List of Lessepsian migrant species
Lessepsian migrants, named after Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French engineer in charge of the Suez Canal's construction, are marine species that are native to the waters on one side of the Suez Canal, and which have been introduced by passage through the canal to the waters on its other side, giving rise to new colonies there and often becoming invasive.
'', an example of Lessepsian migrant
Most Lessepsian migrations are of Red Sea species invading the Mediterranean Sea; few occur in the opposite direction.
Red Sea species to Mediterranean Sea
The year given denotes first record in the Mediterranean.| Species | Group | Year | Ref. | - |
| Actaea savignii | Crustacea: Xanthidae | 2010 | - | |
| Alepes djedaba | Actinopterygii: Carangidae | 1927 | - | |
| Alepes kleinii | Actinopterygii: Carangidae | 1966 | - | |
| Alpheus edwardsii | Crustacea: Alpheidae | 1924 | - | |
| Alpheus inopinatus | Crustacea: Alpheidae | 1958 | - | |
| Alpheus lobidens | Crustacea: Alpheidae | 1936 | - | |
| Alpheus migrans | Crustacea: Alpheidae | 1978 | - | |
| Alpheus rapacida | Crustacea: Alpheidae | 1964 | - | |
| Apogonichthyoides pharaonis | Actinopterygii: Apogonidae | 1947 | - | |
| Aquilonastra burtoni | Echinodermata: Asterinidae | 1966 | - | |
| Arcuatula arcuatula | Mollusca: Mytilidae | - | ||
| Arcuatula perfragilis | Mollusca: Mytilidae | 1960 | - | |
| Arcuatula senhousia | Mollusca: Mytilidae | 2004 | - | |
| Ashtoret lunaris | Crustacea: Matutidae | 1990 | - | |
| Aspidosiphon elegans | Phascolosomatidea: Aspidosiphonidae | 1957 | - | |
| Atergatis roseus | Crustacea: Xanthidae | 1964 | - | |
| Atherinomorus lacunosus | Actinopterygii: Atherinidae | 1902 | - | |
| Belzebub hanseni | Crustacea: Luciferidae | 1927 | - | |
| Brachidontes pharaonis | Mollusca: Mytilidae | 1876 | - | |
| Caesio varilineata | Actinopterygii: Caesionidae | 2018 | - | |
| Callionymus filamentosus | Actinopterygii: Callionymidae | 1953 | - | |
| Caloria indica | Mollusca: Facelinidae | 1986 | - | |
| Carcharhinus brevipinna | Chondrichthyes: Carcharhinidae | - | ||
| Carcharhinus melanopterus | Chondrichthyes: Carcharhinidae | 2005 | - | |
| Carupa tenuipes | Crustacea: Portunidae | 1996 | - | |
| Ceratonereis mirabilis | Annelida: Nereididae | - | ||
| Champsodon capensis | Actinopterygii: Champsodontidae | 2012 | - | |
| Champsodon nudivittis | Actinopterygii: Champsodontidae | 2008 | - | |
| Champsodon vorax | Actinopterygii: Champsodontidae | 2010 | - | |
| Chaetodon austriacus | Actinopterygii: Chaetodontidae | 2011 | - | |
| Chaetodon larvatus | Actinopterygii: Chaetodontidae | 2011 | - | |
| Charybdis hellerii | Crustacea: Portunidae | 1929 | - | |
| Charybdis longicollis | Crustacea: Portunidae | 1961 | - | |
| Cheilodipterus novemstriatus | Actinopterygii: Apogonidae | 2010 | - | |
| Coleusia signata | Crustacea: Leucosiidae | 1990 | - | |
| Conus arenatus | Mollusca: Conidae | - | ||
| Coryogalops ocheticus | Actinopterygii: Gobiidae | 1927 | - | |
