ANNALES, SERIES HISTORIA NATURALIS

CONQUERING THE NORTH: NEW OCCURRENCE OF THE COMMON LIONFISH, PTEROIS MILES (BENNETT, 1828), IN THE ADRIATIC SEA

2026-08-25T16:26:20+02:00

The devil firefish, also known as the common lionfish, Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828), was first recorded in the Mediterranean Sea in 1991, which it likely entered through the Suez Canal. Here, we present the northernmost record of the non-indigenous devil firefish in the Adriatic Sea since its first appearance in 2019. The specimen was observed by snorkelling at Sakarun Bay (Dugi Otok, Croatia) in June 2025 and was caught with a speargun. The immature specimen measured 149.0 mm in total length (106.8 mm standard length) and weighed 36.1 g.

FIRST RECORD OF THE DEVIL FIREFISH PTEROIS MILES (BENNETT, 1828) (ACTINOPTERYGII: SCORPAENIDAE) FROM MALTESE COASTAL WATERS

2026-08-26T09:44:11+02:00

A specimen of the invasive Devil firefish, Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828), was recorded for the first time in Maltese waters in January 2026. The individual was caught by a recreational angler at Migraħ Ferħa (north west Malta) at a depth of 10 m using a paternoster rig baited with squid. The fish was photographed and then released. This record marks a further expansion of the P. miles distribution in the central Mediterranean Sea and highlights the importance of citizen science initiatives in the early detection of marine non-indigenous species.

RAPID INCREASE IN RECORDS OF THE INVASIVE SILVER-CHEEKED TOADFISH LAGOCEPHALUS SCELERATUS (GMELIN, 1789) IN THE ADRIATIC SEA

2026-08-26T10:41:40+02:00

The silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789) is a highly invasive Lessepsian migrant causing major ecological and socio-economic impacts in the Mediterranean Sea. Although the species was previously rare and sporadic in the Adriatic Sea, this study documents a sudden increase in its records between late March and early May 2026. Data were obtained from recreational and professional fisheries and validated through morphological identification and satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) data. Five new records were reported during this period, with four documented within less than two weeks along the eastern Adriatic and Albanian coasts, representing the highest number of records recorded over such a short interval in the region. SST values ranged from 14.69 °C to 15.68 °C. These findings indicate an increasingly regular presence, likely linked to sea warming.

THE FIRST RECORD OF BASTARD GRUNT POMADASYS INCISUS (BOWDICH, 1825) IN ALBANIAN WATERS (ADRIATIC SEA)

2026-08-26T13:34:01+02:00

The bastard grunt Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich, 1825), an Atlantic species that entered the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar, exhibits a discontinuous distribution within the basin and remains rare in the Adriatic Sea. Here, we report the first record of P. incisus in Albanian waters and only the third confirmed occurrence in the Adriatic Sea. A single individual was captured on 9 October 2025 in the Bay of Vlorë at a depth of 48 m near aquaculture facilities. The specimen was identified based on diagnostic morphological features and measured 21 cm in total length and 125 g in weight. This record fills an important gap in the species’ Mediterranean distribution, although the exact route of entry into the Adriatic remains unclear. The rarity of records suggests limited establishment; however, recent warming trends in the Adriatic may facilitate further expansion.

FIRST CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF THE “SEA SLUG” FAUNA (GASTROPODA, HETEROBRANCHIA) OF THE ALGERIAN COAST

2026-08-28T08:17:08+02:00

In Algeria, studies concerning the informally defined group of “sea slugs” have so far focused exclusively on sporadic records of species from various areas of the local coast. Consequently, the sea slug fauna of the Algerian coast remains largely unknown. This study aimed to compile the first list of sea slugs in the Algerian coast by examining new photographic and field data collected between 2010 and 2025. Based on these new data and published literature, it has been possible to confirm that 71 species belonging to 35 families of sea slugs have been recorded in the region to date. Given the historical lack of experts on this faunal group in Algeria and the high marine environmental diversity of its coast, this number is likely a great underestimation.

