Khadija OUNIFI BEN AMOR, BDIOUI M., EL HASNI K., BEN AMOR M.M.
Laboratoire de Biodiversité, Biotechnologie et Changements Climatiques, Faculté des
Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis Tunisie.
E-mail: ounifikhadija@yahoo.com
UNCOMMON RECORD OF THE NON-INDIGENOUS BARNACLE
AMPHIBALANUS EBURNEUS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE, CARETTA CARETTA
IN TUNISIAN WATERS
Abstract
The ivory barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus (Gould, 1841) (Arthropoda: Hexanauplia: Sessilia)
is, native to the Western Atlantic, has been widely introduced worldwide through shipping and
has been found throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea since the 19th century, where it
is now well established with multiple records from several countries. In a prospecting campaign
within the framework of a project on “Medbycatch”, adult and juvenile’s barnacles were found
among biofouling fixed to a carapace of female of loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta,
accidentally captured a live by a trawler in Mahdia (the Central East Tunisia Region) in
September 2021. Among them twenty specimens of A. eburneus were identified and clearly
differentiated from the native species Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758). The present
record constitutes the first sighting of Amphibalanus eburneus on turtles in Tunisia waters and
elsewhere. Most occurrences of this barnacle are associated with mussel shells. Amphibalanus
eburneus, in particular, is a fouling organism common to molluscs. The presence of A. eburneus
juveniles suggests the successful establishment of the species in the area.
Key-words: Cirripedia , bioinvasions, establishment, competition, expansion
Introduction
The ivory barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus (Gould, 1841), a cirriped species of the family
Balanidae Leach, 1817, is one such marine species transported globally via anthropogenic
means. This taxon is usually found in estuarine habitats, tolerates considerable salinity
variations extending from near full-salinity waters to nearly fresh waters, and avoids strong
currents, living mainly attached to immobile objects (e.g. mollusk shells, rocks, harbor
installations, and artificial substrates) in areas protected from wave action (Dineen & Hines,
1994). Amphibalanus eburneus, native to the Western Atlantic (Fofonoff et al., 2018), has
been widely introduced worldwide through shipping (Carlton et al., 2011) and has been found
throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea since the 19th century, where it is now well
established with multiple records from several countries (Zenetos et al., 2017). However, its
distribution in the Mediterranean basin remains patchy, presumably due to the absence of
field research and taxonomic experts. Since its first occurrence in Tunisia waters in 2012 (El
Lakhrach et al., 2012), the species has been reported occasionally and mainly in brackish
waters associated with mussel shells. The present record constitutes the first sighting of
Amphibalanus eburneus on turtles in Tunisia waters and elsewhere.
Materials and methods
In a prospecting campaign within the framework of a project on “Medbycatch” (a project
that develops a standardized multi-taxa approach to study and mitigate bycatch in the
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
113
Laboratoire de Biodiversité, Biotechnologie et Changements Climatiques, Faculté des
Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis Tunisie.
E-mail: ounifikhadija@yahoo.com
UNCOMMON RECORD OF THE NON-INDIGENOUS BARNACLE
AMPHIBALANUS EBURNEUS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE, CARETTA CARETTA
IN TUNISIAN WATERS
Abstract
The ivory barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus (Gould, 1841) (Arthropoda: Hexanauplia: Sessilia)
is, native to the Western Atlantic, has been widely introduced worldwide through shipping and
has been found throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea since the 19th century, where it
is now well established with multiple records from several countries. In a prospecting campaign
within the framework of a project on “Medbycatch”, adult and juvenile’s barnacles were found
among biofouling fixed to a carapace of female of loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta,
accidentally captured a live by a trawler in Mahdia (the Central East Tunisia Region) in
September 2021. Among them twenty specimens of A. eburneus were identified and clearly
differentiated from the native species Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758). The present
record constitutes the first sighting of Amphibalanus eburneus on turtles in Tunisia waters and
elsewhere. Most occurrences of this barnacle are associated with mussel shells. Amphibalanus
eburneus, in particular, is a fouling organism common to molluscs. The presence of A. eburneus
juveniles suggests the successful establishment of the species in the area.
Key-words: Cirripedia , bioinvasions, establishment, competition, expansion
Introduction
The ivory barnacle Amphibalanus eburneus (Gould, 1841), a cirriped species of the family
Balanidae Leach, 1817, is one such marine species transported globally via anthropogenic
means. This taxon is usually found in estuarine habitats, tolerates considerable salinity
variations extending from near full-salinity waters to nearly fresh waters, and avoids strong
currents, living mainly attached to immobile objects (e.g. mollusk shells, rocks, harbor
installations, and artificial substrates) in areas protected from wave action (Dineen & Hines,
1994). Amphibalanus eburneus, native to the Western Atlantic (Fofonoff et al., 2018), has
been widely introduced worldwide through shipping (Carlton et al., 2011) and has been found
throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea since the 19th century, where it is now well
established with multiple records from several countries (Zenetos et al., 2017). However, its
distribution in the Mediterranean basin remains patchy, presumably due to the absence of
field research and taxonomic experts. Since its first occurrence in Tunisia waters in 2012 (El
Lakhrach et al., 2012), the species has been reported occasionally and mainly in brackish
waters associated with mussel shells. The present record constitutes the first sighting of
Amphibalanus eburneus on turtles in Tunisia waters and elsewhere.
Materials and methods
In a prospecting campaign within the framework of a project on “Medbycatch” (a project
that develops a standardized multi-taxa approach to study and mitigate bycatch in the
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
113