First substantiated record of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus (Agnatha: Petromyzonidae) from the Syrian coast (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

On 28 July 2020, a specimen of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus, 1758 was captured north of Jable, from the Syrian coast. The specimen is described with morphometric measurements, while the species occurrence in the area and the Mediterranean Sea is discussed and commented. This new finding constitutes the first record of the species for the Syrian coast, and also its easternmost extension range in the Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, sea lamprey remains an occasional visitor in the Syrian waters and, consequently, the local occurrence of a viable population remains doubtful.