Mangrove

Mangroves are salt-tolerant shrubs and trees that form dense thickets. They typically grow 5-8 meters (16-26 feet) tall. Their thick, leathery leaves often have a glossy green upper surface and a silvery underside. Distinctive aerial roots emerge from the trunk or soil, appearing either as arching prop roots or as upright, pencil-like pneumatophores. These specialized roots aid in gas exchange, allowing the plants to thrive in anoxic, saline mud. Mangroves tolerate high salinity through glands that excrete excess salt from their leaves.

They inhabit shallow, sheltered coastal environments such as lagoons, wadis, and embayments, primarily within the intertidal zone. In these areas, they create vital nursery grounds and provide shelter for diverse marine life. In the 🌊 Red Sea, mangroves are primarily represented by Avicennia marina. Divers typically encounter these plants from the surface or while snorkeling in their shallow habitats.