Official website of the Aquarium-Museum
University of Liège
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Biodiversity
of the Aquatic World
The “Biodiversity of the Aquatic World” room aims to display in a representative way the diversity, the riches and peculiarities of the aquatic fauna from rivers, lakes, seas and oceans across the globe. It is thus divided into four main sections.
- Cold seas : the interesting fish from our shores, frequently encountered at the end of a fishing line or in a fishmonger’s stall, or even on a plate.
- Tropical seas : the splendours and curiosities of the coral reefs.
- Tropical freshwaters : fish native to the rivers and lakes of South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania; the most common species favoured by aquarium enthusiasts, but also animals whose breeding shows promise.
- Temperate freshwaters : the native or introduced European fauna, well known by fishermen and also the most studied by University of Liège scientists.
And since we are in Liège, the Walloon names of local species can be found on their corresponding cards: "Come nos èstons a Lîdje, lès noms dès pèhons d’amon-nos-ôtes sont scrîts è Walon åvou".
Moray - Murena helana
Throughout the visit one may encounter well-known animals such as seabreams, sucker catfish, lionfish, skates… as well as other species known for the bad reputations that stick to their scales but who aren’t so dangerous after all. Such is the case of moray eels or South American piranhas.
Other animals, not as well known to the general public, are distinguished by their original behaviour. A few examples:
- The cleaner shrimps don’t hesitate to enter the mouths of big fish to eliminate the parasites found there.
- The marbled lungfish or proptoterus that breathes the oxygen from water thanks to its gills, but also has lungs enabling it to breathe air.
- The Mexican cavefish that lost their pigmentation and their eyes during their evolution and yet can swim around without crashing into obstacles.
- And of course it’s the opportunity to (re) discover the "Lès pèhons d’amon-nos-ôtes" (“our fish”): pikes, greyfish, perch, carps, barbs, tenches and other breams.
