Second record of the Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) from Maltese waters

12/25/2025 Arda Tonay

Second record of the Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) from Maltese waters

Antonia Scicluna, Patrick J. Schembri

ORCID IDs: A.S. 0009-0006-5355-3022; P.J.S. 0000-0002-6723-7198

Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida MSD2080, MALTA

Abstract

On 6 July 2025, a specimen of the Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus (63.4 cm TL) was captured off Marsaxlokk Bay, southeastern Malta. This represents the second confirmed record from Maltese and central Mediterranean waters, following the first in 2011. The observation indicates a possible low but persistent presence, suggesting the early stages of establishment of this Indo-Pacific Lessepsian immigrant in the region.

Keywords: Indo-Pacific species, Lessepsian migration, central Mediterranean, Mediterranean Sea

Pages: 269-272

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References

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