| Crenidens crenidens | Actinopterygii: Sparidae | 1970 | - | |
| Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus | Actinopterygii: Gobiidae | 2015 | - | |
| Cymothoa indica | Crustacea: Cymothoidae | 2009 | - | |
| Cynoglossus sinusarabici | Actinopterygii: Cynoglossidae | 1953 | - | |
| Cucurbitula cymbium | Mollusca: Gastrochaenidae | - | ||
| Decapterus russelli | Actinopterygii: Carangidae | 2005 | - | |
| Diodora ruppellii | Mollusca: Fissurellidae | - | ||
| Dussumieria acuta | Actinopterygii: Clupeidae | 1953 | - | |
| Epinephelus areolatus | Actinopterygii: Serranidae | 2016 | - | |
| Epinephelus coioides | Actinopterygii: Serranidae | 1969 | - | |
| Epinephelus fasciatus | Actinopterygii: Serranidae | 2012 | - | |
| Epinephelus geoffroyi | Actinopterygii: Serranidae | 2015 | - | |
| Epinephelus malabaricus | Actinopterygii: Serranidae | 1969 | - | |
| Equulites elongatus | Actinopterygii: Leiognathidae | 2011 | - | |
| Equulites klunzingeri | Actinopterygii: Leiognathidae | 1931 | - | |
| Etrumeus teres | Actinopterygii: Clupeidae | 1963 | - | |
| Eucrate crenata | Crustacea: Goneplacidae | 1997 | - | |
| Eudactylina aspera | Crustacea: Eudactylinidae | 1977 | - | |
| Fenneropenaeus indica | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1981 | - | |
| Ferosagitta galerita | Chaetognatha: Sagittidae | 2003 | - | |
| Fistularia commersonii | Actinopterygii: Fistulariidae | 2001 | - | |
| Fulvia fragilis | Mollusca: Cardiidae | 2005 | - | |
| Gafrarium pectinatum | Mollusca: Veneridae | - | ||
| Glyphidohaptor plectocirra | Platyhelminthes: Ancyrocephalidae | 1972 | - | |
| Goniobranchus annulatus | Mollusca: Chromodorididae | 2004 | - | |
| Hemiramphus far | Actinopterygii: Hemiramphidae | 1927 | - | |
| Herklotsichthys punctatus | Actinopterygii: Clupeidae | 1976 | - | |
| Heterosaccus dollfusi | Crustacea: Sacculinidae | 1992 | - | |
| Himantura uarnak | Chondrichthyes: Dasyatidae | 1955 | - | |
| Hippocampus fuscus | Actinopterygii: Syngnathidae | 2001 | - | |
| Hyastenus hilgendorfi | Crustacea: Epialtidae | 1964 | - | |
| Hyporhamphus affinis | Actinopterygii: Hemiramphidae | 1967 | - | |
| Hypselodoris infucata | Mollusca: Chromodorididae | 1973 | - | |
| Isanda holdsworthiana | Mollusca: Trochidae | - | ||
| Istiophorus platypterus | Actinopterygii: Istiophoridae | - | ||
| Ixa monodi | Crustacea: Leucosiidae | 1958 | - | |
| Jaydia queketti | Actinopterygii: Apogonidae | 2006 | - | |
| Jaydia smithi | Actinopterygii: Apogonidae | 2013 | - | |
| Lagocephalus guentheri | Actinopterygii: Tetraodontidae | 2005 | - | |
| Lagocephalus sceleratus | Actinopterygii: Tetraodontidae | 2016 | - | |
| Lagocephalus spadiceus | Actinopterygii: Tetraodontidae | 1953 | - | |
| Lagocephalus suezensis | Actinopterygii: Tetraodontidae | 1977 | - | |
| Laternula anatina | Mollusca: Laternulidae | - | ||
| Leonnates decipiens | Annelida: Nereididae | - | ||
| Leonnates indicus | Annelida: Nereididae | - | ||
| Leonnates persicus | Annelida: Nereididae | 2001 | - | |
| Leptochela aculeocaudata | Crustacea: Pasiphaeidae | 1936 | - | |
