A new record of the Jinga shrimp Metapenaeus affinis (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) (Decapoda, Penaeidae), on the Egyptian Coasts, the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

An unexpected new Metapenaeus shrimp species has arrived to the coastal water of Alexandria City, Egypt. Morphological and molecular studies were conducted for its identification. The results revealed that it is the Indo-West Pacific species, Metapenaeus affinis (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), which is considered as a new addition to the already present local penaeidaespecies; Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius, 1798) and Metapenaeus stebbingi (Nobili, 1904). Large numbers of Metapenaeus affinis were observed and collected by the Egyptian fishermen from the coastal waters of Alexandria City, Egypt, during the study period (2020–2021), which indicates its establishment in the area. A recommendation was presented for further studies regarding the suggested ways of introduction and the prediction for future new species appearance. Such phenomenon requires international efforts to deal with the non-indigenous species’ entries that are recently intensified on the global and regional level.