng are on secondment arrangement from WorldFish and UBC Fisheries Centre, respectively.

Anemone, or not anemone?

"To be, or not anemone."

So, where is Nemo? 
    
Don't go looking for a clown fish on this one. You think it's an anemone? Think again! 
   
This is actually a mushroom coral (Family Fungiidae), specifically Heliofungia actiniformis. Considered vulnerable by the IUCN, this fungid is easily recognizable by its white-tipped tentacles that are always extended, resembling those of an anemone's.

  
This photo was taken by FishBase Scientific Coordinator Nicolas Bailly at the Balitian Reef in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines.

Written by:

Jeniffer Espedido

Research Assistant

The SeaLifeBase Project