First Record of Half-smooth Golden Pufferfish Lagocephalus spadiceus (Richardson, 1845) in the Black Sea

Abstract

This study presents the first confirmed record of the half-smooth golden pufferfish (Lagocephalus spadiceus) in the Black Sea, marking a significant extension of its range. A male specimen of L. spadiceus was captured as bycatch off the coast of Ayancık, Sinop, at a depth of 17 meters using a bonito drift gillnet with a mesh size of 32 mm. The specimen was 15.6 cm in total length and weighed 53.0 g. Aside from the known possible spread pathways of invasive species, this species, which is already known to exist in the Sea of Marmara, is thought to have entered the Black Sea through direct invasion. The warming temperatures of the Black Sea, influenced by global climate change, have created suitable conditions for the spread of non-native species, and the Sea of Marmara is likely to have acted as a biological corridor. The spread of this species into the Black Sea indicates potential challenges ahead for local ecosystems, as its aggressive invasive behaviour and competitive characteristics could disrupt native food webs and pose risks to regional fisheries. This finding underscores the need for continuous monitoring and management efforts to address the potential ecological impacts of invasive species in the Black Sea.

Keywords

• Range expansion
• new record
• Tetraodontidae
• invasive species
• Black Sea

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