A critical checklist of the marine fishes of Malta and surrounding waters

Abstract

A critical review of marine fishes from Malta (Central Mediterranean) recorded up to December 2022 in the technical and semi-popular literature, during the Mediterranean International Trawl Survey (MEDITS), and in commercial fisheries landings data, was undertaken with the main aim of producing a checklist of species whose occurrence in the seas around the Maltese Islands could be authenticated. This review also served to generate two other lists: one of the species whose occurrence around the islands is probable or possible but which require confirmation, and a second list of previously reported species whose occurrence was deemed highly unlikely and which were hence excluded; the reasons for such exclusion are given. A total of 412 species were confirmed as occurring in Maltese waters, 53 species were listed as requiring confirmation, and 78 species were excluded. Of the species whose occurrence around the Maltese Islands was confirmed, 370 were native; 17 were non-established aliens; seven were established aliens; three were non-established Atlantic immigrants; five were established Atlantic immigrants; nine were non-established cryptogenic; and one was an established cryptogenic. The 412 confirmed species from the Maltese Islands represent 54% of the Mediterranean fish species that have been recorded in recently published works. Therefore, considering the geographical location of the islands at the centre of the Mediterranean, they provide a presumed ideal siting for a good representation of the marine ichthyological fauna. The Maltese checklist appears to still be short of many fish species that probably occur locally and have yet to be added to the present confirmed list. Nevertheless, the present review serves as a good indication of the current situation of the Maltese fish fauna, also noting that checklists for the group from neighbouring countries are somewhat outdated and require review and updating.