On the occurrence of two lessepsian fishes in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea: filefish Stephanolepis diaspros and goatfish Upeneus pori

The reticulated leatherjacket Stephanolepis diaspros and the Por’s goatfish Upeneus pori occur as lessepsian migrants in the eastern and central Mediterranean Sea. This article reports about the findings of one reticulated leatherjacket and two Por’s goatfishes in the Gulf of Castellammare, southern Tyrrhenian Sea, which suggest a possible westbound expansion of the Mediterranean distribution for the latter species. The specimens were three adults collected by professional fishermen on inshore sandy bottoms with a trammel net. The main meristic characters of both species, the identification issues in S. diaspros and the potential impact of U. pori on the native biota and on artisanal fisheries are briefly discussed.