FIRST SUBSTANTIATED RECORD OF MEDITERRANEAN SPEARFISH TETRAPTURUS BELONE (ISTIOPHORIDAE) FROM THE SYRIAN COAST.

Investigations conducted off the coast of Syria (eastern Mediterranean Sea) allowed capturing on 6 November 2022 of a specimen of Mediterranean spearfish Tetrapturus belone Rafinesque, 1810, constituting the first record of the species in the area. The studied specimen measured 1100 mm in total length (TL), its total body weight was 2015 g. It is described in the present paper including morphometric measurements and meristic counts. Its distribution in the Syrian marine waters and in the Mediterranean Sea is discussed and commented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]