Keywords
Lessepsian migration
Chaetodon fasciatus
Mediterranean Sea
Syria
How to Cite
Abstract
The present study reports the first occurrence of the diagonal butterflyfish, Chaetodon fasciatus, in the Mediterranean Sea, based on a specimen recorded in Syrian waters. A single individual (145 mm total length) was caught on 25 October 2025 in the shallow waters off the coast of Latakia. The pathway of introduction of this species, which is native to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, remains unclear and requires further investigation. The increasing number of non-indigenous fish species of Indo-Pacific/Red Sea origin recorded in the region highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy for marine biodiversity conservation.
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