First Record of the Yellowbar Angelfish, Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål, 1775) (Teleostei, Pomacanthidae) in Greek Waters
Abstract
We report the first sighting of the yellowbar angelfish Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål, 1775) (Teleostei, Pomacanthidae) in Greece. We observed a young adult multiple times in the summer of 2025 over the course of 10 weeks on a rocky pinnacle on the island of Crete. Identification was based on visual underwater observations and analysis of video material. P. maculosus is a coral reef fish native to the western Indian Ocean. We suggest that the individual reached the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, possibly aided by the intense ship traffic around our study location.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
Fish Ecology and Management Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Applied Ichthyology
- Volume
- 2026
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN