Syrian Marine Waters Research Articles

First Record of the Glugea sp. on the Alosa fallax (Lacepède, 1803) Caught in the Marine Waters of Syria (Eastern Mediterranean)

During the implementation of the current research entitled “Study of diet, growth, reproduction, and determination of the concentrations of some trace elements in Alosa fallax (Lacépède, 1803) in the marine waters of the Lattakian coast”, we found the parasite Glugea sp. inside one of the Alosa fallax caught on 7/24/2023 AD from the Ras Al-Baseet area (35.8524° N, 35.8378° E) using Purse nets. Infection with the parasite Glugea sp. In colonies of yellowish-white masses over the digestive system and muscles. The anatomical and histological characteristics were consistent with scientific references, and this is the first record of the parasite Glugea sp. in the Syrian marine waters and the eastern Mediterranean.

New records of rarely reported species in the Mediterranean Sea (July 2023)

This Collective Article presents new information about the occurrence of 23 marine taxa that belong to five Phyla: two Chlorophyta, one Annelida, six Mollusca, three Arthropoda, eleven Chordata (one Ascidiacea, one Elasmobranchii and nine Teleostei) and extending from the Western Mediterranean to the Levantine Sea. All these records were reported from nine countries from the western to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with a broad biogeographical coverage as follows: Spain: first records of the sacoglossans Cyerce graeca and Placida tardyi for the Alboran Sea and first records of the nudibranch Marionia gemmii for the Mediterranean waters of Spain; first records of nudibranch Algarvia alba in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy: First report of the long-legged crab Paragalene longicrura, a further new Mediterranean record of the rare offshore rockfish Pontinus kuhlii, first documented record of the spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela in Sardinia (Tyrrhenian Sea), new record of the red‐spotted wrasse Lappanella fasciata from the Messina Strait, first documented record of the rarely observed brown moray Gymnothorax unicolor in the Ionian coast, first record of the colonial ascidian Botrylloides israeliensis, first record of the Morocco dentex Dentex maroccanus, first record of mottled shore crab Pachygrapsus maurus and of an adult specimen of barracudina Lestidiops sphyrenoides in the Adriatic Sea, and further new Mediterranean records of Ross worm Sabellaria spinulosa along the same coast. Tunisia: second record of smalleye squaretail Tetragonurus cuvieri from the African Mediterranean coast. Slovenia: first records of the sea slug Trapania graeffei and Melanochlamys wildpretii, with the last one also representing the northernmost finding of this species. Croatia: northernmost record of the endangered twaite shad Alosa fallax in the Adriatic coast. Albania: first records of the Mediterranean spearfish Tetrapturus belone. Türkiye: first record from the Aegean coasts for Türkiye of the green macroalgae Cladophora battersii and Valonia aegagropila. Israel: first record of the skeleton shrimp Caprella acanthifera in the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea. Syria: first record of the Smooth grenadier Nezumia aequalis from Syrian marine waters.

First record of Bugula neritina (Bryozoa: Bugulidae), in the mediolittoral zone of Ibn ‎Hani Lattakia, eastern Mediterranean sea (Syria)‎

The species Bugula neritina (Linnaeus, 1758) of the Bugulidae family was observed on the artificial reefs at a depth of 15 meters, (from February to May2021) in the mediolittoral waters of Ibn Hani site (north Lattakia City, Syria). The morphological and characteristics have been used to confirm the new Bryozoa. It is the first record of this species in the Syrian marine waters. B. neritina colonies abundance are 3 colonies in 1200cm2, and they were found with coralligenous macroalgae, Codium sp (green algae), Polysiphonia sp. (red algae), Balanus and Tunicates, attached to hard substrate (artificial reefs), in salinity 39‰).

First Record of the Parasitic Nematode Anisakis simplex in the Intestine and Gonads of Dentex macrophthamus off Syrian Marine Waters

This study aimed to investigate the infection of internal parasites of Dentex macrophthalmus in Syrian marine coastal waters. A total of 409 individuals were collected from Ras Al-Basit in the north to Tartus in the south, from the following research stations: Ras Al-Basit, different areas along the Lattakia beach, Jableh, and Tartous, during the period from January 2019 to December 2020.
 The internal organs (stomach, intestine, and body cavity) of all fish specimens were examined to detect infection with internal parasites. The third-stage larvae of the parasite Anisakis simplex, which belongs to the nematode worms, was isolated from the stomach and gonad walls of D. macrophthalmus. The number of fish infected with this worm reached 53 out of 409 fish individuals studied, with an infection rate of 12.96% and an infection intensity of 2.70 parasites per fish.
 This study represents the first record of Anisakis simplex isolated from the abdominal cavity of D. macrophthalmus in Syrian marine waters.

