The Wonders of God’s Creation
The garibaldi is a scarlet-colored fish, less than a foot long, and very protective of its home territory in the offshore ocean waters of California. They are usually found in tide pools reaching 90 feet below the surface.
It was named after warrior Garibaldi of old times, who is remembered for his bold and tough style of fighting. This fish when mature develops a bump on its head that adds to the fierce look of its mouth and the spinal fin running all the way along its back. Extra-large scales seem quite in place on its bright body, and it has green eyes. All in all it is well named.
The males choose rocky, fortress-like areas for their homes. With few exceptions they challenge all intruders, no matter how big, but seem to make sure there are crevices in the rocks for escape if the invader is too tough for them. However, they have an interesting relationship with a little fish called a senorita. This little fish is allowed to safely come to them to clean parasites from their bodies.
When about five years old a male garibaldi cleans off a rocky space for a nest and guards it carefully. But strangely, when an appealing mate shows up he dashes threateningly toward her. However, she avoids him and heads for the nest, even though he may nip her a few times on the way. Reaching it, she swims slowly back and forth, dropping thousands of eggs which stick to the algae he has allowed to grow there. When she has finished, the excited male fertilizes them with a fluid from his body, and from then on he intensely guards them from intruders. Meanwhile, the female has disappeared, quite content to leave all problems to him.
Eggs hatch in about three weeks and the baby garibaldis are half an inch long. They start life with a blue coloring, but as they get older this is replaced with permanent scarlet, or sometimes orange. When about four inches long they feed like adults, and the little males of the group take on the aggressive ways of their father, while the females are chased off and have to make their own way in their watery world.
This is one more instance where mankind has been allowed to discover one of the amazing varieties of creatures God has placed on the earth, primarily for His own pleasure, but which He often allows us to enjoy as well.
The psalmist expressed his appreciation of these works of the Creator when he wrote: “Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward:... if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Psalms 40:55Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (Psalm 40:5).
Do you ever think about your Creator?
ML-06/26/1989