First record of Trachipterus trachypterus Gmelin 1789 (Lampriformes) in the Strait of Sicily

On July 7(th) 2018 a specimen of Mediterranean dealfish (Trachipterus trachypterus Gmelin 1789) was caught in the shallow waters of Selinunte (in the South-Western coast of Sicily) by trammel net. It was a female in maturing phase and the gonadosomatic index resulted as 1.1%. The specimen measured 1638 mm in total length and weighed about 2480 g. The estimated age through growth increments in vertebra was of 41 years. The finding of the Mediterranean dealfish in the Strait of Sicily might be linked to its spawning period during which it approaches the shallow waters. The present specimen represents the first record in the Strait of Sicily.

Automated summary

This article reports the first record of a Mediterranean dealfish in the Strait of Sicily. The specimen was a female in maturing phase and estimated to be 41 years old based on growth increments in the vertebra.