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Fig. 20: Two specimens of Torquigener flavimaculosus from
the SE Aegean Sea (Photo by Ali Türker).
(Erguden & Gurlek, 2010) and later atAdrasan (Anonymous, Fig. 21: (a) Alepes djedaba (Photo by L. Sourbès), (b)
2012), eastern Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. Lagocephalus sceleratus (Photo by C. Dimitriadis) and (c)
Fistularia commersonii (Photo by K. Vatikiotis) in Zakynthos
During SCUBA dive performed at Gökova Bay, Island (SE Ionian Sea, Greece).
Aegean Sea, Turkey, one of the authors (A.T) observed
two specimens of Torquigener flavimaculosus (37.0316°N, sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789) (Tetraodontidae) and the
28.1820°E), on 12 September 2013, in shallow waters (4 Bluespotted cornetfish Fistularia commersonii (Ruppell,
m), on rocks covered by algae patches and sandy bottom 1838) (Fistulariidae) (Fig. 21) are Lessepsian immigrant
(Fig. 20). The identification of the species was based on fish species of Indo-Pacific origin that have been success-
the description provided by Golani et al. (2006) using high fully established mainly in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
quality photos. Important diagnostic features of specimens A. djedaba has been reported from several locations of
were clearly visible and noticeable: body colour brown the Levantine Sea, the Aegean Sea and the coast of Libya
dorsally with irregular grey-whitish spots; a mid-lateral (Golani et al., 2013 and references therein) while it spread
line of well-distinguished yellow-orange spots, pale yel- westward up to Tunisian waters (Hattour & Bradai, 2013)
low ventrally. Dorsal and ventral zones were separated by and the Maltese Islands (Sciberras & Schembri, 2007).
dark band with irregular spots. Caudal fin pigmented with L. sceleratus, which can be lethal to humans if the fish
dark spots, anal and pectorals fins transparent. is consumed, has been reported throughout the eastern
Mediterranean Sea, the Hellenic Ionian sea, the coast of
The observation of the alien Torquigener flavimac- Tunisia and Lampedusa Island in Italy (Azzurro et al.,
ulosus reported here for the first time in the Aegean 2014 and references therein). F. commersonii is considered
Turkish waters, shows a slight expansion northwards to to be one of the most widespread Lessepsian immigrants,
the waters of Rhodes Island, southeastern Aegean Sea, which has rapidly expanded throughout the Mediterranean
Greece, where the species is well established and com- Sea (Azzurro et al., 2013). However, all the above spe-
mon (Corsini-Foka et al., 2014). cies have not yet been reported from the southern part of
the Hellenic Ionian Sea. This study reports on their pres-
The spread of non-indigenous warm-water species ence around Zakynthos Island (SE Ionian Sea) including
in the Mediterranean Sea is an ongoing and accelerating the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of the National Marine
process and the observations derscribed here highlight Park of Zakynthos (NMPZ) (Fig. 22).
the intensification of this phenomenon in the area of the
South Aegean Sea. Therefore, the study of non-indige- A single individual of Alepes djedaba was initially ob-
nous new assemblages should be more focused, and their served (17th of August 2014) during a snorkelling survey
interactions deeply investigated as well. in front of Gerakas beach (37.706764˚Ν, 20.986537˚Ε, 2
m depth), feeding on benthic fauna across a sandy habi-
2.11. On the occurrence of the Lessepsian immigrants tat. A school of 9 individuals was further detected after
Alepes djedaba, Lagocephalus sceleratus and Fistularia
commersonii in Zakynthos Island (SE Ionian Sea,
Greece)
By C. Dimitriadis and L. Sourbès
The shrimp scad Alepes djedaba (Forsskål, 1775)
(Carangidae), the silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus
484 Medit. Mar. Sci., 16/2, 2015, 472-488
