The spread of an Atlantic fish species,Pomadasys incisus(Bowdich, 1825) (Osteichthyes: Haemulidae), within the Mediterranean Sea with new additional records from the French Mediterranean coast

Abstract

For the first time three specimens belonging to the species Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich, 1825), the bastard grunt, were caught in the French Ligurian Sea. This subtropical species, which naturally entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Straits of Gibraltar in the first half of the nineteenth century, and is currently colonizing the whole Mediterranean coast except the Adriatic Sea, was until now unknown for this region. We reviewed its distribution after a compilation of the available literature, and tried to explain the spreading and the establishment of the bastard grunt as a Mediterranean species in light of the prevailing Mediterranean currents and the possible climate changes.

Northernmost records of Pagrus auriga (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Sparidae) and Pomadasys incisus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Haemulidae) in the eastern Atlantic

“…These data are in agreement with measurements and counts reported by other authors describing this species (Serena and Silvestri 1996, Kapiris et al 2008, Bodilis et al 2013. The specimen showed the main distinctive characters of the species: oblong body, compressed, tapering posteriorly; coloration brownish back, silvery belly, with a dark blotch on the upper corner of the operculum; preopercle with a slightly concave and serrated posterior margin; large head, contained 3.1 times in the standard length; small and slightly oblique mouth; two clearly visible pores on the tip of the chin, and a short, shallow groove behind.…”

“…The main morphometric and meristic characters were taken on the preserved specimen of Pomadasys incisus, after defrosting, following Bodilis et al (2013) (Table 1). These data are in agreement with measurements and counts reported by other authors describing this species (Serena and Silvestri 1996, Kapiris et al 2008, Bodilis et al 2013.…”

Climate-driven changes in life-history traits of the bastard grunt (Pomadasys incisus) in the north-western Mediterranean

“…Its main distribution encompasses the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, from Angola to Gibraltar (including the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands). However, this subtropical and thermophilic species is currently spreading and establishing itself within the whole Mediterranean Sea (Bodilis et al, 2013). This species naturally en-.…”

“…This species naturally en-. This species naturally entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar but the prevailing currents, sea warming and the availability of suitable soft substrate in relatively shallow waters has recently allowed P. incisus to establish itself in the northwestern Mediterranean basin (Francour et al, 1994;Pastor et al, 2008;Bodilis et al, 2013). P. incisus is an example of the latitudinal extensions and/or demographic increase of thermophilic fishes, which are taking advantage of the current climate change (Psomadakis et al, 2012).…”

Otolith growth and age estimation of bastard grunt, Pomadasys incisus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Haemulidae), in the Gulf of Tunis (Central Mediterranean)

“…According to Bodilis et al (2013) this pattern of distribution may be due to a recent warming of the western Mediterranean waters or to a greater influx of waters from the Atlantic through the Straits of Gibraltar.…”