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As it is common in tropical and temperate zones, mullet species constitute the most important fish species caught along the coast and estuaries of Turkey. In terms of ecology, tourism and and fish productivity (52 kg/ha), Koycegiz-Dalyan Lagoon Ecosystem (KDLES) is the most important lagoon, with a 5500 ha surface area, is the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey. In the dalyan (barrier fish trap) systems; approximately 225 tons (80-405 tons) of mullets are caught to obtain 5 tons of dried fish eggs per year. Seventy percent of fish production in the lagoon is composed of mullets. The mullet samples were collected monthly between October 1992 and September 1994 from eight stations (one of them is a marine station) by trammel nets. The ages were determined using by scales anda ge composition varied form 0 to 6 ages. Species composition of 1159 sampled individuals were proportionally determined as Mugil cephalus 45%, Liza aurata 35%, Liza saliens 14%, Liza ramada 12%, Chelon labrasus 6%. The growth performance indices calculated from von Bertalanffy growth parameters using by all individuals for the M. cephalus, L. aurata, L. saliens, L. ramada and C. labrasus were determined as 2.957, 2.866, 2.692 and 2.719, respectively. The highest growth performance index was calculated for M. cephalus. The growth performance indeces of mullet species in Köyceğiz-Dalyan Lagoon Ecosystem were found around the world averages.

Gyrodactylus molweni sp. n. is described from the body surface and fins of the South African mullet, Chelon richardsonii (Smith, 1846) collected from Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town and is compared to five other Gyrodactylus species described from grey mullets globally namely G. zhukovi Ling, 1963 and G. mugili Zhukov, 1970 from Planiliza haematocheila (Temminck and Schlegel, 1845); G. mugelus Rawson, 1973 from Mugil cephalus L.; G. curemae Conroy and Conroy, 1985 from Mugil curema Valenciennes, 1836 and G. xiamenensis Zang,Yang and Liu, 2001 from Planiliza macrolepis (Smith, 1846). Morphologically, G. molweni sp. n. has prominent ventral bar processes that near cover the hamulus roots, marginal sickles with large rhomboid heels, slender shafts and fine points that extend beyond the sickle toes. Gyrodactylus molweni sp. n. can, however, be readily differentiated: G. mugili and G. xiamenensis have ventral bars with small ventral processes; G. zhukovi has marginal hooks sickles with slender shafts and proportionately short points and open-faced blades; G. mugelus possesses marginal hook sickles with deep, rounded heels, forward slanting shafts and an angular, square line to the inner face of the blades. Although the length of the marginal hooks of G. curemae are similar to G. molweni sp. n., their hamuli are double the size. A GenBank BlastN search with the 931 bp sequence covering ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 gave no close hits; the nearest species for which sequences are available is G. nipponensis Ogawa and Egusa, 1978 (identity 96.56%, 899/931 bp). The proposal of G. molweni sp. n. as a new species, therefore, is well supported by both the molecular and morphological analyses presented herein. This Gyrodactylus species is the first to be described from C. richardsonii and only the second Gyrodactylus species to be described from the marine environment off the African continent.

