Abstract

The occurrence of Opeatogenys gracilis outside the Mediterranean Sea is confirmed for the first time. This is probably a more common species than previously thought, but its apparent complete dependence on seagrass beds suggests the possibility of including it in the IUCN threatened species list. Some sex differences are described and a complete meristic and morphometric description of the species is presented. The occurrence of the species in the north-east Atlantic indicates that it might be a recent dispersal from the Mediterranean Sea, or an overlooked part of the autochthonous fauna. (c) 2005 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.