Journal of Fisheries & Livestock Production
Open Access

The Gracile Lizardfish, Saurida gracilis Quoy et al. [1] is a widely distributed species in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, ranging from Hawaii to the Red Sea Waples et al. [2]. It belongs to the family Synodontidae Gill Froese et al. [3] which includes four valid genera and 84 species Fricke et al. [4]. The genus Saurida Valenciennes, 1850, accounts for 26 of these species Fricke et al. [4]. In the Mediterranean Sea, only two species of Saurida have been documented: Saurida lessepsianus Russell et al. [4] introduced via Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal Russell et al. [5] and Saurida gracilis, first recorded in Tunisian waters by Khamassi et al. [1].

In Lebanese waters, the only previously recorded Saurida species was the non-indigenous Lessepsian migrant Saurida lessepsianus Bitar et al. [2]. This short communication documents the first record of Saurida gracilis in Lebanese waters, marking only the second occurrence of this species in the Mediterranean Sea.

Materials and Methods

On January 4, 2025, a single specimen of Saurida gracilis was captured in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the Lebanese coast in Tripoli waters (coordinates: 34°28'49"N, 35°47'02"E) during a fishing trip by M. Annous. The specimen was caught using bottom fishing techniques with shrimp bait at a depth of 23 meters. It was photographed by one of the authors (S.F.) for identification, with morphological identification conducted based on diagnostic traits and morphometric measurements. A portion of the specimen was preserved in alcohol for molecular analysis and archived at Palm Island Nature Reserve under the code PINR21.

The specimen was confirmed as Saurida gracilis based on its diagnostic morphological features. The body is subcylindrical and moderately elongate, measuring approximately 226 mm in total length, and 220.5 mm in standard length, with a slightly depressed head and compressed tail. The dorsal surface is mottled brown, transitioning to a whitish ventral side with yellowish tones, and all fins exhibit dark dotted bands (Fig. 1A, and 1B). Vertical dark bars are distinct along the posterior half of the body. The fin membranes are translucent, but all fin rays are spotted with yellow and brownish grey. The large mouth features numerous small teeth visible along the sides of the closed jaws, with the palatine teeth arranged in two rows on each side of the roof of the mouth (Fig. 1C, and 1D). The eyes are circular and partially covered by a fleshy adipose eyelid anteriorly and posteriorly. Fin ray counts include 11 rays in the dorsal fin, 9 in the anal fin, approximately 13 in the pectoral fins, and 9 in the pelvic fins; the longest ray of the dorsal fin is two times as long as the last ray. The specimen has 52 lateral-line scales. The scale in the axil of the pectoral fin is short and broad. These characteristics align with those of specimens reported in Tunisian waters by Khamassi et al. [1] and descriptions provided by Waples et al. [2]. Genetic analysis of the species is highly recommended for further confirmation.

Figure 1: Saurida gracilis specimen captured off the Lebanese coast on January 4, 2025. (A) Lateral view showing the mottled brown dorsal coloration transitioning to a whitish ventral side with yellowish tones. (B) Dorsal view highlighting the subcylindrical body shape. (C) Lateral view of the head, illustrating small teeth visible along the sides of the closed jaws and the arrangement of palatine teeth. (D) Ventral view showcasing the compressed tail and fin ray patterns. Scale bar: 2.0 cm. Photocredit: Samer Fatfat.

The presence of Saurida gracilis as a newly recorded non-indigenous species (NIS) in Lebanese waters aligns with the observed increase in NIS, particularly Lessepsian species, throughout the Mediterranean Sea, and more notably in the Levantine Basin Galinidi et al. [5]. This occurrence supports the hypothesis by Khamassi et al. [1] suggesting that S. gracilis has most probably entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. The species has been reported from the Suez Canal by Chabanaud et al. [6] and from the Gulf of Suez by Dollfus in Gruvel 1936, as Saurida sinaitica [7]. It is otherwise widespread in the Red Sea and the Indo-West Pacific, from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), East Africa, Socotra (Yemen), Seychelles, Madagascar and Mascarenes La Réunion, Mauritius, et al. east to the Hawaiian Islands (U.S.A.) and Pitcairn Group, north to southern Japan and Ogasawara Islands (Japan), south to Western Australia, Quensland (Australia) and New Caledonia Fricke et al. [8].

Monitoring the presence and assessing the ecological impacts of S. gracilis and other NIS is crucial for understanding their influence on local ecosystems. To this end, the continuation and expansion of citizen science initiatives are strongly recommended. These initiatives encourage collaboration between fishers and researchers, fostering robust networks and advancing the understanding of NIS dynamics and their effects on local communities and biodiversity [9-12].

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