CONFIRMATION RECORD OF THE AREOLATE GROUPER Epinephelus areolatus (FORSSKÅL, 1775) (TELEOSTEI: SERRANIDAE) IN SYRIAN MARINE WATERS
WAAD SABOUR *
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
MAI MASRI
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
ZEN ALABDIN BSEMA
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
We confirm the Red Sea (Lessepsian migrant) species the Areolate grouper Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775), occurrences in the Syrian coast, which constitutes the Fifth record in the entire Mediterranean, 220 mm total length and 144.5 g total weight, was caught by the trap-net on 4 October 2022 at a depth of 50 m over sandy – rocky bottom, off Ras Ibn Hani, Lattakia city. The identification of the present specimen of E. areolatus was based on morphological features, colour, and morphometric measurements and meristic counts.
Keywords: Bombyx mori L., Epinephelus areolatus, bivoltine, serranidae, parental breeds, Lessepsian migrants, foundation crosses, Syrian marine water, egg yield parameters