Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin 1789) —Silver-cheeked toadfish

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Lagocephalus sceleratus by Carpentieri et al. (2009: 3); subsequently recorded as Lagocephalus sceleratus by Nader et al. (2012); subsequently recorded as Lagocephalus sceleratus by Bariche et al. (2015: 2366) and by Fanelli et al. (2015: 2169). Material in collection: AUBM.

Distribution. Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Socotra, Seychelles, Madagascar and western Mascarenes east to Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia; Mediterranean Sea and Sea of Marmara (Red Sea immigrant).

Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 8 June 2011). Capture and threats: Unknown. Occurrence: Very common .

Significant increase in the last two decades. Non-indigenous species, no conservation action needed.