Chelon persicus Senou, Randall & Okiyama, 1995 Persian Mullet Figures 3–6, Tables 2 & 3 Chelon persicus Senou et al., 1995: 235 (species account without designation of type material)— Senou et al. 1996: 72 (Doha fish market, Qatar, Arabian/Persian Gulf; formal species description); Al-Jufaili et al. 2010: 32 (Arabian/Persian Gulf). Liza persicus — Carpenter et al. 1997: 203 (Arabian/Persian Gulf). Planiliza persicus — Eagderi et al. 2019: 87 (Arabian/Persian Gulf). Chelon sp. A — Durand & Borsa 2015: 8 (South Africa). Diagnosis (based on combined data from Senou et al. (1996) and present study). Second dorsal-fin rays 10; anal-fin rays 9–10 (usually 10); scales finely ctenoid, 33–36 in longitudinal series; predorsal scales with a single groove; caudal fin forked; upper lip with unicuspid, tiny, ciliform teeth in one row; ventral edge of preorbital notched at corner of mouth, posterior end of maxilla exposed when mouth closed; tip of pelvic fin is vertical to or behind origin of first dorsal fin; second vertebra with a pair of long, slightly curved, spine-like postzygapophyses; three short and three long unbranched pyloric caeca; pectoral-fin base silvery, without melanophores; reaches 275 mm SL. Material examined. SMF 35897 [sample tissue KAU13-123], 194.2 mm SL, [KAU13-124] 187.8 mm SL, [KAU13-125] 188.9 mm SL, [KAU13-135] 200.7 mm SL, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Al Wajh, lagoon, st 5, 13 June 2013; KAUMM 459 [KAU13-136], 172.0 mm SL, [KAU13-137] 188.4 mm SL, [KAU13-138] 170.5 mm SL, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Al Wajh, lagoon, st 5, 13 June 2013; SMF 35898 [sample tissue KAU13-427], 66.7 mm SL, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Al Wajh, lagoon, st 15, 15 June 2013; Qatar Museum uncat [sample tissue QG17-83], 260 mm SL, Arabian / Persian Gulf, Qatar, off Doha, 03 December 2017; Qatar Museum uncat [sample tissue QG17-115], 275 mm SL, Arabian / Persian Gulf, Qatar, off Doha, 10 December 2017; SAIAB 83180, 106.2 mm SL, Western Indian Ocean, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Cape Vidal, 15 May 2007. Description (based on material examined). Body relatively elongate, body depth at origin of first dorsal fin 3.4–3.7 in SL and caudal peduncle compressed. Head depth equal to or greater than head width, head length 4.1–4.3 in SL. Snout relatively blunt, subequal to orbit diameter, eye diameter 3.3–4.8 in head length. First dorsal fin with IV spines, second fin with 9–10 (rarely 9) rays. Origin of first dorsal fin closer to base of caudal fin than to tip of snout. Origin of second dorsal fin above first quarter of anal fin. Anal fin with III spines and 10 rays. Pectoral-fin rays 15–17. Tip of pectoral fin not reaching vertical at origin of first dorsal fin and not behind tip of pelvic-fin spine. If laid forward, pectoral fin not reaching anterior edge of eye. Tip of pelvic fin vertical to or behind origin of first dorsal fin. Caudal fin forked. Three supraneurals present and one each positioned between neural spines of vertebrae two and three, four and five, and six and seven. A pair of postero-dorsally elongated, slightly curved, and spine-like postzygapophyses present on second vertebra. Anterior first dorsal fin pterygiophore positioned posterior to neural spine of seventh vertebra. Anterior pterygiophores of second dorsal as well as anal fin positioned anterior to neural and haemal spine of thirteenth vertebra, respectively. Three interdorsal pterygiophores present. Three short and three long unbranched pyloric caeca attached to stomach. Adipose eyelid covers only margins of eye; adipose tissue covers larger area anterior to eye reaching anterior nostril. Preorbital fills space between eye and mouth. Preorbital serrated along antero-ventral to posterior edge starting from above corner of mouth (Fig. 3). Ventral edge of preorbital notched at corner of mouth. Postero-ventral corner of preorbital slightly rounded or truncate and reaching vertical behind anterior edge of eye. Corner of mouth vertical below anterior edge of posterior nostril. Maxilla reaching below corner of mouth, its posterior tip sigmoidal and visible when mouth closed. One row of minute, unicuspid, ciliform teeth present on upper lip. Lower lip with thin edge, directed horizontally forward, and large symphysial knob. Body scales finely ctenoid (Fig. 4), 33–35 scales in longitudinal series. Scales in transverse rows 11–12, predorsal scales to origin of first dorsal fin 11–13, to origin of second dorsal fin 21–23, circumpeduncular scales 16–18 (Table 3). Predorsal scales anterior to first dorsal fin with single groove. Scales on head cycloid and arranged irregularly. Interorbital scales large, decreasing in size posteriorly. Dorsal scales on head forward to, or nearly to, posterior nostrils. Minute scales present on base of all fins, more prominent on the second dorsal, anal, caudal, and pectoral fins; covering approximately proximal third of first and second dorsal fin and anal fin. Two consecutive axillary scales lateral on each side of first dorsal fin, posterior axillary scales reaching behind base of last ray of first dorsal fin. Axillary scales also present lateral to origin of pelvic fin reaching about halfway along pelvic-fin spine. Very small axillary scale present above pectoral fin. ......continued on the next page Fish coloration shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Grey dorsally with greenish tinge, silvery below, without markings but with faint narrow grey stripes along centre of scale rows; pectoral-fin base silvery, without melanophores; caudal fin with narrow posterior black margin. Distribution and habitat. Currently known from scattered localities in the Western Indian Ocean, including the Arabian/Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Mozambique and South Africa (Fig. 2K). This species forms schools in shallow coastal waters, including lagoons and estuaries. Remarks. In the formal description of C. persicus it was noted that both the second dorsal and anal fin usually comprise nine fin rays (Table 3). In the specimens from this study, we counted ten fin rays (only one specimen has nine fin rays in the second dorsal fin). This difference may be due to the general assumption that the last fin ray constitutes one deeply bifurcate ray or double ray. However, osteological studies on mugilids showed that two fin rays with separate bases are present (Ghasemzadeh 2015; Thieme & Moritz 2020). We were also able to observe the separate bases in specimen SMF 35897 [KAU13-125]. The species name was first included in the monograph on coastal fishes of Oman (Randall 1995) accompanied by a species account (without designation of types), and was later formally described by Senou et al. (1996). We follow the former publication and subsequent Catalog of Fishes (Fricke et al. 2022) regarding the date of first mention of C. persicus. Comparisons. Chelon persicus can be distinguished from other Chelon species by the number of scales in the longitudinal series (33–36), while congeners have more than 40 scales except C. dumerili which has 34–39 and C. bandialensis which has 32–33 scales (Fischer et al. 1981; Thomson & Luther 1983; Harrison 2016). Chelon dumerili differs from C. persicus in having multiple grooves on its predorsal scales while C. persicus only has a single groove (Senou et al. 1996). Chelon persicus is externally similar to the sympatric Planiliza macrolepis (Smith, 1846) but differs by scales dorsally on the head reaching forward to posterior nostrils versus scales usually extending beyond anterior nostrils in P. macrolepis. Teeth on the upper lip of C. persicus are tiny and ciliform, usually without a second row, whereas for P. macrolepis the upper lip has an outer row of very small, well-spaced, peg-like teeth and an irregular inner row of small teeth, well separated from the outer row. The pectoral-fin base is whitish and unpigmented in C. persicus but pigmented with melanophores, often with a golden sheen, in P. macrolepis. Internally C. persicus differs from all other Chelon species in having a pair of long, spine-like postzygapophyses on the second vertebrae, instead of a pair of short and hook-like postzygapophyses. Chelon persicus also differs from C. auratus, C. bispinosus, C. labrosus and C. ramada by the presence of short and long pyloric caeca versus pyloric caeca of subequal length in these species., Published as part of Thieme, Philipp, Bogorodsky, Sergey V., Alpermann, Tilman J., Whitfield, Alan K., Freitas, Rui & Durand, Jean-Dominique, 2022, Contributions to the taxonomy of the mugilid genus Chelon Artedi (Teleostei: Mugilidae), with a major review of the status of C. persicus Senou, Randall & Okiyama, 1995, pp. 1-42 in Zootaxa 5188 (1) on pages 10-16, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5188.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7087323, {"references":["Senou, H., Randall, J. E. & Okiyama, M. (1995) Chelon persicus. In: Randall, J. E. (Ed.), Coastal fishes of Oman. Crawford House Publishing Pty Ltd Bathurst, Australia, p. 235.","Senou, H., Randall, J. E. & Okiyama, M. (1996) Chelon persicus, a new species of mullet (Perciformes, Mugilidae) from the Persian Gulf. Bulletin of the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum (Natural Science), 25, 71 - 78.","Al-Jufaili, S. M., Hermosa, G., Al-Shuaily, S. S. & Al Mujaini, A. (2010) Oman fish biodiversity. Journal of King Abdulaziz University, Marine Science, 21, 3 - 51. https: // doi. org / 10.4197 / Mar. 21 - 1.1","Carpenter, K., Krupp, F., Jones, D. & Zajonz, U. (1997) FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of Kuwait, Eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 293 pp.","Eagderi, S., Fricke, R., Esmaeili, H. R. & Jalili, P. (2019) Annotated checklist of the fishes of the Persian Gulf: Diversity and conservation status. Iranian Journal of Ichthyology, 6, 1 - 171. https: // doi. org / 10.22034 / iji. v 6 i 0.454","Durand, J. - D. & Borsa, P. (2015) Mitochondrial phylogeny of grey mullets (Acanthopterygii: Mugilidae) suggests high proportion of cryptic species. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 338, 266 - 277. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. crvi. 2015.01.007","Ghasemzadeh, J. (2015) Musculoskeletal Anatomy of the Flathead Grey Mullet Mugil cephalus. In: Crosetti, D. & Blaber, S. J. (Eds.), Biology, ecology and culture of grey mullets (Mugilidae). CRC Press Boca Raton, USA, pp. 128 - 164.","Thieme, P. & Moritz, T. (2020) The osteology of the golden grey mullet Liza aurata (Teleostei: Mugiliformes: Mugilidae) including interactive three-dimensional reconstructions. Journal of Fish Biology, 96, 1320 - 1340. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / jfb. 14281","Randall, J. E. (1995) Coastal fishes of Oman. Crawford House Publishing Pty Lid Bathurst, Australia, 439 pp.","Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (2022) Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. Available from: http: // researcharchive. calacademy. org / research / ichthyology / catalog / fishcatmain. asp (accessed 21 st February 2022)","Fischer, W., Bianchi, G. & Scott, W. B. (1981) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic: fishing area 34 and part of 47 (Vol. 3), 325 pp.","Thomson, J. M. & Luther, C. (1983) Mugilidae. In: Fischer, W. & Bianchi, G. (Eds.), FAO Identification Sheets for Fishery Purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Rome, Italy.","Harrison, I. J. (2016) Order Mugiliformes - Mugilidae. In: Carpenter, K. E. & De Angelis, N. (Eds.), FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Eastern Central Atlantic. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, pp. 2077 - 2110."]}

The aim of this study was to monitor quality changes and estimate the shelf-life of the thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus), a candidate species for the diversification of the world aquaculture ...

Estuaries are amongst the most productive ecosystems worldwide and provide nursery habitat for fish species of marine and freshwater origin; however, the distribution and community structure of fishes within freshwater-dominated coastal system is limited. This study presents an overview of the temporal and spatial patterns in the abundance, diversity and distribution of fishes along a river-estuarine continuum and compared them to other southern African estuaries. A total of 30 species belonging to 16 families were recorded in the Orange River Estuary (ORE) comprised mostly of freshwater (47%), marine (33%) and estuarine fishes (20%). Chelon richardsonii (marine estuarine-opportunist) and Gilchristella aestuaria (solely estuarine) were the numerically dominant species in the estuary with 63% and 20% of catches, respectively. The two species utilise a broad salinity range (0.l–34.9 PSU). Also, C. richardsonii dominated catches in the river section with 52% followed by Labeobarbus aeneus (freshwater straggler) and Pseudocrenilabrus philander (freshwater estuarine-opportunist) with 15% and 9%, respectively. Species diversity and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) revealed seasonal variation in fish assemblages during the high-flow and low-flow season but not inter-annually. This highlights the continuity in fish assemblages utilising the ORE. High catches (dominated by C. richardsonii) but low species diversity observed close to the mouth of the estuary agree with the biogeographical trend of decreasing species richness from east to west on the South African coast. In comparison with other estuaries, the ORE is freshwater dominated, whilst the Berg and Olifants estuaries are dominated by marine taxa but with similar richness values.

The objective of the present study was to explain the histological variations in the pyloric caeca and anterior intestine of Chelonramada.For this purpose, small pieces of the target organs were attained from specimens ofC.ramada: for histological and histochemical procedures. The final sections were examined under a microscope, photographed and described. Histologically, serosa, muscularis, submucosa, and mucosae are the main layers of the wall of pyloric caeca and anterior intestine in C.ramada indicating there are no remarkable differences in the basic structure. The mucosal folds of pyloric caeca are thin and deeply folded in a narrow lumen; in contrast, the mucosal folds of the anterior intestine are long protruding at a wide lumen. The mucosal layer of the anterior intestine is consisted of columnar and mucus cells as in the pyloric caeca, but mucous cells are numerous in number at the anterior intestine while it observed in fewer numbers at the mucosal layer of the pyloric caeca. In submucosal and mucosal layers, wandering cells and lymphocytes are plentiful especially among the columnar cells of the anterior intestine. These cells are more abundant in the anterior intestine than that observed in pyloric caeca; in contrast with the number of blood vessels. The present study concluded that the distribution and secretions of the mucosa are very clear with histochemical stains. This study is helpful for understanding the digestive physiology and the related functional mechanisms of fish digestion.

