First record of the oceanic puffer lagocephalus lagocephalus (linnaeus, 1758 from the syrian marine waters (eastern mediterranean)

Abstract

Background: The puffer fish species (Tetraodontidae) inhabit tropical and subtropical coastal waters around the world, and some species exist in many parts of the Mediterranean Sea. In the Syrian marine waters (eastern Mediterranean), five species are known to exist but Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) was not recorded there before. Method: Samples were collected from a depth of 300m off Banyas coast, Syria, using bottom longline, the morphometric measurements and meristic measurements were recorded. Results: One specimen of the oceanic puffer Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) was caught from the marine water of Syria. Conclusion: This is the first record of Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Syrian marine waters.