Updated checklist of bony fishes along the Libyan coasts (Southern Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

Here we provide an updated review of both native and non-indigenous ichthyofauna occurring in the waters of Libya, one of the largest and less studied marine areas of the Mediterranean basin. With respect to the most recent information, the list of Libyan bony fishes was updated with 104 species for a total of 304 listed taxa. Out of these species, 271 are native, 6 endemic to the Mediterranean, 22 non indigenous of Lessepsian origin and 5 range expanding taxa from Gibraltar. Information on the distribution and abundance of Lessepsian fishes along the Libyan coasts was gained through both field surveys and interviews with local small-scale fishermen, which contributed in filling large information gaps in the area. This combined approach allowed to gather a more complete representation of non indigenous species along the Libyan coasts and indicated three assessment areas, corresponding to the eastern, central and western sectors of the country, which should be considered in future monitoring programs.

“New records of rare species in the Mediterranean Sea” (October 2021)

“…Up to date, the species has not been listed among the marine ichthyofauna of Libya (cf. Elbaraasi et al, 2019). The first finding of S. hyalina in the waters of the country described here fills a gap on the geographical distribution of the species in the southern waters of the Mediterranean Sea.…”

First record of the Lessepsian fishParexocoetus mentoin Italian waters and GIS-based spatial and temporal distribution in Mediterranean Sea

“…The first record of the African sailfin flying fish in the Mediterranean Sea occurred off Palestine (Bruun, 1935), and it has since been recorded from Greece (Kosswig, 1950; Ben-Tuvia, 1966; Papaconstantinou, 1987; Zachariou-Mamalinga, 1990) and elsewhere in the Aegean Sea (Zaitsev & Ozturk, 2001), Israel (Ben-Tuvia, 1966), Libya (Ben-Tuvia, 1966; Elbaraasi et al ., 2019), Lebanon (George & Athanassiou, 1967; Bariche et al ., 2007), Syria (Saad, 2005), Turkey (Avsar & Cicek, 2000; Meric et al ., 2007; EastMed, 2010), Albania (Parin, 1986), Cyprus (EastMed, 2010), Egypt (El Sayed, 1994; El-Haweet, 2001) and Tunisia (Ben Souissi et al ., 2004; Bradai et al ., 2004). After this record no specimen has been detected in this area between the coasts of North Africa and the southern Sicily.…”

First record and otolith morphometric description of an adult lightfish, Ichthyococcus ovatus (Actinopterygii: Stomiiformes: Phosichthyidae), caught in the Strait of Sicily (central Mediterranean Sea)

“…The widespread nature of this lightfish species is demonstrated by its geographical distribution within the Mediterranean Sea. The records in the waters off Libya (Elbaraasi et al 2019;GBIF 2022) and western coasts of Egypt (Akel and Karachle 2017;GBIF 2022) suggest that the geographical range of I. ovatus can extend to the Levantine basin of the Mediterranean Sea. Other workers found it as reported at different areas, for example, the Western and Central basin such as the Catalan Sea, Balearic Sea, Corsican Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea, Gulf of Hammamet, and Strait of Messina (Palomera and Rubies 1979;Papaconstantinou 1990;Biagi et al 2002;Sabatés 2004;Mytilineou et al 2005;Battaglia et al 2010;Somarakis et al 2011;Olivar et al 2012;Rodríguez et al 2013;Zarrad et al 2013;Lin et al 2018;GBIF 2022).…”