First record of agujon needlefish, Tylosurus acus imperialis (Rafinesque, 1810) (Osteichthyes: Belonidae) in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea

Abstract

      Commercial purse seiner collected one specimen of the agujon needlefish, Tylosurus acus imperialis (Rafinesque, 1810), during its fishing activity on 17 July 2015 in the open sea area out off Mljet island (42º 41.9′ N; 17 º 18.1′ E, depth 120 m). Total length and weight of collected female specimen was 111.4 cm and 2048.11 g, respectively. Although this species was previously recorded exclusively entering the area of southern Adriatic Sea (Montenegro-Budva and Italy- Bari), this was its first appearance in the upper Adriatic and within Croatian fishing grounds.