Spicara maena (Linnaeus 1758) —Blotched picarel

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Smaris vulgaris, C.V . by Gruvel (1931: 90); subsequently recorded as Spicara maena (Linnaeus 1758) by George et al. (1964: 18) and as Maena chryselis Valenciennes 1830 by George & Athanassiou (1966a: 7); as Spicara chryselis by George & Athanassiou (1967: 268); as Spicara maena maena (Linnaeus) by Mouneimné (1977: 64); as Spicara maena flexuosa Rafinesque Mouneimné (1977: 64); as Spicara maena maena (Linnaeus 1758) by Mouneimné (2002: 179); as Spicara maena flexuosa Rafinesque 1810 by Mouneimné (2002: 178–179). Material in collection: AUBM, BMNH (as S. chryselis) and USNM (as Maena maena).

Distribution. Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, eastern Atlantic: Portugal south to Morocco and Canary Islands.

Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 22 August 2009); Med. (LC: 14 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, unknown. Occurrence: Rare. Low priority for conservation action .