Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus 1758) —Brown comber

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Serranus hepatus, L. by Gruvel (1931: 102); subsequently recorded as Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus 1758) by George et al. (1964: 17); as Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus) by Mouneimné (1977: 62); as Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1758) by Mouneimné (2002: 127–128); recently recorded as Serranus hepatus by Bariche et al. (2007: 111) and Aguillar et al. (2018: 82). Recent unpublished records from Beirut (24 April 2004) and Tripoli (22 March 2016). Material in collection: ANSP and USNM material.

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

Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 10 May 2013); Med. (LC: 14 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIB, Unknown. Occurrence: Rare. Low priority for conservation action .