ASSESSING SOFT-BOTTOM EPIBENTHIC COMMUNITIES: METHODOLOGICAL INSIGHTS INTO DREDGING AND VIDEO SURVEYS

2026-08-28T08:31:33+02:00

The study compared two approaches, sampling using a dredge and non-invasive video surveys using a camera dredge and a video sledge, for assessing soft-bottom epibenthic communities. Sampling was conducted over a detritic muddy-sandy bottom. Altogether171 taxa were identified, with only a small subset shared among all methods. Dredging yielded the highest number of taxa, particularly small, cryptic and sediment-associated, and provided biomass data. Conversely, video-based methods detected a lower number of taxa yet could detect more vagile species and could quantify some species like sponges. Video sledge surveys provided the most extensive coverage and the highest number of habitat and community parameters. The findings indicate that dredge and video-based methodologies yield complementary ecological insights, indicating that a combination of methods should be employed for the more comprehensive monitoring and assessment.

NEW DATA ON THE OCCURRENCE AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE ARMLESS SNAKE EEL, DALOPHIS IMBERBIS (OPHICHTHIDAE), FROM THE NORTHEASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

2026-09-03T16:03:12+02:00

The armless snake eel, Dalophis imberbis, is an ophichthid eel widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea, but comparatively rare in the eastern basin. This study examined three specimens from Iskenderun Bay (northeastern Mediterranean Sea, Türkiye), which were identified based on standard morphological diagnostic characters and measured for key morphometric traits. The individuals were captured at shallow coastal depths, contributing new distributional and ecological data for the species in the eastern Levant Basin. Morphometric results are consistent with previously published Mediterranean data, although minor variations were observed among selected proportional measurements. These findings provide additional evidence for the presence of D. imberbis in Turkish waters and support the view that the species forms part of the established ichthyofauna of the eastern Mediterranean.

FIRST MEDITERRANEAN RECORD OF THE DIAGONAL BUTTERFLYFISH, CHAETODON FASCIATUS FORSSKÅL, 1775, REPORTED FROM SYRIAN WATERS

2026-09-04T09:54:32+02:00

The present study reports the first occurrence of the diagonal butterflyfish, Chaetodon fasciatus, in the Mediterranean Sea, based on a specimen recorded in Syrian waters. A single individual (145 mm total length) was caught on 25 October 2025 in the shallow waters off the coast of Latakia. The pathway of introduction of this species, which is native to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, remains unclear and requires further investigation. The increasing number of non-indigenous fish species of Indo-Pacific/Red Sea origin recorded in the region highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy for marine biodiversity conservation.

FIRST RECORD OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DEALFISH, TRACHIPTERUS TRACHYPTERUS (GMELIN, 1789) (TRACHIPTERIDAE), IN SYRIAN MARINE WATERS

2026-09-07T10:59:43+02:00

Over the past few decades, the Mediterranean Sea has accommodated an increasing number of fish species arriving from the Atlantic Ocean via the Strait of Gibraltar, as well as from the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. The ribbonfish (Trachipteridae) are rare deep-sea fishes only recorded in limited areas of the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean dealfish, Trachipterus trachypterus, a member of the family Trachipteridae, is scientifically documented here for the first time from the Syrian coast (eastern Mediterranean).

LENGTH–WEIGHT AND LENGTH–LENGTH RELATIONSHIPS, AND CONDITION FACTOR OF AMBASSIS DUSSUMIERI CUVIER, 1828, IN THE NORTHEASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, TÜRKIYE

2026-09-07T11:11:33+02:00

This study provides the first data on the length–weight relationship (LWR), length–length relationship (LLR), and condition factor (K) of the Malabar glassy perchlet, Ambassis dussumieri, in the northeastern Mediterranean (Tuzla coast, Türkiye). A total of 132 specimens (68 males and 64 females) were examined. The specimens ranged from 4.5 to 8.9 cm in total length (TL), 3.7 to 7.7 cm in fork length (FL), 3.4 to 6.9 cm in standard length (SL) for both sexes. The calculated b values indicated positive allometric growth for the overall population (t-test, p < 0.05). The length–length relationships among the three length measurements (TL, FL, and SL) were highly correlated (r2 > 0.970). The mean condition factor (K) was calculated as 0.812 ± 0.074 for both sexes, with no significant difference between females and males. These results will be useful for studies on the biology of non-indigenous fish species.

