Nouvelles occurrence et signalisation d’espèces de la famille des Centrolophidae (Actinopterygiens, perciformes) dans les eaux Tunisiennes

Abstract

The first record of blackfish Centrolophus niger and Barrelfish, Hyperoglyphe perciformis and Cornish black fish Schedophilus medusophagus Cocco, 1839 in the North and east central Tunisian water is herewith documented as unusual catches. The first was caught on 2014 by trawling in Tunis gulf, the second by hook around bluefin Salakta fattening farms in 2015. The third was caught by gill nets in July 2014. Centrolophus niger belongs to Mediterranean fish fauna, nevertheless, the presence of Hyperoglyphe perciformis and Schedophilus medusophagus seems indicate a geographical expansion of Atlantic origin species. The first specie crossing the Strait of Gibraltar to the Mediterranean Sea and the second to conquered the Eastern Mediterranean basin. The fourth species, Schedophilus ovalis (Cuvier, 1833) we have not met was reported for the first time in the northern Tunisian waters (Rafrafi-Nouira et al, 2015a, b). Those records increase the knowledge on the richness of the Tunisian marine ichthyofauna.