Keywords
bastard grunt
Albanian Coas
Adriatic Sea
Mediterranean Sea
How to Cite
Funding data
-
NextGenerationEU
Grant numbers IP-UNIST-52
Abstract
The bastard grunt Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich, 1825), an Atlantic species that entered the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar, exhibits a discontinuous distribution within the basin and remains rare in the Adriatic Sea. Here, we report the first record of P. incisus in Albanian waters and only the third confirmed occurrence in the Adriatic Sea. A single individual was captured on 9 October 2025 in the Bay of Vlorë at a depth of 48 m near aquaculture facilities. The specimen was identified based on diagnostic morphological features and measured 21 cm in total length and 125 g in weight. This record fills an important gap in the species’ Mediterranean distribution, although the exact route of entry into the Adriatic remains unclear. The rarity of records suggests limited establishment; however, recent warming trends in the Adriatic may facilitate further expansion.
References
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