PHYSALIA PHYSALIS IN THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEA: RECENT OBSERVATIONS IN RELATION TO MASS STRANDINGS OF VELELLA VELELLA AND SURFACE CIRCULATION DYNAMICS

2026-09-07T16:38:03+02:00

The Portuguese man-of-war, Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758), is a pleustonic siphonophore distributed throughout tropical and subtropical oceans. Although the species is occasionally recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, its occurrence is generally linked to episodic advection driven by winds and surface currents. Here, we report observations of P. physalis in the central Mediterranean between 6 February and 6 March 2026, coinciding with massive strandings of the pleustonic hydrozoan Velella velella. A negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) phase likely facilitated Atlantic water inflow and eastward transport into the Mediterranean. A drifter trajectory from the southern Tyrrhenian Sea indicated temporary retention near the Lipari coast. These records likely indicate a transient influx of P. physalis, rather than a stable Mediterranean population.

FURTHER MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION CONFIRMS THE OCCURRENCE OF LAGOCEPHALUS GUENTHERI MIRANDA RIBEIRO, 1915 IN THE AEGEAN COASTAL WATERS OF GREECE

2026-09-15T07:46:29+02:00

The occurrence of the diamondback puffer Lagocephalus guentheri Miranda Ribeiro, 1915 in the Greek waters of the Aegean Sea is herein confirmed through DNA barcoding based on a 608 bp fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene of a specimen collected on 14 September 2025 along the northwest coast of Rhodes Island, southeastern Aegean Sea, Greece. Morphological traits are evaluated alongside molecular data, with all nucleotide sequences used in the phylogenetic analysis consistently supporting the identification of L. guentheri. The present study aims
to clarify the existence of this species in the region and to contribute additional reference sequences to public databases.

DISTRIBUTION OF ODONTASPIS FEROX IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA: INSIGHTS FROM SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL ANALYSES

2026-09-15T08:25:23+02:00

This study provides an updated synthesis of the occurrence and distribution of smalltooth sandtiger shark, Odontaspis ferox, in the Mediterranean Sea, based on 46 records spanning the period 1964–2025. Occurrence records were found to be unevenly distributed across the basin, with a pronounced concentration in the Aegean Sea (GSA 22), which accounted for nearly half of all records. Kernel density estimation further supported this spatial clustering. Temporal analysis revealed a significant increase in the annual number of records, reflecting both intensified research efforts and a growing contribution of citizen science facilitated by digital technologies.
Although some records from Libyan and Syrian waters could not be included due to the lack of precise locality data, the present compilation represents a substantial increase compared to earlier assessments.

A FURTHER RECORD OF THE BARRED KNIFEJAW, OPLEGNATHUS FASCIATUS (TEMMINCK & SCHLEGEL, 1844), A PACIFIC SPECIES, FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN: A NEW RECORD FROM BENGHAZI, LIBYA

2026-09-16T08:20:49+02:00

The occurrence of the barred knifejaw, Oplegnathus fasciatus, has been documented for the first time in Libyan waters, south Mediterranean Sea. This species is native to the Northwestern and central-eastern Pacific and its presence in the Mediterranean has been reported through previous scattered records. A single specimen was captured on 3 February 2023 of the coast of Benghazi at a depth of approximately 12 m using a trammel net. Both morphological and meristic examinations as well as a genetic validation via the
mitochondrial COI gene were used for species identification. This report discusses the potential pathways for the species’ arrival in the southern Mediterranean. A key forthcoming objective is to leverage citizen science, enhancing public awareness and improving the capacity for early detection of alien species.

IS THE GULF OF TRIESTE A POTENTIAL NURSERY AREA FOR CERTAIN ELASMOBRANCH SPECIES?

