Atherina boyeri Risso 1810 —Big-scale sand smelt

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Atherina mochon Cuvier 1829 by George et al. (1964: 16); subsequently recorded as Atherina boyeri Risso by Mouneimné (1977: 65); as Atherina boyeri Risso 1810 by Mouneimné (2002: 106); recently recorded as Atherina boyeri by Bariche et al. (2009: 3). Material in collection: AMNH, AUBM and USNM.

Distribution. Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Sea of Azov, eastern Atlantic: southern North Sea to Mauritania including Canary Islands; introduced into lakes in Turkey.

Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 1 January 2008); Med. (LC: 16 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, NIS, unknown. Occurrence: Common. Low priority for conservation action .

Aulopiformes