First record of frigate tuna Auxis thazard (Osteichthyes: Scombriformes: Scombridae) in the Syrian marine waters, the Eastern Mediterranean

We report for the first time the presence of frigate tuna Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800) in the Syrian marine waters in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. A specimen of A. thazard was caught in Purse seine nets in the fishery for bullet tuna A. rochei (Risso, 1810) in Ras al-Bassit in March 2022.

Pencil cardinal Epigonus denticulatus Dieuzeide 1950, a western Mediterranean fish: Newly recorded from the Syrian marine waters (Eastern Mediterranean)

Pencil cardinal Epigonus denticulatus Dieuzeide 1950, a western Mediterranean fish: Newly recorded from the Syrian marine waters (Eastern Mediterranean)

First record of the Rosy goatfish, Parupeneus rubescens (Lacepede, 1801) (Mullidae) in Syrian marine waters

This paper discusses the first documented record of the Rosy goatfish Parupeneus rubescens in Syrian coastal waters. A specimen (200 mm TL) was captured on 21st May 2020, using trammel nets at a depth of 120 m. in the Ras al-Basit region, 60 km north of Lattakia (35°50′ N, 35°50′E). Morphological and taxonomic analysis showed that the type of individual described in the present work is a newly introduced species of Indo-Pacific origin to the area, identified as P. rubescens (Lacepede, 1801). It should be noted that this species was monitored with individuals of the species Parupeneus forsskali in the framework of our research project on the biology of the Mullidae family in the Syrian marine waters. The number of Lessepsian fish migrants in the Syrian marine waters has reached 82 species.

Study of Reproduction Biology of Lionfish Pterois Miles (Scorpaenidae) in Syrian Marine Waters

The reproduction of Pterois miles, which is of the Lessepsian species that invaded the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, was studied. It established abundant populations along the Syrian coast and began to compete with the native species in respect of their diets and, habitats as well as prey on them. The study included the analysis data of 259 samples caught in the Syrian marine waters (2019–2020), and the results show that this species has two reproduction periods: a long period during summer and a short one during fall. The GSI% value, which represents the percentage of gonad weight relative to eviscerated body weight, for females during summer was 4.09±3.68% and 3.28±1.94% during fall, while the GSI% value for males was 2.04±1.30% during summer and 1.14±1.33% in fall. Also, the HSI% value, which represents the percentage of liver weight relative to the weight of the eviscerated body, was high during the reproduction period in both males and females. The individuals of this species are characterized by high fertility, and the females, number of eggs was 115332–313575. The females, length was 24–32 cm and their visceral weight was 166.67–311.81g. The diameters of the eggs were 39.84–43.47 microns. Therefore P.miles constitutes a serious threat to the native marine environment and its wealth of fish.

Prvi nalaz vrste Pomacanthus maculosus (Pomacanthidae) u sirijskim obalnim vodama (istočno Sredozemno more)

On 16 June 2022, two specimens of Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål, 1775) were observed in the Syrian marine waters. One specimen was captured and classified, measured, preserved in formaldehyde and deposited at Tishreen University. It is a second substantiated record in the Levant Basin, and the first for the Syrian coast. The successful establishment of a viable population of P. maculosus in the Mediterranean Sea remains a suitable hypothesis which cannot be totally ruled out.

First Record of the Parasitic Nematode Anisakis simplex in the Intestine and Gonads of Dentex macrophthamus off Syrian Marine Waters

This study was aimed to investigate the infection of internal parasites of Dentex macrophthalmus in Syrian marine coastal waters. A total of 409 individuals were collected from Ras Al-Basit in the north to Tartus in the south from the following research stations: Ras Al-Basit, different areas along the Lattakia beach, Jableh and Tartous, during the period from January 2019 to December 2020.
 The internal organs (stomach, intestine and body cavity) of all fish specimens were examined to detect infection with internal parasites. The third stage larvae of the parasite Anisakis simplex, which belongs to the nematode worms, was isolated from the stomach and gonad walls of D. macrophthalmus, where the number of fish infected with this worm reached 53 out of 409 fish individuals studied, with an infection rate of 12.96% and infection intensity of 2.70 parasites/fish.
 This study represents the first record of Anisakis simplex isolated from the abdominal cavity of D. macrophthalmus in the Syrian marine waters.

