The Streamlined Rabbitfish Siganus argenteus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) in the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean native biota is increasingly threatened by the influx of alien species. More than 100 non-native fishes have entered so far the Mediterranean, the majority of which presumably originated in the Red Sea. Among them, two species of the family Siganidae, namely Siganus luridus and Siganus rivulatus, are now widespread in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and already reached the central parts of the basin. Three further Siganus taxa, namely Siganus fuscescens, Siganus javus, and Siganus virgatus, have also been recorded from the Mediterranean basin, although their records are based on single specimens. We report the first sighting in the Mediterranean Sea of a single specimen of an additional rabbitfish, namely Siganus argenteus. There are no certainties regarding the possible pathway of arrival of this species in Libya; however, Lessepsian migration or shipping constitute the most probable ones.