| Leptochela pugnax | Crustacea: Pasiphaeidae | 1958 | - | |
| Liza carinata | Actinopterygii: Mugilidae | 1971 | - | |
| Lophioturris indica | Mollusca: Turridae | - | ||
| Lutjanus argentimaculatus | Actinopterygii: Lutjanidae | 1977 | - | |
| Mactra olorina | Mollusca: Mactridae | - | ||
| Marsupenaeus japonicus | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1926 | - | |
| Metapenaeus monoceros | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1927 | - | |
| Metapenaeus stebbingi | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1927 | - | |
| Metapenaeopsis aegypti | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1990 | - | |
| Metapenaeopsis mogiensis | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1997 | - | |
| Modiolus auriculatus | Mollusca: Mytilidae | 1960 | - | |
| Muraenesox cinereus | Actinopterygii: Muraenesocidae | 1982 | - | |
| Myrax fugax | Crustacea: Leucosiidae | 1930 | - | |
| Neanthes willeyi | Annelida: Nereididae | - | ||
| Nemipterus japonicus | Actinopterygii: Nemipteridae | 2006 | - | |
| Nemipterus randalli | Actinopterygii: Nemipteridae | 2006 | - | |
| Nereis gilchristi | Annelida: Nereididae | - | ||
| Nereis zonata persica | Annelida: Nereididae | - | ||
| Nipergasilus bora | Crustacea: Ergasilidae | 1971 | - | |
| Notopus dorsipes | Crustacea: Raninidae | 1964 | - | |
| Ogyrides mjoebergi | Crustacea: Ogyrididae | 1958 | - | |
| Ostorhinchus fasciatus | Actinopterygii: Apogonidae | 2008 | - | |
| Oxyurichthys petersii | Actinopterygii: Oxudercidae | 1983 | - | |
| Palaemonella rotumana | Crustacea: Palaemonidae | 1958 | - | |
| Pampus argenteus | Actinopterygii: Stromateidae | 1896 | - | |
| Panulirus ornatus | Crustacea: Palinuridae | 1989 | - | |
| Papilloculiceps longiceps | Actinopterygii: Platycephalidae | 1990 | - | |
| Parexocoetus mento | Actinopterygii: Exocoetidae | 1935 | - | |
| Parupeneus forsskali | Actinopterygii: Mullidae | 2000 | - | |
| Pelates quadrilineatus | Actinopterygii: Terapontidae | 1970 | - | |
| Pempheris mangula | Actinopterygii: Pempheridae | 1979 | - | |
| Penaeus hathor | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1997 | - | |
| Penaeus semisulcatus | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1928 | - | |
| Periclimenes calami | Crustacea: Palaemonidae | 1927 | - | |
| Perinereis nuntia | Annelida: Nereididae | - | ||
| Petroscirtes ancylodon | Actinopterygii: Blenniidae | 1989 | - | |
| Phidiana militaris | Mollusca: Facelinidae | 2016 | - | |
| Pilumnopeus vauquelini | Crustacea: Xanthidae | 1927 | - | |
| Pilumnus hirsutus | Crustacea: Xanthidae | 1936 | - | |
| Plagusia tuberculata | Crustacea: Grapsidae | 1967 | - | |
| Platax teira | Actinopterygii: Ephippidae | 2010 | - | |
| Platycephalus indicus | Actinopterygii: Platycephalidae | 1953 | - | |
| Platymaia wyvillethompsoni | Crustacea: Majidae | 1967 | - | |
| Plotosus lineatus | Actinopterygii: Plotosidae | 2001 | - | |
| Pomacanthus imperator | Actinopterygii: Pomacanthidae | 2010 | - | |
| Pomacanthus maculosus | Actinopterygii: Pomacanthidae | 2009 | - | |
