engleski

Abudefduf cf. saxatilis, a new record in the Eastern Adriatic Sea

Alien fish species have been increasingly observed in recent years in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. Beside Lessepsian migrants which enter in the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Channel and constitute a major part of the Mediterranean assemblages of non-native species, many species have been introduced by various anthropogenic vectors such as shipping, aquarium release, aquaculture etc. Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) are represented by 423 valid species and Chromis chromis is the only native member of this family in the Mediterranean Sea. In the last decades, several pomacentrid fish have been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, among which, species of the genus Abudefduf are the most numerous. In recent years many records of two species, namely Abudefduf saxatilis and Abudefduf vaigiensis have been published. These two species are native to two distinct marine realms, A. vaigiensis being Indo-Pacific and A. saxatilis Atlantic species. They also display very high resemblance and can be easily misidentified. However, some morphological distinguishing characteristics are predominately, but according to recent studies, not exclusively, associated with particular species. Therefore, it is suggested that the species of Abudefduf genus recorded in the Mediterranean should be reported with precaution. Here we present a new record of Abudefduf cf. saxatilis observed on 2nd October 2020 in Cavtat, Croatia (42°35´12´´N ; 18°12´40 ´´N). Specimen was filmed by GoPro camera during the yearly MSFD monitoring of non-indigenous fish species in Croatia. Our finding represents the third record of Abudefduf sp. in the Adriatic Sea. The first record was in Split in September 2018, while the second record was in August 2019 at Punta Sottile near Trieste.

alien species ; non-indigenous species ; Damselfishes ; sergeant major

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