New Mediterranean records of Istiblennius cf. meleagris: further documented observations from Lebanon
04/24/2024New Mediterranean records of Istiblennius cf. meleagris: further documented observations from Lebanon
Francesco Tiralongo, Ghazi Bitar
ORCID IDs: F.T. 0000-0002-1625-0149; G.B. 0000-0003-0270-5613
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, ITALY
Ente Fauna Marina Mediterranea, Scientific Organization for Research and Conservation of Marine Biodiversity, Avola, ITALY
Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies, National Research Council, Ancona, ITALY
Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, LEBANON
Abstract
Istiblennius cf. meleagris (Blenniidae) was observed and photographed in 2017 in Lebanese waters. With this note we report additional records of this non-native and likely invasive species in the eastern Mediterranean. In light of the increasing surface temperature, the potential for its establishment and further expansion in the Mediterranean Basin is high.
Keywords: Non-indigenous fish, Istiblennius meleagris, Lebanese waters, eastern Mediterranean, alien species
References
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