Abstract

The first record of the Sargocentron genus from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean) - who will unravel the current conundrum?

Highlights

  • The squirrelfish genus (Holocentridae: Holocentrinae) Sargocentron is diverse and currently comprises 33 species (Froese and Pauly 2016), eight of which were recognized from the Red Sea (Golani and Bogorodsky 2010)

  • Four species can be excluded (S. bullisi, S. coruscum, S. microstoma for the peculiar shape of the black mark on dorsal spine and S. cornutum for a black peduncular blotch) with Sargocentron rubrum and S. hastatum remaining as the only possible candidates

  • Pictures of the two Malta squirrelfish specimens are consistent with both S. rubrum and S. hastatum. Considering both the taxonomic uncertainty on Mediterranean squirrelfish (Bariche et al 2015) and present results, it is apparent that a species level identification cannot be concluded solely on the basis of our pictures and the same should apply for similar records made recently in the Mediterranean sea

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Summary

Introduction

The squirrelfish genus (Holocentridae: Holocentrinae) Sargocentron is diverse and currently comprises 33 species (Froese and Pauly 2016), eight of which were recognized from the Red Sea (Golani and Bogorodsky 2010). The red coat Sargocentron rubrum (Forskkal, 1775), one of the oldest Red Sea immigrants to have entered the Mediterranean (Golani and Ben Tuvia 1985), has, up till recently, been considered to be the only representative of the Holocentridae family in this Basin.

Results
Conclusion
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