FIRST SUBSTANTIATED RECORD OF THE TWOBAR SEABREAM, Acanthopagrus bifasciatus (TELEOSTEI: SPARIDAE), IN THE SYRIAN MARINE WATERS (EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA)

On 3th July 2022, a single individual of the non-indigenous fish Acanthopagrus bifasciatus, 330 mm total length and 490g of body weight, were fished from the coastal waters off Banias, Syria. It was sampled with spear at 7- 8 m depth. The record of A. bifasciatus is the first occurrence for the marine Syrian waters and the fifth for the entire Mediterranean Sea. The species is distinguished by dorsal and caudal fins yellow, without a dense black margin of dorsal-fin or narrow black edge along rear margin of caudal fin which is being diagnostic characters of this species.