New Mediterranean Marine biodiversity records (December, 2013)

M. Bilecenoglu [et al.]Based on recent biodiversity studies carried out in different parts of the Mediterranean, the following 19 species are included as new records on the floral or faunal lists of the relevant ecosystems: the green algae Penicillus capitatus (Maltese waters); the nemertean Amphiporus allucens (Iberian Peninsula, Spain); the salp Salpa maxima (Syria); the opistobranchs Felimida britoi and Berghia coerulescens (Aegean Sea, Greece); the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus (central-west Mediterranean and Ionian Sea, Italy); Randall’s threadfin bream Nemipterus randalli, the broadbanded cardinalfish Apogon fasciatus and the goby Gobius kolombatovici (Aegean Sea, Turkey); the reticulated leatherjack Stephanolepis diaspros and the halacarid Agaue chevreuxi (Sea of Marmara, Turkey); the slimy liagora Ganonema farinosum, the yellowstripe barracuda Sphyraena chrysotaenia, the rayed pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata radiata and the Persian conch Conomurex persicus (south-eastern Crete, Greece); the blenny Microlipophrys dalmatinus and the bastard grunt Pomadasys incisus (Ionian Sea, Italy); the brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus (north-eastern Levant, Turkey); the blue-crab Callinectes sapidus (Corfu, Ionian Sea, Greece). In addition, the findings of the following rare species improve currently available biogeographical knowledge: the oceanic pufferfish Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Malta); the yellow sea chub Kyphosus incisor (Almuñécar coast of Spain); the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus and the shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus (north-eastern Levant, Turkey).Peer reviewe

Rast i prehrambene navike vučića, Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1758) u zaljevu Izmir, Egejsko more

Age, growth and diet of brown comber, Serranus hepatus, were determined from specimens collected in Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea. Total length ranged from 5.20 to 11.70 cm, while weight varied between 1.89 and 24.97 g. The length-weight relationship was W=0.0157*L2.998. Age was determined by otolith readings, where a maximum age of 4 years was observed. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated as L∞=11.90 cm, k=0.56, to=–1.14. Stomach content analysis revealed that the species is carnivorous, with benthic crustaceans constituting the main food in the overall diet composition.Starost, rast i prehrambene navike vučića, Serranus hepatus, su ustanovljene na primjercima prikupljenim u Izmirskom zaljevu, Egejsko more. Ukupna duljina kretala se od 5.20 do 11.70 cm, a težina od 1.89 do 24.97 g. Duljinsko-maseni odnos je iznosio W=0.0157*L2.998. Starost je određena prema očitanju otolita, te je ustanovljena maksimalna starost od 4 godine. Von Bertalanffy-ijevi parametri rasta su iznosili kao što slijedi: L∞=11.90 cm, k=0.56, to= –1.14. Analiza sadržaja želudaca je otkrila da ova vrsta spada u mesoždere jer su u njezinoj prehrani najzastupljeniji bili raci

Northernmost occurrence of Hemiramphus far (Actinopterygii: Hemiramphidae) in the Aegean Sea

A new record of Hemiramphus far from the northern Aegean Sea is presented, based on a single specimen collected off Eski Foça shores, Turkey. Further individuals were observed (but not collected) in the same area, indicating an established population

Pelvic fin walking and punting behaviour of Raja radula Delaroche, 1809 observed in the Sea of Marmara

A mature female rough ray (Raja radula Delaroche, 1809) individual was observed at Sea of Marmara during a scuba dive to perform pelvic fin walking and punting, which was a previously unrecorded rajid behaviour from the Mediterranean Sea. The underwater video footage were analyzed, in which the average distance travelled per punt was measured as 0.40 disc length (DL) at an average speed of 0.26DL per second

New data on the occurrence of two alien fishes, Pisodonophis semicinctus and Pomadasys stridens, from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

The tropical Atlantic originated saddled snake eel, Pisodonophis semicinctus (Richardson, 1848) and the Indian Ocean originated striped piggy, Pomadasys stridens (Forsskål, 1775), are being recorded for the first time from Turkish coasts. First species is also a new addition to the eastern Mediterranean ichthyofauna, while the latter species has expanded its range to the northeastern Levant Sea

Nalazi dvaju rijetkih glavoča (Millerigobius macrocephalus, Zebrus zebrus) u Egejskom moru

Two goby species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea were collected from the northern and southern Aegean Sea. A new record of Millerigobius macrocephalus from the area is presented and the occurrence of zebrus zebrus off Turkish coasts is substantiated.Dvije vrste mediteranskih endemičnih glavoča su ulovljene u sjevernom i južnom Egejskom moru. Prikazan je novi nalaz vrste Millerigobius macrocephalus, te je obrazložena pojava vrste Zebrus zebrus u turskim vodama

Nalazi dvaju rijetkih glavoča (Millerigobius macrocephalus, Zebrus zebrus) u Egejskom moru

Two goby species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea were collected from the northern and southern Aegean Sea. A new record of Millerigobius macrocephalus from the area is presented and the occurrence of zebrus zebrus off Turkish coasts is substantiated.Dvije vrste mediteranskih endemičnih glavoča su ulovljene u sjevernom i južnom Egejskom moru. Prikazan je novi nalaz vrste Millerigobius macrocephalus, te je obrazložena pojava vrste Zebrus zebrus u turskim vodama

The last fortress fell: mass mortality of Pinna nobilis in the Sea of Marmara

A spring 2021 cruise to the south Marmara Islands revealed a mass mortality event of Pinna nobilis, which were reported to be healthy just seven months ago. The cause of death might be associated with the epidemic infection or a catastrophic mucilage event seen after November 2020 in the Sea of Marmara. A total of 191 Pinna nobilis individuals were found at seven stations out of 10, of which 88% were dead. In the present study, the population density (dead and alive individuals) of P. nobilis was found to be between 0.3 ind.100 m-2 and 12 ind.100 m-2 in the area. A total of three live and four dead juvenile individuals were observed in the area, indicating low recent recruitment. The highest number of dead Pinna nobilis individuals (92 specimens) was encountered in shallow-waters (0-4 m depth). A total of 34 species belonging to six taxonomic groups (Sipuncula, Oligochaeta, Polychaeta, Crustacea, Mollusca, and Pisces) were found within the dead shells of four P. nobilis individuals. The mass mortality of Pinna nobilis in the Sea of Marmara, the last remaining disease-free sea, indicates the necessity of establishing and implementing emergency action plans for this species, including ex-situ conservation