Abstract

Two new records of the rare slender spine eel Nemichthys scolopaceus (Anguilliformes, Nemichthyidae) in the Mediterranean Sea are presented in this contribution. The specimens were collected in August 2023 during a scientific bottom trawl survey in the deep central Karpathian Sea (southern Aegean Sea, Greece). These significant findings highlight the importance of exploring the Mediterranean bathyal habitats to stand out their biodiversity and to increase our knowledge on the distribution patterns of rare species.

Keywords:Deep waters; Spine eels; Nemichthyidae; Eastern Mediterranean; Aegean Sea; Greece

Abbreviations: TL: Total Length; MBD: Maximum Body Depth; HL: Head Length; Sn-L: Snout Length, Sn-D: Snout to first dorsal fin Distance; Sn-PEC: Snout to Pectoral Fin Distance; Sn-A: Snout to Anal Fin Distance; ID: Interorbital Distance; ED: Eye Diameter, SL: Standard Length; %HL: % Head Length; %TL: % Total Length; TW: Total Weight