First occurrence of the Red Sea goatfish Parupeneus forsskali (Fourmanoir & Guézé, 1976) in Italian waters

This study reports the first confirmed record of the Red Sea goatfish Parupeneus forsskali in Italian waters. Since November 2024, several individuals have been collected around Lampedusa Island, in the Strait of Sicily. Morphological and meristic examination of one specimen supported its identification, which was further validated through COI barcode sequencing. The reconstruction of relationships among conspecifics revealed a well-supported clade comprising Red Sea and Mediterranean P. forsskali , clearly distinct from Indo-Pacific specimens. The present record contributes to the growing evidence of the species’ westward expansion in the Mediterranean and provides new insights into its distribution, ecological traits, and potential impacts. The findings also highlight the important role of local fishers in the early detection of non-indigenous marine species.