A survey was performed to investigate the infection status of zoonotic helminth larvae in fish from a local market of North Dagon District in Yangon City, Myanmar. A total of 486 fish in 13 species were collected 8 times from December 2015 to December 2019. All fish were transported under ice to a laboratory in Korea and examined for helminth larvae using artificial digestion method. Larval gnathostomes and metacercariae of more than 8 zoonotic trematode species, i.e., Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus spp., Stellantchasmus falcatus, Pygidiopsis cambodiensis, and Procerovum sp., were detected. Larval gnathostomes were found in 58 (16.0%) out of 362 fish of 6 species, with mean intensity of 2.8 per fish infected. Metacercariae of O. viverrini were detected in 10 (2.9%) out of 349 fish of 5 species, with mean intensity of 16.9 per fish infected. Metacercarial prevalences of 4 intestinal flukes, H. taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, and Centrocestus spp., were 16.8%, 26.0%, 12.5%, and 15.0% in the positive fish species, respectively, and mean metacercarial intensity was 63.3, 26.8, 86.2, and 8.7 per fish infected. Metacercariae of S. falcatus and P. cambodiensis were detected only from the mullet, Chelon macrolepis. Metacercariae of Procerovum sp. were found in Channa striata and Anabas testudineus. Collectively, it was confirmed that the fish were infected with gnathostome larvae and metacercariae of O. viverrini and intestinal flukes in Yangon City, Myanmar.

The introduction of invasive fish species is considered to be one of the major causes of species endangerment in aquatic ecosystems. More than 30 non-native freshwater fish species which are introduced for the different purpose were reported in Turkey. In addition to the freshwater non-native fish species, the brackish water systems are also affected by the fish species that enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. This study aimed to identify non-native fish species introduced in the Mediterranean brackish water systems of Turkey. Thirteen non-native species from eleven families were identified from 15 localities along the entire Mediterranean Coast of Turkey between 2014-2017. These species are Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782), Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846), Coptodon zillii (Gervais, 1848), Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792), Chelon carinatus (Valenciennes 1836), Equulites klunzingeri (Steindachner, 1898), Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1855), Upeneus pori Ben-Tuvia & Golani, 1989, Siganus rivulatus Forsskål & Niebuhr, 1775, Sillago suezensis Golani, Fricke & Tikochinski, 2013 and Sphyraena chrysotaenia Klunzinger, 1884. The most widely distributed non-native fishes were Gambusia holbrooki, Chelon carinatus, and Carassius gibelio. Of the 15 localities surveyed Lessepsian fish species were sampled from 9 localities.

A presence of Chelon labrosus was recorded for the first time in Um-Hufayan Lagoon (Libya) between November 2017 to January 2018. Samples were measured length (11.1 – 25.9 cm) and weighed between 25.594 - 166.647 g. The fish’s metric and meristic characters, relationship between total length and other morphometric measurements, condition factors were determined as well. C. labrosus distinctively by its depth as pupil diameter, four spines in first dorsal fin, mean while the second fin has a single spine and 8 rays, thick upper lip, 9 rays in anal fin. These inshore pelagic fishes swim along the shore, in schools. Spawning season in the winter, and feeding on great variety of food types . Juveniles feed on zooplankton; adults feed on algae, vegetal detritus and sediment . females grow faster than males, in the Mediterranean thick-lipped grey mullet get mature sexually at 35.5 cm, and maximum reported length was 60.0 cm . This euryhaline species enters estuaries, lakes and protected shores Caught by trammel net and purse seine in Libyan eastern coast. this species appears rarely in Susah coast in November annually.

Four new actinospore types belonging to the sphaeractinomyxon collective group (Cnidaria, Myxosporea) are described from the coelomic cavity of a marine Baltidrilus sp. (Oligochaeta, Naididae) inhabiting a northern Portuguese estuary. Host identification supports the usage of marine oligochaetes, namely of the family Naididae Ehrenberg, 1828, as definitive hosts for myxosporeans inhabiting estuarine/marine environments. The absence of mixed infections in the host specimens analysed is suggested to reflect the influence of host-, parasite- and environmental-related factors regulating myxosporean–annelid interactions. Molecular analyses matched the SSU rDNA sequences of three of the four new types with those of mugiliform-infecting Myxobolus spp., namely Myxobolus mugiliensis and a Myxobolus sp. from flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus, and Myxobolus labrosus from thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus. These results directly link, for the first time, the sphaeractinomyxon collective group to a myxospore counterpart, further confirming their previously hypothesized specific involvement in the life cycle of myxobolids that infect mullets. Acknowledging this life cycle relationship, the functionality of the sphaeractinomyxon morphotype is suggested to have been decisive for the evolutionary hyperdiversification of the genus Myxobolus in mullets. Unlike other actinospore morphotypes, sphaeractinomyxon lack valvular processes, which implies a limited capability for buoyancy. Considering the benthic-feeding nature of mullets, this feature is most likely crucial in promoting successful transmission to the vertebrate host.

The infection status of digenetic trematode metacercariae (DTM) was investigated in fishes from coastal lakes in Gangwon-do, the Republic of Korea (Korea). All fishes collected in 5 lakes were examined with the artificial digestion method. More than 10 species, i.e., Metagonimus spp., Pygidiopsis summa, Centrocestus armatus, Metorchis orientalis, M. taiwanensis, Clinostomum complanatum, Echinostoma spp., Stictodora spp., Diplostomum sp. and Diplostomid No. 1. by Morita (1960), of DTM were detected in fishes from 5 coastal lakes in Gangwon-do. Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were found in 52 (41.3%) out of 126 sea rundace, Tribolodon hakonensis, from 5 lakes, and their density was 14.6 per fish infected. P. summa metacercariae were detected in 48 (84.2%) out of 57 mullets from 5 lakes, and their density was 316 per fish infected. C. armatus metacercariae were detected in 7 (14.6%) T. hakonensis and 3 (15.0%) Tridentiger brevispinis from Hyang-ho, and 5 (19.2%) Acanthogobius flavimanus from Gyeongpo-ho. Stictodora spp. metacercariae were found in 4 fish species, i.e., Tridentiger obscurus, Tridentiger trigonocephalus, Chelon haematocheilus, and Acanthogobius lactipes, from Gyeongpo-ho. Total 15 C. complanatum metacercariae were detected in 2 (9.1%) crucian carp, Carassius auratus, from Songji-ho. M. taiwanensis metacercariae were found in T. hakonensis from Hyang-ho and Gyeongpo-ho and in Pseudorasbora parva from Gyeongpo-ho. Total 11 M. orientalis metacercariae were detected in 3 (6.3%) T. hakonensis from Hyang-ho. From the above results, it was confirmed that various species of DTM are infected in fishes from coastal lakes in Gangwon-do, Korea.

The increasing world market demand for seafood requires an expansion of product categories available to consumers. Inland fish are usually considered having unmarked taste and are less appreciated by consumers; thus, they have low commercial value. Therefore, the marketing of the lake’s fresh and processed fish is limited to the local market and consumers are currently uninformed and mistrustful about these species. In this study, six different fish species were caught in the Fondi lake (Lazio, central Italy): Anguilla anguilla, Tinca tinca, Carassius gibelio, Cyprinus carpio, Micropterus salmoides, Chelon ramada. All the samples were subjected to nutritional and DNA barcoding analysis. Moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrates, ash, and sodium content were measured. As regards the fatty acids profile, the most abundant were MUFAs with the highest value in Anguilla anguilla (45.97%). Oleic acid (C18: 1 n9 cis) was particularly high in Cyprinus carpio (55.46%). The fraction of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) revealed a higher DHA content (C22: 6 n3) in Anguilla anguilla than the other species (>12 %) while Chelon ramada presented both higher EPA content (C 20: 5 n3) and total fraction of omega 3 PUFAs. Concerning molecular analysis, a 655 bp fragment of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was successfully used for the identification at the species level using both BOLD and BLAST public databases. The present study gives the basis for improving the knowledge and promoting inland fish’ market and traceability along the supply chain.

