New records of Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch, 1790) in Maltese coastal waters

Abstract

Lobotes surinamensis is considered as a rare occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea, being mainly encountered in the eastern and central areas of the basin. The species was previously recorded only once from the Maltese Islands, from offshore waters 45 miles south of the islands. Numerous recent records of the species in Maltese nearshore waters suggest that the same species is becoming more common in such waters, possibly hinting at the geographical expansion of populations of this thermophilic fish species in the Mediterranean.