Identification of a non-native Cynoscion species (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the Gulf of Cádiz (southwestern Spain) and data on its current status

• Published in: Scientia Marina
• Main Authors: Bañón, Rafael, Arias, Alberto, Arana, Alberto, Cuesta, José A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España) 2017
• Subjects: Biological invasions; Marine introduction; Weakfish; Cynoscion regalis; Guadalquivir estuary; Taxonomy; Pacific; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/147878; https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04494.21A

8 páginas, 2 tablas, 4 figuras.-- This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-by) Spain 3.0 License [EN] Cynoscion is a genus of fish in the family Sciaenidae from the Atlantic and Pacific American coasts that is important in recreational and commercial fisheries. Morphological analysis identifies a species inhabiting the Gulf of Cádiz (southern Spain) as the weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, a native of the northwest Atlantic. This finding is also confirmed by molecular identification using 16S and Cox1genes. Based on the examination of a previous manuscript, the assignation of this species to the spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, is considered a misidentification. C. regalis has been reported in the area since 2011 and is now considered an established species that is distributed along the Guadalquivir River estuary and is a target of local artisanal fisheries. The pathway of introduction is unknown, but possible mechanisms are considered, of which ballast water seems to be the most plausible. A revision of non-native sciaenids also found in European waters is carried out. The ecological impact of weakfish on the local fish community is still unknown and should be object of future studies [ES] Cynoscion es un género de peces de la familia Sciaenidae, de importancia en la pesca deportiva y comercial, que habita las costas americanas del Atlántico y el Pacífico. Una especie que habita en el Golfo de Cádiz (suroeste de España) fue identificada mediante análisis morfológico como corvinata real Cynoscion regalis, nativa del Atlántico Noroeste. La identificación también fue confirmada por análisis molecular, utilizando los genes 16S y Cox1. Basándose en el examen de una publicación anterior, la asignación de esta especie a corvinata pintada Cynoscion nebulosus se considera un error de identificación. Existen registros de C. regalis en esta zona desde 2011 y ahora se considera una especie establecida, distribuida a lo largo del estuario del río Guadalquivir y ...