Simple Summary The thick-lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) has good potential for aquaculture diversification in Europe. However, research studies about this species are scarce, particularly focusing on the nutritional attributes of wild and cultivated thick-lipped grey mullets that might help to optimize its feeding regime. In order to determine the nutritional composition of thick-lipped grey mullet juveniles, wild and cultivated specimens were collected and compared. To do so, the liver fatty acids, muscle proximate composition, fatty acids and amino acids were analyzed. The wild specimens had higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a higher content of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids than the farmed specimens. Furthermore, all the amino acid scores were above 100% compared to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) standard. This study provides new knowledge and contributes to understanding the nutritional attributes of wild and cultured C. labrosus and helps to design diets according to their nutritional demands. Abstract The thick-lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) is a nominee fish species for aquaculture diversification in Spain because it is an omnivore and euryhaline species, but limited knowledge about the nutritional attributes of this species is available. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of wild and cultured fish. The muscle proximate composition, and fatty acid and amino acid profiles were assessed. The cultivated specimens showed a higher lipid content and lower protein and ash contents compared with the wild specimens. The predominant tissue fatty acids in both the wild and cultivated fish were palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1n-9) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3). A higher content of arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and DHA were detected in the muscle of wild mullets, while the fish supplied with commercial pellets showed higher quantities of monounsaturated fatty acids, and lower quantities of saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Regarding PUFAs, n-3 fatty acids were predominant in wild mullets, while n-6 and n-9 were more abundant in farmed fish. In terms of amino acid composition, except for histidine in wild specimens, the amino acid amounts were higher than the FAO/WHO standard. In conclusion, C. labrosus may contribute to improving the dietary intake of highly polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids, with a benefit to human health, owing to that fact that a 100-g fillet portion of cultivated and wild C. labrosus can provide 770 mg and 1160 mg of EPA and DHA, respectively, which exceeds the 250 mg dietary daily intake recommended by the FAO/WHO.

The long-chain (≥C20) polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis capacity of fish varies among species, with trophic level hypothesised as a major factor. The biosynthesis capacity is largely dependent upon the presence of functionally diversified fatty acyl desaturase 2 (Fads2) enzymes, since many teleosts have lost the gene encoding a Δ5 desaturase (Fads1). The present study aimed to characterise Fads2 from four teleosts occupying different trophic levels, namely Sarpa salpa, Chelon labrosus, Pegusa lascaris and Atherina presbyter, which were selected based on available data on functions of Fads2 from closely related species. Therefore, we had insight into the variability of Fads2 within the same phylogenetic group. Our results showed that Fads2 from S. salpa and C. labrosus were both Δ6 desaturases with further Δ8 activity while P. lascaris and A. presbyter Fads2 showed Δ4 activity. Fads2 activities of herbivorous S. salpa are consistent with those reported for carnivorous Sparidae species. The results suggested that trophic level might not directly drive diversification of teleost Fads2 as initially hypothesised, and other factors such as the species' phylogeny appeared to be more influential. In agreement, Fads2 activities from P. lascaris and A. presbyter were similar to their corresponding phylogenetic counterparts Solea senegalensis and Chirostoma estor., Te present study was funded by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (AGL2015-70994-R). Dr Covadonga Rodríguez is a member of the Instituto de Biotecnología de Canarias (ITB).

Helminths are a diverse and rich group of fish parasites, some of which are dangerous pathogens of epidemic potential. The present review is focused on helminth parasites from grey mullets (Mugilidae) in the Mediterranean and Azov-Black Seas. These fish are of great economic importance, for supplying food and recreation services. This study covers helminth parasites of six species: Mugil cephalus (L.), Chelon labrosus (Risso), C. auratus (Risso), C. ramado (Risso), C. saliens (Risso) and Planiliza haematocheila (Temminck, Schlegel). This paper gives a brief overview of the history of taxonomic and faunistic studies of helminth parasites from grey mullets in the Mediterranean. The history of the helminth parasites from grey mullets goes back to over 200 years ago to the first species described by Rudolphi in 1819. One hundred and four helminth species have been recorded in about 130 published papers. Fewer than 10 species have been recorded prior to 1900. Since 1960s, taxonomic efforts have rapidly increased, reaching the highest level in the first decade of the 21st century. Only one new species has been recorded in Mediterranean mullets in the last decade. We suggest that the decrease in the number of described species observed in the last decade is the consequence of previous intensive taxonomic efforts results in the actual estimation of species diversity for the studied area. Digeneans and specialist (oioxenic and stenoxenic) parasites dominated in the structure of helminth fauna of mullets. The highest richness of helminths is found in the Azov-Black Seas mullets, while the poorest in the Eastern Mediterranean. A relatively large number of species (20) identified only to generic or family levels remain the taxonomic subject of future studies.

Acanthocephalans belonging to the species Neoechinorhynchus agilis were collected from two mullets, Mugil cephalus and Chelon ramada from Ichkeul Lagoon in northern Tunisia. Collected parasites, as well as tissues of their hosts (muscle, liver and intestine), were analysed for trace elements (silver, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium, vanadium (V), zinc) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Our results showed different accumulation patterns of trace elements in fish tissues and parasites. Among the host tissues, liver accumulated the highest metal amounts. Acanthocephalans showed Ni, Pb and V in significantly higher concentrations compared to their host's tissues. Further, the calculated bioconcentration factors demonstrated a 390-fold higher Pb accumulation in the parasite compared to fish muscle. This study is the first field survey in Tunisia dealing with elements’ uptake in parasites and their hosts. Our results corroborate the usefulness of the acanthocephalans for biomonitoring of metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems and promote more research in order to understand host–parasite systems in brackish waters of the Mediterranean area.

Pesticides are frequently applied to agricultural activities to improve harvest, in terms of yield and product quality. Useful tools for ecotoxicological studies of marine ecosystems are based on biomarker application on bioindicator key fish species. The main aim of the present study was to detect the potential presence of pesticides in a polluted coastal marine environment, namely Milazzo Gulf, situated in the north eastern coast of Sicily (Italy), by measuring the enzymatic activities of the ecotoxicological biomarkers acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in brain and blood samples of Chelon labrosus. Also, Marinello Reserve was selected as a reference site. The data showed a significant inhibition in AChE (81%) and BChE (71%) activities in fish from Milazzo Gulf in respect to those from the reference site. The esterase inhibition is primarily due to the presence of organophosphorus insecticides and carbamates that resulted, in Milazzo Gulf, higher in concentration in respect to the reference quality standard decree (D.M. 260, 2010). The results obtained in this study confirm the suspected presence of insecticides in waters and fish from Milazzo Gulf, which may lead to a considerable hazard to humans. This study confirms the relevant advantages of the biomarker approach on fish species in the ecotoxicological evaluation of marine environments.

Chelon planiceps (Valenciennes, 1836) (Figure: 14) D1: IV; D2: 8 A: III, 9; Pc: 14���15; Pl: I, 5 L. S: 33���34; T.S: 11���13 Local name: Boi, Chhodi (Sin); Mundi (Bal) FAO name: Tade mullet Material examined. 7 specimens of 170���183 mm TL Diagnosis. B ody depth at origin of first dorsal fin is 26���28 % of SL, 29���31% of SL at anal fin and 12% of SL at caudal peduncle. Head pointed, broad and dorsally depressed. Second spine of first dorsal fin is slightly larger than the first spine. Pectoral fin 20���21% of SL, 69���71 % of HL. Scale numbers: 33���34 in longitudinal series and 11���13 in transverse series Description. Body elongated, quite slender, body depth is smaller than HL. Snout pointed, shorter than eye TABLE I. Morphometric data and meristic counts of six mullet species in two genera collected from the Pakistan coast. ......continud on the next page ) ......continud on the next page ) diameter. Adipose eye-fold developed moderately and covering almost entire iris. Terminal mouth, thin lips, lower lips directed forward. First dorsal fin origin is nearer to the base of caudal fin than to the snout tip. Second dorsal fin origin is at vertical behind one third or half of anal fin base. Dorsal and anal fins are relatively curved and basally scaled. Forked caudal fin. First pectoral fin has 14���15 spines reaching to the first dorsal fin origin. Axillary scale on pectoral fin is reduced. Scales Ctenoid. Color. Dorsally olive or greenish brown, flanks silvery, ventrally whitish, upper scale rows with 5���7 indistinct longitudinal stripes. Light brown to greyish dorsal fin, yellowish pectoral fin, greyish to light blue caudal fin with black edges. Distribution: Collected from Keti Bunder, Gwadar and Pasni. Remarks. The distinctive character of C. planiceps is its pointed, depressed head. It is similar to L. subviridis and L.parsia in number of scale counts, well developed adipose tissue and number of fin rays., Published as part of Hasan, Ariba & Siddiqui, Pirzada Jamal Ahmed, 2020, Taxonomic study of the family Mugilidae from Pakistan coast (northern Arabian Sea), pp. 131-151 in Zootaxa 4881 (1) on pages 145-149, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4881.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/4426027, {"references":["Valenciennes, A. (1836) Mugiloides. In: Cuvier, G. & Valenciennes, A. (Eds.), Histoire naturelle des poisons. Vol. 11. Tome Onzieme, Levrault, F. G., Paris & Strasbourg, pp. 1 - 127."]}

