Lessepsian rabbitfish Siganus luridus reached the French Mediterranean coasts
Boris Daniel, Serge Piro, Éric Charbonnel, Patrice Francour, Yves Letourneur
Abstract
Two Siganus luridus (Rüppell, 1829) were caught in Sausset-les-Pins, near Marseille, southern France: the first the 9th of July, 2008 and the second one, the 27th of September. This constitutes a considerable extension of the distribution range of this Lessepsian species within the Mediterranean, as its northern- and westernmost known populations were located in the Sicily Strait and in Sicily. The origin of these fish is not clearly elucidated yet, although it could be linked to transport through vessel ballast from the eastern Mediterranean or Red Sea. The possibility of a natural migration from a distant population, such as the Sicily’ one, is also discussed.
Topics & Concepts
GeographyHumanitiesMediterranean climateMediterranean seaArtArchaeologyMarine Ecology and Invasive SpeciesCoral and Marine Ecosystems StudiesMarine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies