A new alien arrival to the Sicilian coast of the Ionian Sea : Trachysalambria palaestinensis (Steinitz, 1932)

Abstract

Trachysalambria palaestinensis, a penaeid shrimp native to the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, has recently expanded its distribution within the Mediterranean Sea as part of the ongoing Lessepsian migration process. Here we provide the first confirmed records of this species from the Ionian sector of Sicily, representing not only the first evidence for the Sicilian Ionian coast, but also the first documented occurrence in the Ionian Sea at large. The species was recorded on four separate occasions between 2021 and 2025 from trammel net fisheries targeting cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). Morphological analysis confirmed species identification. Specimens were deposited in the scientific collection of the Ente Fauna Marina Mediterranea located in Avola, Italy. These findings draw further attention to the growing number of Indo-Pacific crustaceans colonizing Mediterranean ecosystems. We discuss the biogeographical significance of this record, the possible ecological implications for native assemblages and fisheries, and the need for long-term monitoring.