Genus Chelon Artedi, 1793 Diagnosis. Moderately deep body, mouth wide ventrally, lower lip thin, not curved downwards, no crenulations, papillae or folds, upper lip thick, posterior tip of maxilla sigmoid, curved over pre-maxilla and visible when mouth closed. Teeth absent in lower lip. Adipose eye-fold weakly developed usually forms a narrow rim around eye. Wide pre-orbital bone filling space between eye and lip. Nostrils nearer to each other than to eye or lip. Insertion of pectoral fin level with or slightly below upper rim of eye, not reaching to the level of first dorsal fin. Pectoral axillary scale is rudimentary or absent. Caudal fin is forked. Scales either ctenoid or cycloid but without denticulations on hind margin., Published as part of Hasan, Ariba & Siddiqui, Pirzada Jamal Ahmed, 2020, Taxonomic study of the family Mugilidae from Pakistan coast (northern Arabian Sea), pp. 131-151 in Zootaxa 4881 (1) on page 145, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4881.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/4426027

International audience

The collected in nature fry of Mugil cephalus, Liza aurata, L. ramada and Chelon labrosus that arrive in massive schools at the coastline of Greece were reared in small aquaria (50 L) of a recirculation system from the size of about 3.0 cm TL (50 fish per aquarium), using brackish (15 ppt) water and artificial high protein food. It was found that for a period of 80 days, growth performance was high at 23 oC, reaching values for weight increase between 592 (M. cephalus) and 2281 % (L. aurata). Food Conversion Ratio (FCR) was best (1.04) for L. aurata and worst (2.04) for M. cephalus. All species responded well as exhibited by an increase in their Condition Factor (CF) and mortality was almost absent.

For several years Tunisia has opted to breed freshwater fish in reservoirs and artificial lakes, created for irrigation, as a strategy of providing high quality aquatic protein to the interior regions and providing work opportunities for local communities. The aim of this study was to summarize the main results accumulated by the last 20 year efforts made by the members of the National Institute for Marine Science and Technology (INSTM)-Aquaculture Laboratory to develop thicklip (Chelon labrosus) and flathead (Mugil cephalus) grey mullets fry production from captive broodstocks intended for stocking inland reservoirs (artificial lakes) and grow-out purposes Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) at a priming dose of 10.000 IU kg−1 female bw, followed by 10.000 IU hCG and (100 or 200 μg kg−1 female bw of thicklip or flathead grey mullet respectively) as resolving dose resulted at the highest egg production for both species. Mean fecundity was 494.655 eggs kg-1 bw for thicklip grey mullet and 418.945 eggs kg-1 bw for flathead grey mullet. Fertilization rate of eggs produced was high (mean rate 83 % and 63 % for thicklip and flathead grey mullet respectively) and larvae hatched from those eggs at high rates (77 % and 88 %, respectively). The green method was more efficient than clear method to produce thicklip and flathead grey mullet fry, (i.e larvae had higher growth rate and better survival rates). The results of this study demonstrate the possibility to control reproduction and produce grey mullet fry in captivity. However, further research is needed to optimize the production protocol of eggs and fry of both grey mullet species.

Chelon saliens (Risso 1810) ���Leaping mullet Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Mugil saliens, Risso by Gruvel (1931: 88); subsequently recorded as Mugil saliens Risso 1810 by George et al. (1964: 16); as Liza saliens (Risso) by Mouneimn�� (1977: 65); as Liza saliens (Risso 1810) by Mouneimn�� (2002: 187���188). Material in collection: AUBM and USNM (as Liza saliens). Distribution. Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Sea of Azov, eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to Morocco; introduced in Caspian Sea area. Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 1 January 2008); Med. (LC: 16 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, unknown. Occurrence: Rare. Low priority for conservation action., Published as part of Bariche, Michel & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, The marine ichthyofauna of Lebanon: an annotated checklist, history, biogeography, and conservation status, pp. 1-157 in Zootaxa 4775 (1) on page 51, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4775.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3983887, {"references":["Gruvel, A. (1931) Les Etats de Syrie. Richesses marines et fluviales. Exploitation actuelle-Avenir. Societe d'Editions Geographiques, Maritimes et Coloniale, 453 pp.","George, C. J., Athanassiou, V. A. & Boulos, I. (1964) The fishes of the coastal waters of Lebanon. Miscellaneous Papers in the Natural Sciences. The American University of Beirut, 4, 1 - 24.","Mouneimne, N. (1977) Liste des poissons de la cote du Liban (Mediterranee orientale). Cybium, 3 (1), 37 - 66.","Mouneimne, N. (2002) Poissons marins du Liban et de la Mediterranee orientale. INCAM-EU / CNRS Lebanon, Beyrouth, 271 pp."]}

Chelon ramada (Risso 1827) ���Thinlip mullet Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Mugil capito, C.V. by Gruvel (1931: 88); subsequently recorded as Mugil capito Cuvier 1829 by George et al. (1964: 16); as Liza ramada (Risso) by Mouneimn�� (1977: 65); as Liza ramada (Risso 1826) by Mouneimn�� (2002: 187). Material in collection: AUBM and USNM (as Liza ramada). Distribution. Western Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, eastern Atlantic: southern Norway south to Senegal, including Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands. Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 1 January 2008); Med. (LC: 16 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, unknown. Occurrence: Rare. Low priority for conservation action., Published as part of Bariche, Michel & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, The marine ichthyofauna of Lebanon: an annotated checklist, history, biogeography, and conservation status, pp. 1-157 in Zootaxa 4775 (1) on page 50, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4775.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3983887, {"references":["Gruvel, A. (1931) Les Etats de Syrie. Richesses marines et fluviales. Exploitation actuelle-Avenir. Societe d'Editions Geographiques, Maritimes et Coloniale, 453 pp.","George, C. J., Athanassiou, V. A. & Boulos, I. (1964) The fishes of the coastal waters of Lebanon. Miscellaneous Papers in the Natural Sciences. The American University of Beirut, 4, 1 - 24.","Mouneimne, N. (1977) Liste des poissons de la cote du Liban (Mediterranee orientale). Cybium, 3 (1), 37 - 66.","Mouneimne, N. (2002) Poissons marins du Liban et de la Mediterranee orientale. INCAM-EU / CNRS Lebanon, Beyrouth, 271 pp."]}

Chelon labrosus (Risso 1827) ���Thicklip grey mullet Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Mugil chelo, Cuv. by Gruvel (1931: 88); subsequently recorded as Mugil chelo Cuvier 1829 by George et al. (1964: 16); as Chelon labrosus Risso by Mouneimn�� (1977: 65); as Chelon labrosus (Risso 1826) by Mouneimn�� (2002: 185���186); recently recorded as Chelon labrosus by Bariche et al. (2009: 3). Material in collection: AUBM. Distribution. Baltic Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, eastern Atlantic: Norway and Iceland south to Senegal, including Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands. Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 1 January 2008); Med. (LC: 16 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, unknown. Occurrence: Common. Low priority for conservation action., Published as part of Bariche, Michel & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, The marine ichthyofauna of Lebanon: an annotated checklist, history, biogeography, and conservation status, pp. 1-157 in Zootaxa 4775 (1) on page 50, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4775.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3983887, {"references":["Gruvel, A. (1931) Les Etats de Syrie. Richesses marines et fluviales. Exploitation actuelle-Avenir. Societe d'Editions Geographiques, Maritimes et Coloniale, 453 pp.","George, C. J., Athanassiou, V. A. & Boulos, I. (1964) The fishes of the coastal waters of Lebanon. Miscellaneous Papers in the Natural Sciences. The American University of Beirut, 4, 1 - 24.","Mouneimne, N. (1977) Liste des poissons de la cote du Liban (Mediterranee orientale). Cybium, 3 (1), 37 - 66.","Mouneimne, N. (2002) Poissons marins du Liban et de la Mediterranee orientale. INCAM-EU / CNRS Lebanon, Beyrouth, 271 pp."]}

The study aimed to explore ontogenetic dietary changes and microplastic ingestion in Chelon richardsonii associated with diatom Anaulus australis accumulations in a warm temperate South African surf zone. This species is commercially important and forms an important trophic link in southern African coastal waters. Postflexion larvae, juveniles and adults are dominant in surf zones and were used for comparison. Index of Relative Importance (%IRI) results showed an ontogenetic dietary shift, with postflexion larvae ingesting mostly copepods (%IRI = 52.0) and microplastic fibres (%IRI = 30.7); while older developmental stages fed predominantly on diatoms (%IRI ranging from 53.9 to 65.6) and sand (%IRI ranging from 34.2 to 46.0). Microplastic fibres were found in 40% of fish sampled, microplastic fragments in 5%, and both types were recorded across all developmental stages assessed. This study provides the first record of microplastics in C. richardsonii, adding to growing microplastic research in fishes.

