CONFIRMATION RECORD OF THE AREOLATE GROUPER Epinephelus areolatus (FORSSKÅL, 1775) (TELEOSTEI: SERRANIDAE) IN SYRIAN MARINE WATERS

We confirm the Red Sea (Lessepsian migrant) species the Areolate grouper Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775), occurrences in the Syrian coast, which constitutes the Fifth record in the entire Mediterranean, 220 mm total length and 144.5 g total weight, was caught by the trap-net on 4 October 2022 at a depth of 50 m over sandy – rocky bottom, off Ras Ibn Hani, Lattakia city. The identification of the present specimen of E. areolatus was based on morphological features, colour, and morphometric measurements and meristic counts.