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First record of Herdmania momus (Ascidiacea: Pyuridae) from the central Mediterranean Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2013

Julian Evans ,
Joseph A. Borg  and
Patrick J. Schembri
Julian Evans*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida MSD2080, Malta Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
Joseph A. Borg
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida MSD2080, Malta
Patrick J. Schembri
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida MSD2080, Malta
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J. Evans, Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida MSD2080, Malta email: julian.evans@um.edu.mt
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Abstract

The solitary ascidian Herdmania momus, an Indo-Pacific species that has been introduced into the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal during the past century, has so far been restricted to the Levantine region. Here we record H. momus from the Maltese Islands, which represents a considerable westwards expansion of the species' distribution range in the Mediterranean. Possible modes of introduction are discussed, with translocation of adults via shipping and subsequent spawning at destination sites deemed a plausible mechanism.

Keywords

ChordataTunicataHerdmania momusMaltaalien speciesrange extension
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 6 , 2013 , e134
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013 

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