Thinlip mullet Chelon ramada is the most abundant mullet species found in the Comacchio lagoons (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy). Histological and ultrastructural sections of the intestine of C. ramada showed that over 83% of 48 mullets were infected with the intestinal parasite Myxobolus mugchelo (Myxozoa). In histological sections, plasmodia of M. mugchelo containing mature spores were situated closer to mucosal folds and were surrounded by numerous mast cells (MCs). Mature spores, generally oval in shape, were observed in the paracellular space among the enterocytes or within them. Near the infected epithelial cells, several MCs, rodlet cells and few neutrophils occurred. In intestinal epithelium, large cells resembling macrophages, some with spores of M. mugchelo inside, were observed. These macrophage-like cells were foamy and possessed elongate striated granules. The number of MCs and macrophages in the intestinal epithelium was significantly higher in parasitized fish. In some parasitized intestines, portions of epithelium were displaced by spores, or the spores were observed inside the damaged enterocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis of C. ramada infected or uninfected intestinal tissue revealed the presence of histamine, serotonin (5-HT), leu-enkephalin and inducible-nitric oxide synthase in epithelial macrophages. Several epithelial cells positive to proliferating cell-nuclear antigen were also observed in the proximity of the macrophages. The current study is the first to record the occurrence of intraepithelial macrophages which engulf myxozoan spores. A hypothesis on migration of spores from pancreas via intestinal wall to gut lumen is presented.

Mullets inhabit a wide range of habitats from tropical to temperate regions and play a critical role in their ecosystems. This commercially important fish group constitutes a significant source of food in several geographic regions, and the production of some species for consumption is an increasing trend. About 64 myxosporean species have been reported in mullets, some of which are cryptic, as is the case ofMyxobolus exiguus, andM. muelleri. This paper provides, for the first time, a detailed and critical revision of the data available for myxobolids reported in mullets, determining the species that havebona fidemugiliform fish hosts, in accordance with the original species descriptions, the available molecular data and the currently accepted taxonomic and phylogenetic criteria. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood methodologies suggest that the evolutionary history of myxobolids withbona fidemugiliform fish hosts reflects that of its vertebrate hosts, while reinforcing known evolutionary factors and old systematic issues of the clade of myxobolids. A comprehensive morphological, ultrastructural and molecular redescription is also provided for the cryptic speciesM. exiguus, from infections in the visceral peritoneum of the thinlip-grey mulletChelon ramadain the River Minho, Portugal.

Surf zones are recognised as important nursery habitats for early stage fishes worldwide, but microhabitat opportunities for feeding and refuge are not well studied. Surf diatoms accumulate in high densities, discolouring the water and offering potential refuge and feeding opportunities. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of early stage fishes with surf diatom Anaulus australis accumulations in the Sundays Beach surf zone on the South African southeast coast. Early stage fishes were sampled within and outside of visible A. australis accumulations using a 4.5 × 1.5 m larval fish seine net with 500 μm mesh. Over 22 sampling trips, 338 replicate samples were collected. Species diversity, the overall catch per unit effort (CPUE) and that of the dominant species Chelon richardsonii, Diplodus capensis, Rhabdosargus globiceps and R. holubi, were significantly higher within accumulations compared to outside. Postflexion larvae and early juveniles occurred in significantly higher numbers within accumulations, indicating that fishes were actively selecting A. australis accumulations. Generalized linear models revealed that temperature, dissolved oxygen (mg l−1), turbidity and A. australis biomass (μg Chl a l−1) were the most significant variables correlated with the overall CPUE and that of dominant species. Since A. australis accumulations have a patchy distribution in the surf zone, it is suggested that early stage fishes are opportunistically using this resource when and where it occurs as both a feeding and refuge area. Understanding the role of microhabitats for early stage fishes is essential for understanding survival and life history strategies within the mosaic of coastal nursery areas.

A survey was performed to investigate the infection status of zoonotic trematode (ZT) metacercariae in fish from a local market in Yangon City, Myanmar. A total of 264 fish (12 species) were collected through 4 times from December 2013 to June 2015. All collected fish were transferred to our laboratory on ice and examined by the artificial digestion method. More than 7 species of ZT metacercariae, i.e., Haplorchis taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus spp., Stellantchasmus falcatus, Pygidiopsis cambodiensis, and Procerovum sp. were detected. Metacercariae of H. taichui were collected in 58 (42.3%) out of 137 fish (5 species), and their average density was 42.9 per fish infected. Metacercariae of H. pumilio were detected in 96 (49.0%) out of 196 fish (9 species), and their average density was 23.6 per fish infected. H. yokogawai metacercariae were found in 40 (50.0%) out of 80 fish (5 species), and Centrocestus spp. metacercariae in 91 (50.8%) out of 179 fish (8 species), and their densities were 306 and 25.8 per fish infected, respectively. Metacercariae of S. falcatus and P. cambodiensis were detected only in mullets, Chelon macrolepis. A total of 280 Procerovum sp. metacercariae were found in 6 out of 12 climbing perch, Anabas testudineus. Morphological characteristics of adult flukes recovered from experimental animals were described. It has been first confirmed that fish from Yangon, Myanmar are commonly infected with various species of ZT metacercariae.

The effects of different environmental salinities (0, 12, 40, and 55 ppt) on pepsinogen 2 (pga2), trypsinogen 2 (try2), chymotrypsinogen (ctr), and pancreatic alpha-amylase (amy2a) gene expression, and on the total activities of their corresponding enzymes, were assessed in Chelon labrosus juveniles, after their corresponding full-complementary DNA sequences were cloned. Furthermore, the quantitative effect of different salinities on the hydrolysis of feed protein by fish digestive enzymes was evaluated using an in vitro system. Relative pga2 expression levels were significantly higher in animals maintained at 12 ppt, while a significantly higher gene expression level for ctr and try2 was observed at 40 ppt. amy2a gene expression showed its maximum level at 40 ppt and the lowest at 55 ppt. A significant reduction in the activity of amylase with the increase in salinity was observed, whereas the maximum activity for alkaline proteases was observed in individuals maintained at 40 ppt. A negative effect of high salinity on the action of proteases was confirmed by the in vitro assay, indicating a decreased efficiency in the digestive function in C. labrosus when maintained at high environmental salinities. Nevertheless, individuals can live under different environmental salinities, even though gene expression is different and the enzymatic activities are not maintained at the highest studied salinity. Therefore, compensatory mechanisms should be in place. Results are discussed on the light of the importance as a new species for aquaculture, This work was funded by project AGL2010-14876 from MICINN to JMM.

This study assesses the frequency, distribution, characteristics, and chemical composition of microplastics (MPs) in the gut of highly consumed fish species, namely leaping mullet (Chelon saliens), common carp (Cyprinus carpioi), and Caspian kutum (Rutilus caspicus), in the southern Caspian Sea biome. Fibers are found to be the only shape of MPs. Black MPs and polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate polymers are dominant. MP frequency is highest in leaping mullet's gut, while kutum specimens exhibited the lowest MP frequency, reflecting that leaping mullet is a neritic species and thus highly exposed to MP influx in shallow coastal water, while the other species are benthopelagic. The estimated condition index reflected a significant difference between the species, implying that MPs may pose adverse health impacts on leaping mullet and common carp, with no undesirable effect on Caspian kutum. No significant relationship exists between biological parameters and the MP frequency in the fish gut.