2026-09-16T09:59:57+02:00

This study aimed to determine whether the Gulf of Trieste meets the criteria for a nursery area as defined by different sources, primarily Heupel et al. (2007). The analysis was based on elasmobranch specimens from the collection of the Marine Biology Station Piran (National Institute of Biology, Slovenia), comprising five species (Mustelus mustelus, M. punctulatus, Torpedo marmorata, Raja asterias, and Aetomylaeus bovinus) caught as bycatch over a 24-year period. Four of the five species (excluding A. bovinus) fulfilled all three criteria. According to the data analyzed, the Gulf of Trieste could be considered a communal juvenile nursery area for the assessed species. In addition, records of juveniles belonging to other elasmobranch species reported during the study period in the area suggest the potential importance of this area as a nursery ground for other species as well.

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE CURRENTLY LARGEST RECORDED PAGELLUS ERYTHRINUS (SPARIDAE) IN THE TYRRHENIAN SEA (ITALY)

2026-09-17T09:35:28+02:00

This paper presents an update of the maximum size of Pagellus erythrinus, based on a comprehensive list of georeferenced occurrences up to January 2026. An exceptionally large specimen of P. erythrinus was captured using a commercial gillnet at a depth of 65 m on a muddy-rocky seabed off Civitavecchia (Rome). This specimen measured 660 mm in total length and had a wet weight of 4,082 g. The species has been recorded across a wide depth range (1–300 m) in over twenty intermittent localities in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea between 1983 and 2026. This study confirms the largest specimen of P. erythrinus recorded to date. This ichthyological note contributes a key parameter for life-history studies and fisheries science.

SUBSTANTIATED RECORD AND PRELIMINARY BIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS OF MICROLIPOPHRYS DALMATINUS (STEINDACHNER & KOLOMBATOVIĆ, 1883) FROM THE SEA OF MARMARA, TÜRKIYE

2026-09-17T09:59:20+02:00

This study reports the first evidence-based record of Microlipophrys dalmatinus in the Sea of Marmara, Türkiye. Six specimens were collected using a beach seine between June and October 2024, at Çardak Lagoon in the Çanakkale Strait. The total lengths of the specimens ranged from 19.84 to 37.97 mm (mean: 29.8 ± 3.1 mm), and total weights ranged from 0.08 to 0.41 g (mean: 0.26 ± 0.05 g). The sample consisted of three juveniles collected from the lagoon inlet in August and October, and three ripening females (Stage III) collected from the inner lagoon in June. The current detection of M. dalmatinus in the Sea of Marmara may be either attributed to the species’ cryptobenthic nature and small size, which may have led to it being historically overlooked, or to a recent range expansion driven by the species’ thermophilic nature and rising seawater temperatures.

HABITAT INSIGHTS FOR THE EUROPEAN POND TURTLE (EMYS ORBICULARIS) IN THE COASTAL WETLAND AREA SEČOVLJE SALINA NATURE PARK, SLOVENIA

2026-09-17T15:34:19+02:00

A comprehensive study was conducted in the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, one of the largest coastal brackish areas in Slovenia, to investigate the habitat requirements of the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis). During 2019-2020, five female turtles were monitored using GPS solar-powered telemetry transmitters. Based on the high-resolution LiDAR data and spatial analysis, the study aimed to compare the activities of individual turtles on a monthly and hibernation basis across two ecologically distinct but neighbouring areas within the park. The data collected over such a short (monthly) period provides valuable insights into habitat requirements, seasonal spatial dynamics, and the contrasting environmental conditions. The findings contribute essential baseline information for understanding and developing future conservation strategies for this endangered species in coastal brackish wetlands, which tend to be locally specific and vulnerable to numerous human-induced pressures.

UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE OF PRUSSIAN CARP CARASSIUS GIBELIO (CYPRINIDAE) IN HOMA LAGOON (IZMIR BAY, AEGEAN SEA)

2026-09-17T16:12:44+02:00

On 24 February 2026, a female specimen of Carassius gibelio was caught using a trammel net targeting grey mullets in Homa Lagoon, located on the coast of Izmir Bay, at a depth of 1 m. Homa is a highly saline environment, with salinity values ranging from 35.6 ‰ to 63.7 ‰. Therefore, the occurrence of C. gibelio, a potamodromous fish species, in its waters represents an unexpected phenomenon. This paper not only presents a remarkable occurrence of this invasive species in an unusual habitat, but also provides an additional contribution to the fish fauna records of Homa Lagoon, Izmir Bay.

