FIRST RECORD OF LIONFISH (SCORPAENIDAE: PTEROIS) FROM LIBYAN WATERS

04/01/2019 Arda Tonay

First record of lionfish (Scorpaenidae: Pterois) from Libyan waters

Sara A.A. Al Mabruk, Jamila Rizgalla

Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University-Bayda, LIBYA
Aquaculture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, LIBYA

Abstract

This short communication reports the first occurrence of lionfish (Pisces: Pterois) in the eastern Libyan coastal waters from the images of two lionfish specimens posted on the social media network FacebookTM. The lionfish were caught on 1 and 4 December 2018, by Libyan recreational longline fishermen and by a professional spearfisherman. The species identification was not possible in this case, but the important role of citizen science and social media in terms of monitoring invasive species is highlighted.

Keywords: Pterois miles, invasive, venomous, Pterois volitans

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