Additional records of three fish species Symphodus bailloni, Heniochus intermedius and Synanceia verrucosa in the marine waters of Lattakia Governorate.

Abstract

Non indigenous marine species are one of the main pressures on marine ecosystems, as they interact with other human pressures and climate changes. The process of controlling them constitutes the goal of major political and legislative efforts in all countries of the world and international organizations concerned with the environment and development. The current study deals with 3 additional records of 3 new fish species appearing in Syrian marine waters that were caught off the coast of the city of Latakia. The first, Symphodus bailloni (Valenciennes,1839), has a total length of 110 mm and a weight of 18 g. The second, Heniochus intermedius steindachner 1893, has a total length of 192 mm and a weight of 228.6 g. The third, Synanceia verrucosa Bloch & Schneider, 1801, has a total length of 370 mm and a weight 2935 g. There is a need for a third additional record of the two species Symphodus bailloni and Synanceia verrucosa to confirm the hypothesis of establishing populations of them in the Syrian marine waters, while the third species Heniochus intermedius has already succeeded in establishing a population after its third record. Additional records offer important information for understanding how species spread in the Syrian marine environment and the suitability of such environment for these newly introduced species, as well as the impact of these alien species on public health and the national economy (positively or negatively).