First record of Harlequin prawn-goby Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus (Ruppell, 1830) from the Turkish coast (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

The Harlequin prawn-goby Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus (Ruppell, 1830) was reported for the first time from the South-eastern Mediterranean Sea coast of Turkey. This record is the second record of this alien species in the Mediterranean. C. caeruleopunctatus was observed during an underwater survey conducted in November 2021 on the Cevlik coast, south of the Iskenderun Bay. The new alien gobiid fish was photographed with the shrimp at the entrance of the hole and it was easily identified by two dark large ocelli on the upper side of the trunk and many brown ocelli with light margin on the head and dorsal fins. With this study, it was observed that the population has been formed in the region, indicating that its trend has the potential to spread westward along the northern Levantine Sea. C. caeruleopunctatus is the sixth alien goby recorded from the Mediterranean marine waters of Turkey.