Chelon saliens (Risso, 1810) [N]—Leaping mullet; Bouri sheli

Taxonomy. Original description: Mugil saliens Risso, 1810: 345 [Nice, France, northwestern Mediterranean Sea; no types known].—Syrian synonyms: Liza saliens (Risso, 1810) .—Revisions: Durand & Borsa (2015: 268).—Illustration: Ben-Tuvia in Whitehead et al. (1986: 1201, fig.) as Liza saliens .

Status in Syria. First record from Syria by Beckman (1962: 165) as Liza saliens; confirmed by Saad (2005).— Syrian material: None.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Mediterranean watersheds.—Distribution in River Basin: 4- Orontes, 6-Coastal.—General distribution: Mediterranean Sea; Sea of Marmara; Black Sea; Sea of Azov; eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay (Spain) south to Western Sahara, including Madeira; introduced in Caspian Sea area.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 436-Coastal Levant, 437-Orontes.—Habitat: This species is pelagic, near shore, and sometimes in lagoons and estuaries. It spawns at sea. Freshwater, brackish, marine.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Syria: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: No major threats known.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered as a keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.—Low priority for conservation action.