Northern range extension of Diplodus bellottii (Spariformes: Sparidae) into Galicia (NW Spain) confirmed by underwater videos

The Senegal seabream Diplodus bellottii (Steindachner, 1882) distribution has been restricted to West African and Canary Island coasts, with a northern limit in Portugal. Using benthic stereo-BRUV surveys in 2024-2025, we documented five individuals in the Ría de Vigo, north-western Spain, at depths ranging from 3.6 to 17.9 m. These sightings represent the first occurrence of the species in Galician waters and the northernmost record to date. The observations suggest an ongoing poleward expansion consistent with recent warming-driven shifts in coastal fish distributions. By revealing these early signals of range extension, non-invasive video surveys demonstrate their value for monitoring biodiversity change in European continental shelf seas.