Species Report Pempheris Vanicolensis (Vanikoro Sweeper) AFFILIATION FISHES

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Species report Pempheris vanicolensis (Vanikoro sweeper) AFFILIATION FISHES

SCIENTIFIC NAME AND COMMON NAME REPORTS Pempheris vanicolensis 10

Key Identifying Features the tail fin.

This small to medium-sized fish can grow to 20 This fish is brown bronze in colour, with a cm. Its body is deep and strongly compressed, greenish sheen over the back. The pectoral fins the belly is triangular, the mouth is oblique, and are yellow without a black basal spot; the tip of the eyes are large. The dorsal fin is very short, the dorsal fin is black, and the base of the anal usually higher than long, and much shorter than fin is often black. the anal fin. An obvious distinguishing feature is the dark leading edge of the short dorsal fin, expanding to produce dark tips on the soft rays (total 6 spines, 9 soft rays); the posterior region of the tail fin is also dark. The pectoral fin is translucent with a distinct black outline forming a Vshape along the lower edge. The anal fin (3 spines, 31–43 soft rays) is very long. The lateral line is complete, gently curved, and extends onto

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History and Route of Introduction

The Vanikoro sweeper is an Indo-West Pacific species that is also present in the Red Sea. It invaded the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. It was first recorded in Lebanon in 1979, and subsequently along many other coasts in the eastern and central Mediterranean Sea (Israel, Lebanon, Greece, Rhodes, Turkey, Egypt, Libya and the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia).

This species experienced a rapid population expansion almost immediately after entering the Mediterranean, and it is now very common in the Levant.

Identification and Habitat Ecological Impacts

The Vanikoro sweeper is found mainly on shallow The lack of nocturnal competitors may have rocky reefs at depths of less than 20 m. Adults facilitated the population growth and spread of occur in groups under ledges in caves during this non-indigenous species in the daytime. At night, they leave the caves to forage Mediterranean. Like other Pempheridae on planktonic organisms in open waters, and sweepers, Pempheris vanicolensis inhabits caves return to their caves shortly before sunrise. The during the day. There is no documented evidence fishes form age-related groups of juvenile or of competition with the native species Apogon adult forms which, although occurring together imberbis. However, the daily migration out of the with other groups in the same habitat, preserve cave to forage at night and back in the morning their bond during the day and even during night could increase the transfer of organic matter into migrations to other habitats. the cave and thereby have an impact on the cave-associated invertebrate fauna. The Vanikoro sweeper feeds on planktonic crustaceans and, to a lesser extent, on Economic Impacts polychaete worms. No impact is likely. Due to its relatively small Reproduction size and its nocturnal habits, it has little importance in local fisheries. The spawning season lasts from April to September in the Mediterranean, and the eggs Management Options and larvae are planktonic. These include a) early eradication of new Similar Species populations by MPA technicians through hand fishing, and b) maintenance of healthy and The body shape and the habitat of this species abundant assemblages of top predators to differ significantly from all other Mediterranean encourage natural control through predation. species and a misidentification is unlikely.

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