What question did this study set out to answer?

To document the first occurrence of Leprotintinnus simplex in the Mediterranean and understand its distribution.

July 9, 2026Open Access

First Mediterranean Record of the Tintinnid, Leprotintinnus simplex (Schmidt, 1902), from İzmir Bay (Aegean Sea, Türkiye)

Key Points

To document the first occurrence of Leprotintinnus simplex in the Mediterranean and understand its distribution.
Plankton monitoring conducted in İzmir Bay during September 2025.
Morphometric analyses performed on 100 individuals to assess size and shape.
Sampling carried out at three different stations to evaluate abundance.
L. simplex recorded across three sampling stations with varying abundances.
Mean lorica length measured at 124.8 µm, with a range of 65.0–208.5 µm.
Detection implies potential introduction via ship ballast water.

Abstract

Leprotintinnus simplex Schmidt, 1902 was recorded for the first time in İzmir Bay during plankton monitoring conducted in September 2025. The species was observed at all three sampling stations, albeit at varying abundances. Morphometric analyses based on 100 individuals revealed a mean lorica length of 124.8 µm (range: 65.0–208.5 µm), a mean lorica oral diameter (LOD) of 19.6 µm (range: 10.0–36.0 µm), and a mean L/LOD ratio of 6.5 (range: 3.8–9.2). The tapering angle of the lorica from the oral to the aboral end averaged 2.4° (range: 0.9°–3.8°). These measurements fall within the range of global morphological variation previously reported for the species. The detection of L. simplex in İzmir Bay suggests that the species may have been introduced via maritime transport, most likely through ship ballast water. Previously reported from the Indian Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico, the species is here recorded for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea. This study documents the first Mediterranean occurrence of L. simplex and provides a concise biogeographical overview of its global distribution.

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