First Record of Carapus acus (Osteichthyes: Carapidae) in the Gulf of Gabès (southern Tunisia, central Mediterranean Sea)

Samira Enajjar,Mohamed Nejemeddine Bradai

doi:10.1186/s41200-016-0015-8

Samira Enajjar, Mohamed Nejemeddine Bradai

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41200-016-0015-8

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Abstract

One specimen of Carapus acus was captured in the Gulf of Gabes (southern Tunisia, central Mediterranean Sea), during an experimental bottom trawl survey in the frame of the monitoring of benthic fish stocks of the Tunisian coast. This represents the first record of the pearl fish in the area and a proof of the occurrence of this species in Tunisian coast. The pearl fish caught measured 136.1 millimeters and it weighed 2.838 gram. It has been captured at the following coordinate 34°39’629”N; 12°45’795”E by 100 meters depth. Many Echinoderms were landed during this hauls but any Holoturoidea were observed. Carapus acus occurs in Tunisian water but others studies are necessary to confirm its abundance, the commensal or parasitic status usually attributed to the carapidae and to determine the host of this species in the Gulf of Gabes.

Highlights

One specimen of Carapus acus was captured in the Gulf of Gabès, during an experimental bottom trawl survey in the frame of the monitoring of benthic fish stocks of the Tunisian coast
The fish was identified as carapus acus (Fig. 1)
The species is deposed in the collection of the National Institute of Sea Sciences and Technologies catalogue at Centre of Sfax under the no

Summary

Introduction

One specimen of Carapus acus was captured in the Gulf of Gabès (southern Tunisia, central Mediterranean Sea), during an experimental bottom trawl survey in the frame of the monitoring of benthic fish stocks of the Tunisian coast. This represents the first record of the pearl fish in the area and a proof of the occurrence of this species in Tunisian coast. The pearl fish, Carapus acus occurred throughout the Mediterranean Sea, mainly in the western basin (Italy, Spain, France, Sardinia and the Balearic Island) and the west coast of North Africa (Nielsen et al 1999). The author mentions the species under a synonymous names “Fierasfer acus”. Lubet and Azzouz (1969) reported the pearl fish for the second time in the Gulf of Tunis under the name of “Fierasfer imberbis”

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