BONY FISH OF ALGERIAN MARINE FAUNA: A HISTORICAL REVIEW WITH AN UPDATED CHECKLIST AND NEW RECORDS

This study offers a comprehensive historical overview of bony fish along the Algerian coastline, combining previous research with original observations spanning from 1850 to 2025.We analyzed multiple occurrence databases and integrated Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) collected through interviews with 88 fishermen and maritime workers.Species identification relied on morphological and meristic characteristics, supported by FAO identification guides for Mediterranean and Atlantic marine species, FishBase, relevant scientific literature.A total of 411 species were recorded, encompassing 126 families, 46 orders, and 258 genera, including six species newly documented in the region.Most important families are Sparidae, Gobiidae, Gobiidae, Labridae, Blenniidae, Myctophidae, Carangidae, Scombridae and Syngnathidae Based on their biogeographical origins, the dataset comprises 359 native species (87%), 33 introduced species (9%), and 19 Mediterranean endemics (4%).The Algerian bony fish fauna represents 58.7% of that of the Mediterranean Sea.The rate of exotic species (9%) is lower than that for the Mediterranean Sea (15%).This inventory establishes a critical baseline for studying species range expansions, the spread of non-native species, and conservation initiatives in the Mediterranean, contributing significantly to a comprehensive ichthyological database of bony fishes inhabiting Algerian waters.