SPHYRAENIDAE

Sphyraena intermedia Pastore, 2009, was reported firstly in the Gulf of Taranto, central Mediterranean by Pastore (2009) as a potential new species. However, differences with the other two native species S. sphyraena and S. viridensis based on anatomical and biometric characteristics do not seem sufficient to warrant specific separation and a genetic study is needed to reaffirm the validity of S. intermedia and redefine the number of native barracudas occurring in the Mediterranean.