Belone acus Risso 1827 —Mediterranean garfish

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Belone vulgaris, Flem. = Belone acus, Risso by Gruvel (1931: 85); subsequently recorded as Belone belone (Linnaeus 1766) by George et al. (1964: 14); as Belone belone (Linnaeus) by Mouneimné (1977: 61); as Belone belone (Linnaeus 1758) by Mouneimné (2002: 98); recently recorded as Belone belone by Bariche et al. (2007: 111). Material in collection: AUBM and USNM (as B. belone).

Distribution. Mediterranean Sea and adjacent eastern Atlantic (Portugal).

Conservation. IUCN: Global (NE); Med. (NE). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, NIS, unknown. Occurrence: Common. Low priority for conservation action.