Fistularia commersonii (bluespotted cornetfish)

Abstract

The bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii, occurs natively in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It spread from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean Sea via adult movement through the man-made Suez Canal, and expanded its distribution throughout the entire Mediterranean Sea within just 7 years. It is a piscivorous, bottom-swimming fish that occurs shallow coastal waters along coral and rocky reefs, or above sand or seagrass bottoms close to reefs. Because of its voracious appetite, it can have negative impacts on the abundance of its prey, which in the Mediterranean include species of commercial importance. It therefore has impacts on biodiversity as well as economic impacts.