The second record of Crested oarfish Lophotus lacepede (Lophotidae) from the Algerian coast (southern Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

The authors report on the capture of a specimen of crested oarfish, Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809 from the Algerian coast. It was a large sized specimen which measured 150 cm total length (TL) and 142 cm standard length (SL) and weighed 3.5 kg. The specimen was described including some morphometric measurements and meristic counts. This rare finding represents the second record of the species for the Algerian waters. It constitutes also the westernmost extension range of the species for the Maghreb shore but also for the Mediterranean Sea.