Mediterranean invasive species factsheet www.iucn-medmis.org

Species report randalli (Randall's ) AFFILIATION

SCIENTIFIC NAME AND COMMON NAME REPORTS 4

Key Identifying Features upper edge of the upper lobe, sometimes missing. The body is ellipsoid and slightly compressed. It is up to 30 cm in length, commonly 5–20 cm, It has a single, continuous with 10 although in the Mediterranean they seem spines and 9 soft rays, and a slightly pointed anal smaller. The upper part of the body is pinkish, fin (3 spines, 7 soft rays). The pectoral fin (15–17 becoming silvery on the ventral surface. There soft rays) is long and pointed. are 3 or 4 pale yellow stripes along the sides, and a golden dot on the pectoral base. The dorsal fin is pale bluish, with the upper margin edged in red, with closely packed yellow markings on the lower three-quarters of the fin. The anal fin is pale bluish with a narrow yellow medial band. The eye is salmon pink. The tail fin has a red margin and is forked, with a characteristic long filament extending from the

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Other species that look similar

Identification and Habitat

Randall's threadfin bream is a benthic species, occurring on open sandy and muddy sea beds down to depths of 20–200 m; in the Mediterranean it is mainly found at 30–80 m.

Similar Species

The long filament that extends from the upper edge of the upper lobe of the tail fin distinguishes this species from others. If this tail filament is broken, medium-sized Randall's threadfin breams look like some Sparidae species (Pagellus spp.). (Pagellus) species, however, have a first dorsal fin with 11–13 spines (compared with 10 spines in N. randalli), and molar teeth in the jaw. Ecological Impacts

History and Route of Randall's threadfin bream feeds principally on Introduction small benthic invertebrates (, , and molluscs) and Randall's threadfin bream is widespread in the small fishes. Its rapid spread and increasing western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and abundance can reduce the biodiversity of benthic the East African Coast. In the Mediterranean it decapod crustaceans in particular, as well as was first recorded off in 2005, as native communities feeding on these ; it has subsequently been species. recorded from Lebanon, , and from Bay to in . Nemipterus randalli appears to have an established population in the eastern Mediterranean that extends at least from Haifa Bay, Israel, to the Cevlik coast of Iskenderun Bay, Turkey.

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Economic Impacts

In the Western Indian Ocean, Randall’s threadfin bream is an important target species for local fisheries (small commercial trawlers). In the Mediterranean, it is caught in large numbers by trawling and to a lesser extent by trammel nets and long lines. It may well form the basis of an important future fishery in some Mediterranean areas.

Management Options

These include a) early eradication of new populations by MPA technicians through spear fishing, and b) maintenance of healthy and abundant assemblages of top predators to encourage natural control through predation.

Further Reading http://www.ciesm.org/atlas/Nemipterusrandalli.php

Bariche, M., 2012. Field identification guide to the living marine resources of the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Rome, FAO. 610 pp.

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Legend

Algae Angiosperm Cnidarians Centre for Mediterranean Molluscs Crustaceans Ascidians Cooperation Combjellies / Fishes Ctenophores

More Information: Guide and reports platform for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean. www.iucn-medmis.org

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MPAs, Country Date Density Measure

Tyre Coast, Lebanon Before 2013 -- --

Gokova, Turkey 23/06/2014 -- --

-- 20/09/2014 -- --

-- 22/09/2014 -- --

How to cite this tab: Nemipterus randalli - Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet for Mediterranean Network of MPAs. From Online Database MedMIS (IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation, Download date 24/09/2021.

More information about this species from: Otero, M., Cebrian, E., Francour, P., Galil, B., Savini, D. 2013. Monitoring Marine Invasive Species in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): A strategy and practical guide for managers. Malaga, Spain: IUCN. 136 pages www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2013-008-Es.pdf .

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