First records of small juveniles of the red drum sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1766) in a subtropical mangrove habitat of china

Abstract

The red drum Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1766) was introduced into China from Texas, United States for mariculture purposes nearly three decades ago. The present study provides the first evidence of small red drum juveniles living in a mangrove habitat of the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China. Twenty-eight specimens (4.5– 8.0 cm standard length) were caught using traps in February 2016 and April 2016; identification was further confirmed by COI gene analyses. As a large marine predatory fish, the impact of the red drum on native species in Chinese waters is unknown, and the mechanisms of invasion and population establishment in the wild merit further investigations.