On a record of Taractes rubescens (Teleostei: Scombriformes: Bramidae) from the Mediterranean Sea

Here we report the second record of the keeltail pomfret Taractes rubescens (Jordan & Evermann) in the Mediterranean Sea, providing new morphological and genetic data on this rare species in the basin. The use of an integrated taxonomic approach is essential for documenting biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in light of ongoing environmental changes; in our case, it unambiguously identified the species as T. rubescens.

The specimen was a maturing male measuring 842 mm TL and weighing 8.721 kg. All meristic counts and proportional morphometric measurements of T. rubescens based on the present specimen agreed with ranges reported by other authors. Data on this species from the Mediterranean Sea remain scarce, and further records are needed to better understand its abundance, distribution and origin.