A Review on the Occurrence of the Blunthead Puffer, Sphoeroides pachygaster (Müller & Troschel, 1848) in the Mediterranean with a New Occurrence from Oran Bay (Western Algeria)

Abstract

The blunthead puffer, Sphoeroides pachygaster was first recorded in Algerian waters in 2009 from Annaba Gulf (Western Mediterranean) caught by a trawler at 150 m depth. Since then the records show there been no further observations in Algerian waters. In this paper, we report a new record of S. pachygaster from western Algerian coasts, eleven years after it was first recorded in Eastern Algeria. Two specimens were caught, the first by an angler in Bousfer beach on 25th January, 2020, measuring 360.6 mm TL and weighting 2250g and the second by trammel net in "Les Andalouses"bay measuring 409.5 mm TL and weighting 2420g. Accordingly, we describe biometrical and meristic characteristics, literature, databases and fish collections reviews of this Tetraodontidae, a species new to the Western Algerian fish fauna.