New records of the spotfin burrfish Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the Italian coasts

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Published: Feb 6, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.38595
Keywords:
Diodontidae Citizen science alert campaign Mediterranean Sea Non-Indigenosus Species early detection
MANUELA FALAUTANO
Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Department for the Monitoring and Protection of the Environment and for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (Ex Complesso Roosevelt), 90149, Palermo, Italy
SILVIA LIVI
Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Department for the Monitoring and Protection of the Environment and for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (Ex Complesso Roosevelt), 90149, Palermo, Italy
FRANCESCO TIRALONGO
Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95124, Catania, Italy; Ente Fauna Marina Mediterranea, Scientific Organization for Research and Conservation of Marine Biodiversity, 96012, Avola, Italy; National Research Council, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, 60125, Ancona, Italy
ERNESTO AZZURRO
National Research Council, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, 60125, Ancona, Italy & NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
DANIELE GRECH
NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy ; IMC - International Marine Centre, Loc. Sa Mardini, Torregrande - 09170 Oristano, Italy ; Subacquei per la Scienza, Italy
CLAUDIO MASALA
Subacquei per la Scienza, Italy
LUCA CASTRIOTA
Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Department for the Monitoring and Protection of the Environment and for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (Ex Complesso Roosevelt), 90149, Palermo, Italy
Abstract

Here we report two new records of the spotfin burrfish, Chilomycterus reticulatus, in the Mediterranean Sea, detected through a public awareness campaign designed to inform citizens about the presence of hazardous alien fish species. The first specimen was recorded by a professional fisherman in January 2023, stranded along the coast of Lazio, central Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. The specimen was collected and identified through morphological and molecular methods as C. reticulatus. Moreover, its gut content was analyzed showing mollusc fragments, some of which belonged to Bolinus brandaris. A second specimen of C. cf. reticulatus was observed and filmed in Sardinia on 29 June 2024 in the framework of another citizen science initiative.

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