Keywords
northward spreading
citizen science
range expansion
How to Cite
Abstract
The bastard grunt, Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich, 1825), is a thermophilic coastal species that has historically been rare and only sporadically recorded in the northernmost Mediterranean sub-basins. Following the first confirmed Adriatic record in 2016, further observations have remained limited. The present study documents 11 individuals recorded between October 2023 and November 2025 from five localities in the eastern Adriatic. Records were obtained through validated citizen science contributions and were supported by photographic evidence. Most occurrences were concentrated between summer and autumn. This seasonal pattern, together with ongoing sea warming trends in the Adriatic, is consistent with the broader process of northward spreading of Mediterranean species.
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