-
.
- Ελληνικά
The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research informs the public about the recording of a new alien fish species, the catfish Plotosus lineatus (see image), in the waters of Cyprus. This species is an Indo-Pacific Lesser Antarctic migrant, a species that crossed from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal and is now considered to be established in Mediterranean waters. Although the species has already been recorded in the Mediterranean since 2001, the first record in Cyprus was made only in 2022 in the marine area off the monastery of Apostle Andrew in Karpasia and very recently, only on 17 September 2023, in the marine area of Protaras.
Figure 1:
Figure 2:
The catfish Plotosus lineatus is a relatively small fish, usually between 15 and 25 cm long, with a brown body with white longitudinal lines and four pairs of whiskers, two above and two below the mouth. It is a benthic species that usually lives in rocky bottoms from the shore to a depth of 60 metres and feeds mainly on crustaceans, molluscs and worms. Juveniles usually form dense ball-shaped schools of about 100 individuals, while adults are either solitary or form smaller schools of about 20 individuals and usually hide in rock crevices during the day.
Catfish are also a potentially dangerous species for anyone who happens to catch and handle them, as their dorsal and lateral fin spines and skin secretions contain potent toxins. Symptoms after a bite include local swelling around the injury site and extreme pain, and if the wound is left untreated, perhaps more serious complications and even death. Treatment of any sting includes heating the area, usually with warm water, to limit the action of the toxin as an immediate palliative measure, and definitely going to a medical centre as soon as possible.
Note that catfish is not the first non-native species of toxin-secreting fish recorded in our waters, as other such fish species have long been established, such as e.g. halibut and lionfish. It is also worth noting that in our waters there is one record so far of the toxic Lesser rockfish (Synanceia verrucosa) (see Figure 2), in the marine area of the occupied Komas tou Yalou in 2020. This species is relatively small in size and lives mainly on rocky bottoms and at depths of up to 30 metres. Stonefish spines contain the protein toxin verrucotoxin (VTX), which is considered one of the most potent toxins present in marine organisms. Symptoms after a sting include, among others, extreme pain, bleeding, local swelling around the poisoning site and, if the wound is left untreated, paralysis, respiratory distress and even death.
Treatment of any sting includes heating the area, usually with warm water, to limit the action of the toxin as an immediate relief measure and definitely going to a medical centre as soon as possible. It should be noted that there is an antidote for verrucotoxin, which greatly increases the possibility of effective treatment of such cases. It is noted that the TATH has already contacted the relevant medical services, which have already secured the antidote for berrocotoxin.
For more information on these items the public can refer to the relevant information material at website
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
