Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 47(2): 163-171, doi: 10.3750/AIEP/02098

First record of the reticulated dragonet, Callionymus reticulatus Valenciennes, 1837 (Actinopterygii: Callionymiformes: Callionymidae), from the Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean

R. Fricke, F. Ordines

Corresponding author: R. Fricke

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Citation: Fricke R, Ordines F (2017) First record of the reticulated dragonet, Callionymus reticulatus Valenciennes, 1837 (Actinopterygii: Callionymiformes: Callionymidae), from the Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 47(2): 163-171. https://doi.org/10.3750/AIEP/02098

Abstract

Background. The reticulated dragonet, Callionymus reticulatus, was originally described based on a single specimen, the holotype from Malaga, Spain, south-western Mediterranean, probably collected before 1831. The holotype is now disintegrated; the specific characteristics are no longer discernible. The species was subsequently recorded from several north-eastern Atlantic localities (Western Sahara to central Norway), but missing in the Mediterranean. Materials and methods. Specimens of C. reticulatus were observed and collected during two cruises in 2014 and 2016 in the Balearic Islands off Mallorca and Menorca. The collected specimens (8 females) have been deposited in the collection of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ). All individuals of C. reticulatus were collected from beam trawl samples carried out during the DRAGONSAL0914 in September 2014, and during the MEDITS_ES05_16 bottom trawl survey in June 2016, on shelf and slope bottoms around the Balearic Islands. Both surveys used a ‘Jennings’ beam trawl to sample the epi-benthic communities, which was the main objective of the DRAGONSAL0914 and a complementary objective in the MEDITS_ES05_16. The ‘Jennings’ beam trawl has a 2 m horizontal opening, 0.5 m vertical opening and a 5 mm diamond mesh in the codend. Trawls had duration of 1 to 3 min of effective sampling (bottom time) at a speed of 2 knots. Catches were sorted out to species and standardized abundances of callionymid species (individuals per 500 m2) were obtained by calculating the sampled surface (distance covered × beam trawl horizontal opening). Results. Callionymus reticulatus is recorded from the Balearic Islands for the first time; the specimens are described and illustrated. Conclusion. The new record confirms that the species is still extant in the Mediterranean. A key to Mediterranean callionymid fishes is provided to distinguish C. reticulatus from other species of the family in the area. The callionymid fish fauna of the Mediterranean now comprises 11 species, including three Lessepsian migrants originating from the Red Sea.

Keywords

dragonets, Spain, Balearic Sea, extended distribution, identification key