Visual records of Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch, 1790) in the North-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Abstract

In this study, five tripletails, Lobotes surinamensis, were reported for the first time in Mersin Bay (North-eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey). . Four juveniles were observed during diving expeditions in Yeşilovacık, Mersin Bay, on 04 November 2015 and 23 September 2016, while the fifth juvenile was recorded in Ayaş/Erdemli, Mersin Bay on 26 June 2018. This report is the first observation for this location and fills an essential gap in the species' range distribution. This study is also important as it is the first visual record of juveniles in this region. This finding will be helpful for both fisheries management and conservation efforts of this species.

Keywords

• lobotidae
• observation
• mersin coast
• eastern mediterranean
• turkey