NAJDBE PLEISTOCENSKE AVIFAVNE V KAMNOLOMU ČRNI KAL (PRIMORSKA, SLOVENIJA)

2026-09-17T16:15:04+02:00

V članku prvič predstavljamo najdbe fosilnih ostankov ptic, nabranih med leti 1996 in 2002 na najdišču 1/II v kamnolomu Črni Kal v Slovenski Istri. Fosilni material obsega 94 kostnih ostankov ptic, ki jih je preliminarno določila Vesna Malez, njene določitve pa smo še dodatno pregledali in dopolnili. Skupno smo prepoznali 24 taksonov, od katerih je bilo 21 določenih do vrste natančno. Med najdbami prevladujejo pevke (Passeriformes), zlasti planinska vrana (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). Glede na habitatno preferenco vrstam odprtih habitatov pripada 61% vseh določenih primerkov (NISP), medtem ko je delež gozdnih vrst le 13%. Na podlagi vrstne sestave je v prispevku rekonstruirano takratno paleookolje na širšem območju črnokalskega najdišča 1/II. Ker gre za vrstno najbogatejše pleistocensko najdišče ptic na območju Slovenije, je objava seznama pomemben prispevek k poznavanju pleistocenske avifavne tega prostora.

ADDITIONAL RECORDS OF THE BASTARD GRUNT, POMADASYS INCISUS (BOWDICH, 1825), FROM THE EASTERN ADRIATIC SEA

2026-09-17T16:23:19+02:00

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.

SIGNIFICANT RANGE EXPANSION OF SEPIOTEUTHIS LESSONIANA (CEPHALOPODA: LOLIGINIDAE) IN THE AEGEAN SEA BASED ON SCUBA AND PHOTOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS Rüştü KİRMAN

2026-09-18T09:11:46+02:00

The bigfin reef squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, is by far the most widespread Lessepsian cephalopod in the Mediterranean Sea and has considerably expanded its range since it was first recorded almost two decades ago. In Türkiye, the species’ occurrence was hitherto restricted to the northern Levantine shores, with reports from Iskenderun, Antalya, and Fethiye Bays. This study reports the presence of S. lessoniana from the Aegean Sea coast of Türkiye for the first time, suggesting a significant northward range of expansion. The observed individuals displayed spawning behavior, and several egg masses were deposited within inshore crevices, indicating the potential presence of a successfully breeding population in the region.

POPULATION STUDY OF TRACHURUS MEDITERRANEUS FOCUSED ON REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY IN EDREMIT BAY, NORTHERN AEGEAN SEA

2026-09-18T09:18:30+02:00

This study provides insights into the reproductive traits of 754 individuals of Trachurus mediterraneus collected in Edremit Bay between September 2008 and August 2009. The overall sex ratio differed significantly from the expected 1:1 ratio. Length at first sexual maturity (L50) in females was 18.6 cm. Macroscopic examination of gonads and gonadosomatic index analyses indicated that the spawning period extended from March to August, with peak activity in April. Fulton’s condition factor and the gonadosomatic index values showed inverse variation throughout the study period. Total fecundity ranged from 2,738 to 48,315 oocytes and showed strong positive correlations with total length and total weight. These findings provide essential information on the reproductive biology of this economically important species and may contribute to the sustainable management of its populations in the Aegean Sea.

PRECOPULATORY BEHAVIOUR OF PTEROPLATYTRYGON VIOLACEA (MYLIOBATIFORMES: DASYATIDAE) IN THE NORTHWESTERN MEDITERRANEAN

2026-09-18T09:25:39+02:00

The pelagic stingray, Pteroplatytrygon violacea, is a batoid belonging to the family Dasyatidae, whose reproduction remains poorly understood. This paper describes two rare precopulatory behaviour events involving two adult pairs observed in French and Spanish waters in August 2018. It identifies distinct behavioural stages: grasping, pairing, body rotation, and clasper flexion. The persistent inverted posture of the female suggests a potential male-induced tonic immobilization, a behaviour not previously documented in pelagic rays. These observations provide the first well-documented account of precopulatory behaviour in the pelagic stingray and suggest possible reproductive adaptations in this highly migratory elasmobranch species.