FIRST RECORD OF THE AZURE DEMOISELLE, CHRYSIPTERA HEMICYANEA (ACTINOPTERYGII: PERCIFORMES: POMACENTRIDAE), IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

The azure demoiselle, Chrysiptera hemicyanea (Weber, 1913), is a marine fish native to the Indo-West Pacific and is commonly found in the aquarium industry around the world. A single individual was observed underwater at a depth of two meters in the coastal waters of Malta in June 2017. Chrysiptera hemicyanea is recorded from the Mediterranean Sea for the first time based on underwater photos and a video. The record suggests a very recent presence of the species in the Mediterranean, most probably a release from a tropical aquarium. The species cannot be considered yet established and monitoring of possible new individuals and awareness activities with the local community should be initiated.