One of the best described effects of environmental xenoestrogens in fish is the generation of intersex gonads in males. Considering 5S rRNA a marker of the presence of oocytes, a 5S/18S rRNA index was calculated in 296 thicklip grey mullets (Chelon labrosus) from polluted environments. In addition, qPCR analysis of transcription factors gtf3a and ubtf1, related respectively to 5S and 18S rRNA synthesis, was conducted along female-oogenesis. 5S/18S rRNA index identified sex with a threshold value of 0.4521 separating males from females. Histological analysis identified 38 intersex individuals. Intersex severity and 5S/18S rRNA indexes were correlated. 5S/18S rRNA index identified ovarian developmental stage with high 5S rRNA levels during early oogenesis and 18S rRNA relative values increasing towards maturation. gtf3a and ubtf1 transcription levels followed the pattern of 5S rRNA accumulation. Thus, ribogenesis genes provide easy/quantitative methods to molecularly identify the sex, female gametogenic stage and intersex severity in mullets.

Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) discharges are an important source of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) into the aquatic environment. Fish populations inhabiting downstream of WWTP effluents show alterations in gonad and gamete development such as intersex condition, together with xenoestrogenic effects such as vitellogenin up-regulation. However, the molecular mechanisms participating in the development of intersex condition in fish are not elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of two WWTPs effluents (Gernika and Bilbao-Galindo situated in the South East Bay of Biscay) with different contaminant loads, in thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) populations inhabiting downstream, examining the presence and severity of intersex condition, during two seasons. Molecular markers of xenoestrogenicity and oocyte differentiation and development (vtgAa, cyp19a1a, cyp19a1b, cyp11b, foxl2, dmrt1 and gtf3a) were also studied. Intersex mullets were identified downstream of both WWTPs and vtgAa was upregulated in intersex and non intersex males. Sex dependent differential transcription levels of target genes were detected in mullets from Galindo. However, no such pattern was observed in mullets from Gernika, suggesting an attenuating effect over studied genes caused by a higher presence of EDCs in this site, as indicated by the elevated prevalence of intersex mullets in this population. In conclusion, no direct association between xenoestrogenic responses and intersex condition was established. Mullets from Gernika showed signs of severe EDC exposure compared to those from Galindo, as demonstrated by the higher prevalence of intersex males and the reduction in transcription profile differences between sexes of gametogenic gene markers.

The term intersex describes alterations in gonadal development with the simultaneous presence of male and female reproductive stages in the same gonad of a gonochoristic species. In coastal and estuarine environments, euryhaline fish living in polluted waters such as Mugilidae can frequently show these sexual anomalies. In this work, we analysed adult specimens of three species of euryhaline mullets (Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata and Mugil cephalus) from two Sardinian lagoons (Marceddì and San Teodoro) devoted to extensive aquacultural practices, in order to identify putative alterations in gonads and in gamete development. Overall, 13 of the 158 mullets examined (8.2%) were affected by gonadal disorders: four subjects (one C. labrosus, two L. aurata and one M. cephalus) exhibiting an intersex condition were found in the Marceddì lagoon and the other nine (five C. labrosus, two L. aurata and two M. cephalus) in the San Teodoro lagoon. Twelve of these gonads were classified as testis-ova (TOs) and one, belonging to a C. labrosus specimen, was a mixed gonadal tissue (MGT). Intersex condition was evaluated using an intersex index and all the recorded values showed a mild Ovotestis Severity Index (OSI). However, our findings suggest that fish gonadal disorders may be underestimated in extensive reared fish species, particularly in coastal brackish environments polluted by intensive agriculture and animal husbandry activities.

Due to increased environmental pollution, monitoring of contaminants in the environment and marine organisms is a fundamental tool for assessing the existence of risk from their consumption to human health. The levels of toxic heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Al), trace and essential metals (B, Ba, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr, V, and Zn), and macronutrients (Ca, K, Mg, Na) in two species of fish for human consumption were quantified in the present study. Eighty samples of muscle tissue and 80 samples of liver tissue belonging to two species of Osteichthyes fish; Sarpa salpa and Chelon labrosus were analyzed. The studied specimens were caught on the northern coast of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) with fishing rods. As they caught from the shore, they are suitable samples for assessing the toxic levels of representative species caught by local amateur fishermen. The results show that both species are fit for human consumption since they have toxic levels of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Al) which are below the maximum established levels; however, the toxic levels of the liver samples are several orders of magnitude higher than the muscle samples, so we discourage their regular consumption. The risk assessment indicated that the two species of fish are safe for the average consumer; however, if the livers of these species are consumed, there could be risks because they exceed the PTWI for Pb and the TWI for Cd.

The southern mullet Chelon richardsonii (Mugilidae) is the main target species of the inshore net fishery (gillnet and beach-seine) on the west coast of South Africa. The stock has displayed symptoms of overfishing, with a 28% reduction in the standardised catch per unit effort (CPUE) between 2008 and 2016, and a 36.5-mm reduction in mean total length (TL) of fish in the commercial catch between 1998 and 2017. The socioeconomic importance of the inshore net fishery and concern regarding stock status necessitated an assessment of the C. richardsonii stock. This work presents an update of the life-history parameters and the first stock assessment of C. richardsonii at the centre of its distribution—Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon—using CPUE standardisation and per-recruit analysis. The sexes exhibited distinctive growth, with females growing larger, and their length-at-first-maturity was estimated at 205 mm TL, corresponding to age 2 years. Estimated natural mortality was 0.718 y–1, total mortality was 1.599 y–1, and fishing mortality was 0.881 y–1. Current spawnerbiomass- per-recruit was estimated at 24.5% of the pristine (unfished) levels, indicating a stock at risk of recruitment failure. An increase in the minimum stretched mesh size of the gillnets to 51 mm and a reduction in fishing mortality to 0.60 y–1 (approximately 30%) would facilitate the recovery of the spawner biomass to the target of 40% of pristine (SB40).Keywords: CPUE, fishery management, gillnets, life history, mortality, Mugilidae, spawner biomass

Among polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) are of the most concern for human health. In this study, the levels of 12 DL-PCBs congeners were measured in 125 fish samples of the Caspian Sea, Iran. Five fish species (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Vimba vimba, Cyprinus carpio, Rutilus frisii kutum and Chelon saliens) were collected from 5 coastal cities of the Caspian Sea (25 samples per each city). Duncan's multi-scope test was used to compare the mean of DL-PCBs in different fish species and different cities. Probabilistic risk of exposure to DL-PCBs and sensitivity analysis were assessed using Monte Carlo simulation approach. The average (standard deviation) of DL-PCBs in fish samples ranged from 232 (16) to 1156 (14) pg/g lipids. The total maximum concentration was detected in Cyprinus carpio from Bandar Anzali, the minimum in Vimba vimba from Chalos. In all samples, non-carcinogenic risk of exposure to DL-PCBs was in safe level (Hazard Quotient 1). In contrast, the lifetime cancer risk estimated for Bandar Anzali, Bandar Torkaman, and Rasht exceeded the threshold value of 1 × 10

Mullets are ecologic and commercially important fish species. Their ubiquitous nature allows them to play critical roles in freshwater and marine ecosystems but makes them more vulnerable to diseases and parasitic infection. In this study, a myxozoan survey was performed on three species of mullet captured from a northern Portuguese river. The results disclose a high biodiversity, specifically due to the hyperdiversification of Myxobolus. Thirteen new species of this genus are described based on microscopic and molecular procedures: 7 from the thinlip grey mullet Chelon ramada, 2 from the thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus, and 4 from the flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus. Myxobolus exiguus and Ellipsomyxa mugilis are further registered from their type host C. ramada, as well as six more myxospore morphotypes that possibly represent distinct Myxobolus species. Overall, the results obtained clearly show that the number of host-, site- and tissue-specific Myxobolus spp. is much higher than what would be expected in accordance to available literature. This higher biodiversity is therefore discussed as either being the result of the usage of poor discriminative criteria in previous studies, or as being a direct consequence of the biological and ecological traits of the parasite and of its vertebrate and invertebrate host communities. Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony analyses position the new species within a clade comprising all other Myxobolus spp. that infect mugiliform hosts, thus suggesting that this parasitic group has a monophyletic origin. Clustering of species in relation to the host genus is also revealed and strengthens the contention that the evolutionary history of mugiliform-infecting Myxobolus reflects that of its vertebrate hosts. In this view, the hyperdiversification of Myxobolus in mullet hosts is hypothesized to correlate with the processes of speciation that led to the ecological plasticity of mullets.

