New records of marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea (April 2026)

Abstract

This collective article presents new information about 18 species occurring in 12 Mediterranean countries from the Alboran Sea to the Levantine Sea. Five lessepsian species namely Erugosquilla massavensis, Syrnola fasciata, Plocamopherus ocellatus, Maritigrella fuscopunctata and Siganus javus have spread within 2025 to neighbouring MSFD areas. Another five are here reported as first country records [Polyandrocarpa zorritensis (Malta), Gonioinfradens giardi (Italy), Istiblennius meleagris (Egypt), Epinephelus fasciatus (Israel), Lophocladia trichoclados (Montenegro)]. Cladophora patentiramea has spread from the Levantine to the Aegean Sea, while Pinctada radiata has reached Granada, and Cádiz. The Atlantic fish Enchelycore anatina and Synodus synodus have expanded their distribution to Montenegro and Syria respectively. Three rare native species are reported for first time at country level, while a fourth (Mobula birostris) has made an appearance more than a century after its first Mediterranean record.