First Occurrence of Heniochus intermedius Steindachner, 1893 in The Syrian Marine Waters (Levantine Basin)

On May 18, 2022, a Heniochus intermedius (Steindachner, 1893) individual with a total length of 140 mm and a total weight of 58.4 g was caught by trap at a depth of 14 meters, with a mixed bottom of sand and stones, in front of the beach of Banias (N: 35) ° 7. 0.5' 17', E: 35° 54' 14.73). In this work, we document the first record of a Red Sea species (Lesbesian immigrant), Heniochus intermedius (Steindachner, 1893), in the Syrian coast, the seventh record in the entire Mediterranean. As a result, the number of fish migrating from the Red Sea to the Syrian marine waters has reached 82 species. The methods of introduction and arrival of fish of this species into the Mediterranean are also discussed.

First record of the moon crab Ashtoret lunaris (Forskål, 1775) from Syrian coasts

The number of aliens crustaceans is constantly increasing within the Syrian marine waters with the increasing of the interest in the marine biodiversity which allowed the discovery of many new species and various unrecorded species. The moon crab Ashtoret lunaris (Forskål, 1775) is recorded for the first time from the Syrian coast in the eastern Mediterranean. Two specimens of the Lessepsian crab A. lunaris were collected from Al-shokaifat area (at the north of Jableh). The specimens were collected by hand from the sandy shore on 7 August 2017.

First record of Goldlined seabream Rhabdosargus sarba (Forssk\xe5l 1775), Sparidae, in the Mediterranean Sea (Syrian waters)

This paper presents the first record of Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål 1775) in the Mediterranean Sea and the Syrian marine waters. One specimen (163 mm TL, 66.45 g TW) was caught by trammel nets at a depth range between 50 and 60 m, from Lattakia coast, on 31 January 2021. This record represents the first sighting of this immigrant species that entered the Mediterranean Sea to Syrian waters from the Red Sea. the key to the species of Rhabdosargus is provided.

Stonefish Synanceia verrucosa Bloch & Schneider, 1801 (Actinopterygii: Synanceiidae): the first record in the Syrian coast and the fourth in the Mediterranean

Fish species introduction into the Mediterranean Sea is constantly increasing, and this is what worries biologists especially after the arrival of poisonous species . In this paper, Synanceia verrucosa is recorded for the first time in the Syrian marine waters, filling the gap of its distributions between north and south of the eastern Mediterranean.

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First record of the flat needlefish Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) from Syrian marine waters (eastern Mediterranean)

BackgroundClimatic changes and human activities have worked to pave the way for alien species to invade new areas far from their native habitats. Belonidae species (Needlefishes), spread into wide water bodies, and some exist in the Mediterranean Sea.MethodOn 18/2/2019, a field trip was performed in the marine waters facing Banyas city, Syria (N: 35°14′35.11“, E: 35°55’12.56”); to collect fish samples using a gillnet, with assistance of fishing boat (9.5 m and 19HP). Fish individuals were identified, the morphometric measurements and meristic counts were recorded.ResultsTwo individuals of the Flat Needlefish Ablennes hians were caught from the marine water facing Banyas city-Syria.ConclusionThis study reveals that the Flat Needlefish A.hians exists in the marine waters of Syria (Eastern Mediterranean). It is recorded for the second time in the Mediterranean Sea, and Suez Canal is thought to be the main root of introduction.

First record of the spotfin cardinal fish Jaydia queketti (Gilchrist, 1903) (Teleostei: Apogonidae) from the Syrian marine waters (Eastern Mediterranean)

For decades, the Mediterranean Sea received many invasive marine biota, which found their corridors to the Mediterranean environment through various ways, benefiting from the climate changes. On March 2019, a field trip was performed in the marine waters facing Banyas city, Syria, a specimen of the spotfin cardinal fish Jaydia queketti (Gilchrist, 1903) was caught. This record fills the gap in the species distribution along the eastern Mediterranean; between northern (Iskenderun Bay) and southern (Ashdod) coasts, and it is considered as the first report of this fish in the Syrian marine waters.

First record of Red cornetfish, Fistularia petimba Lacepède, 1803 (Actinopterygii: Fistulariidae) from the Syrian coast

Fistulariidae species (Cornetfishes) exist in tropical and subtropical waters having four species; two of them are found in the Mediterranean Sea. This study records Fistularia petimba from the Syrian marine waters for the first time, filling the gap in its distribution along the eastern Mediterranean.

First record of the oceanic puffer Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Syrian marine waters (eastern Mediterranean)

BackgroundThe puffer fish species (Tetraodontidae) inhabit tropical and subtropical coastal waters around the world, and some species exist in many parts of the Mediterranean Sea. In the Syrian marine waters (eastern Mediterranean), five species are known to exist but Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) was not recorded there before.MethodSamples were collected from a depth of 300 m off Banyas coast, Syria, using bottom longline, the morphometric measurements and meristic measurements were recorded.ResultsOne specimen of the oceanic puffer Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) was caught from the marine water of Syria.ConclusionThis is the first record of Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Syrian marine waters.

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