Reducing the dependency of fishfeed for marine ingredients and species diversification are both considered crucial factors for the sustainable development of aquaculture. The substitution of fish oil (FO) by vegetable oils (VO) in aquafeeds is an economically feasible solution. However, such substitution may compromise the fish flesh content of essential n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) and, therefore, its nutritional value for human consumption. Likewise, there is a wide range of strategies to select new target species for sector diversification, among which, the capacity to biosynthesize n-3 LC-PUFA from their C18 precursors abundant in VO might be considered as a fair preliminary strategy. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the metabolic fate of [1-14C] labeled 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in isolated hepatocytes and enterocytes from wild individuals of three fish species with different trophic level: the marine herbivorous salema (Sarpa salpa), the strict carnivorous sand sole (Pegusa lascaris) and the omnivorous thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus). These species were selected for their phylogenetic proximity to consolidated farmed species such as gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), and golden grey mullet (Liza aurata), respectively. The study also assessed the molecular cloning, functional characterization and tissue distribution of the fatty acyl elongase (Elovl) gene, elovl5, involved in the biosynthetic metabolism of n-3 LC-PUFA. The three species were able to biosynthesize docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3). S. salpa seems to have similar biosynthetic capacity than S. aurata, with a fatty acyl desaturase 2 (Fads2), with Δ6, Δ8 and Δ5 activities. P. lascaris showed a wider Fads2 activity repertory than S. senegalensis, including Δ4 and residual Δ6/Δ5 activities. In C. labrosus, both Δ8 and Δ5 activities but not the Δ6 described for L. aurata were detected in the incubated cells. Elongation from C18 and C20 precursors to C20 and C22 products occurred in hepatocytes and enterocytes as well as in the functional characterization of Elovl5 by heterologous expression in yeast. Elovl5 showed a species specific expression pattern, with the highest rates observed in the liver, gut and brain in S. salpa and P. lascaris, and in the brain for C. labrosus. In summary, the LC-PUFA biosynthesis capacity from S. salpa, P. lascaris and C. labrosus greatly resembled that of their phylogenetic closer species. The three studied species could be further explored as candidates for the aquaculture diversification from their potential ability to biosynthesize LC-PUFA., This study was funded by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (AGL2015-70994-R). A. Galindo and M. Marrero are supported by a PhD grant by Cajasiete and Gobierno de Canarias, respectively. Dr. Covadonga Rodríguez and Dr. Ana Bolaños are members of the Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas de Canarias (ITB).

Marine turtles in the open ocean often forage in areas of enhanced productivity, but how they locate those sites and what they do once there is poorly understood. One possibility is that odors from prey might be informative. We explored those possibilities in laboratory experiments using juvenile marine turtles. We analyzed responses to an airborne by-product of predation (dimethyl sulfide or DMS) and to airborne and waterborne odors made from extracts of fresh prey (squid, jellyfish, penaeid shrimp, and algae [Sargassum spp.]). Observations were made in a seawater-filled arena containing an enclosed air space. Airborne odors were delivered across the water surface and waterborne odors were introduced as extracts into the water. Tethered loggerheads (Caretta caretta) and leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) failed to swim “upwind” in the presence of any airborne odor, suggesting that these stimuli, alone, do not evoke orientation from a distance. Free-swimming loggerheads and green turtles (Chelon...

This study presents the results of the accumulation of (210)Po and (210)Pb in fish tissues and organs in a brackish-water marshland that is characterized by high concentrations of (222)Rn and (226)Ra supplied by submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Tissues and organs from Cyprinus carpio, Chelon labrosus and Carassius auratus in the wetland were significantly enriched by both (210)Pb and (210)Po (up to 55 and 66 times, respectively) compared to blanks. The major input route of (210)Pb and (210)Po into the fish body seems to be through ingestion, due to the high levels of (210)Pb and (210)Po found in the gut content as well as in organs involved in digestion and metabolism (i.e. gut, kidney and hepatopancreas). Results showed that (210)Po was more accumulated in all fish tissues and organs except for the spine, which showed a higher affinity for (210)Pb, due to its capacity to replace Ca from apatite in bones. Over all the variables analyzed, fish tissues/organs and, secondarily, fish species were the most important factors explaining the concentration of radionuclides, whereas fish length and the sampling location played a minor role. The relationship of the two radionuclides varied markedly among tissues and their concentration levels were only correlated in gills, gut and, marginally, in spines. In general, the highest values of (210)Pb and (210)Po concentrations in tissues were found on C. labrosus tissues rather C. auratus and C. carpio. This study demonstrates that inputs of natural radionuclides supplied by SGD to coastal semi-enclosed areas (such as marshlands, lagoons or ponds) may significantly increase the contents of (210)Pb and (210)Po in fish tissues/organs. Thus, this study represents one of the first evidences of direct ecological effects derived from SGD.

Estuarine and lagoonal surveys of Socotra Island and selected sites on the Hadhramout coast of Yemen were conducted with the objective of documenting and analysing fish diversity and assemblage structure. A total of 74 species in 35 families were recorded, among which 65 species in 32 families were from Socotra and 20 species in 17 families were from mainland Yemen. Twenty-one species represent new faunal records for Socotra. Including historic records re-examined in this study, the total fish species richness of estuaries and lagoons of Socotra Island reaches 76, which is relatively high compared to species inventories of well-researched coastal estuaries in southern Africa. Five species dominate the occurrence and abundance frequencies: Terapon jarbua, Hyporhamphus sindensis, Aphanius dispar, Ambassis gymnocephala and Chelon macrolepis. Rarefaction and extrapolation analyses suggest that the actual number of fish species inhabiting some of those estuaries might be higher than the one observed. Thus, additional sampling at specific sites should be conducted to record other less conspicuous species. Ordination and multivariate analyses identified four main distinct assemblage clusters. Two groups are geographically well structured and represent northern Socotra and mainland Yemen, respectively. The other two assemblage groups tend to be determined to a greater extent by the synchrony between physical (e.g. estuary opening periods) and biological (e.g. spawning and recruitment periods) variables than by geographical location. Finally, the single intertidal lagoon of Socotra represents by itself a specific fish assemblage. The high proportion of economically important fish species (38) recorded underscores the paramount importance of these coastal water bodies as nursery sites, and for sustaining vital provisioning ecosystem services.

Activities of pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, alpha-amylase and lipase, as well as their optima and stability to pH and temperature, were determined in digestive extracts of thick-lipped grey mullet, Chelon labrosus, of three different sizes: Group 1 (45.2 ± 3.0 g), Group 2 (180.9 ± 4.2 g), and Group 3 (328.5 ± 43.3 g). SDS-PAGE zymograms were also used to assess the role of serine proteases in the digestive tract of C. labrosus. On the other hand, possible changes in the digestive enzyme profile of C. labrosus during development were observed, with a comparatively lower pepsin activity, higher activities of alkaline proteases and alpha-amylase and no lipase activity recorded in pre-adult specimens. It is suggested that these variations are linked to the changes in diet composition with age, moving from a partly carnivorous to a more herbivorous feeding habit.

The Orange River is one of the longest rivers in southern Africa and one of the most regulated rivers in the world. Its estuary supports diverse marine and freshwater life, yet, ecosystem structure and functioning within the estuary are poorly understood. This study investigated trophic linkages and interactions among dominant fishes through carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope (SI) ratios along a salinity gradient. The five dominant species utilizing the Orange River Estuary Continuum (OREC) included marine Chelon richardsonii, estuarine Gilchristella aestuaria, and freshwater species Labeobarbus aeneus, Pseudocrenilabrus philander and Mesobola brevianalis. Variations in SI ratios were associated with changes in body size, seasonality and salinity. Variability in seasons and the salinity continuum influenced SI ratios. Chelon richardsonii, P. philander and L. aeneus occupied the widest isotopic niche in the lower OREC, an indication of generalist feeding behaviour in these species. Mesobola brevianalis had the narrowest isotopic niche, perhaps suggesting more specialized feeding on zooplankton. Isotopic similarity was observed among the five co-occurring species, suggesting trophic overlap, particularly during the high-flow season when environmental variables, productivity and food availability are predominantly freshwater driven and uniform throughout the river estuary continuum. This study is the first to utilize δ13C and δ15N analyses to assess trophic dynamics of dominant species co-occurring in the estuary and estuarine-freshwater ecotone of the lower OREC.