| Pomadasys stridens | Actinopterygii: Haemulidae | 1969 | - | |
| Portunus pelagicus | Crustacea: Portunidae | 1924 | - | |
| Potamides conicus | Mollusca: Potamididae | - | ||
| Priacanthus sagittarius | Actinopterygii: Priacanthidae | 2009 | - | |
| Processa aequimana | Crustacea: Processidae | 1946 | - | |
| Pseudonereis anomala | Annelida: Nereididae | - | ||
| Pteragogus trispilus | Actinopterygii: Labridae | 1992 | - | |
| Pterois miles | Actinopterygii: Scorpaenidae | 1992 | - | |
| Rachycentron canadum | Actinopterygii: Rachycentridae | 1986 | - | |
| Rastrelliger kanagurta | Actinopterygii: Scombridae | 1971 | - | |
| Rhabdosargus haffara | Actinopterygii: Sparidae | 1992 | - | |
| Rhopilema nomadica | Cnidaria: Rhizostomatidae | 1970s | - | |
| Rhynchoconger trewavasae | Actinopterygii: Congridae | 1993 | - | |
| Sardinella gibbosa | Actinopterygii : Clupeidae | 2008 | - | |
| Sargocentron rubrum | Actinopterygii: Holocentridae | 1947 | - | |
| Saron marmoratus | Crustacea: Hippolytidae | 2013 | - | |
| Saurida undosquamis | Actinopterygii: Synodontidae | 1953 | - | |
| Scarus ghobban | Actinopterygii: Scaridae | 1999 | - | |
| Scomberomorus commerson | Actinopterygii: Scombridae | 1935 | - | |
| Sepia dollfusi | Mollusca: Sepiidae | 2015 | - | |
| Sepia pharaonis | Mollusca: Sepiidae | 2003 | - | |
| Sepioteuthis lessoniana | Mollusca: Loliginidae | 2002 | - | |
| Siganus luridus | Actinopterygii: Siganidae | 1964 | - | |
| Siganus rivulatus | Actinopterygii: Siganidae | 1927 | - | |
| Silhouettea aegyptia | Actinopterygii: Gobiidae | 1991 | - | |
| Sillago sihama | Actinopterygii: Sillaginidae | 1977 | - | |
| Sorsogona prionota | Actinopterygii: Platycephalidae | 1947 | - | |
| Sphaerozius nitidus | Crustacea: Xanthidae | 1972 | - | |
| Sphyraena chrysotaenia | Actinopterygii: Sphyraenidae | 1930 | - | |
| Sphyraena flavicauda | Actinopterygii: Sphyraenidae | 1992 | - | |
| Spratelloides delicatulus | Actinopterygii: Clupeidae | 1978 | - | |
| Stephanolepis diaspros | Actinopterygii: Monacanthidae | 1927 | - | |
| Synalpheus hululensis | Crustacea: Alpheidae | 1964 | - | |
| Synanceia verrucosa | Actinopterygii: Scorpaenidae | 2010 | - | |
| Synchiropus sechellensis | Actinopterygii: Callionymidae | 2014 | - | |
| Terapon jarbua | Actinopterygii: Terapontidae | 2010 | - | |
| Terapon puta | Actinopterygii: Terapontidae | 1976 | ||
| Tetrosomus gibbosus | Actinopterygii: Ostraciidae | 1988 | - | |
| Thalamita poissonii | Crustacea: Portunidae | 1958 | - | |
| Trachurus indicus | Actinopterygii: Carangidae | 2009 | - | |
| Trachysalambria curvirostris | Crustacea: Penaeidae | 1927 | - | |
| Trochus erithreus | Mollusca: Trochidae | - | ||
| Torquigener flavimaculosus | Actinopterygii: Tetraodontidae | 1987 | - | |
| Trypauchen vagina | Actinopterygii: Oxudercidae | 2011 | - | |
| Tylerius spinosissimus | Actinopterygii: Tetraodontidae | 2005 | - | |
| Tylosurus choram | Actinopterygii: Belonidae | 1963 | - | |
| Upeneus moluccensis | Actinopterygii: Mullidae | 1947 | - | |
| Upeneus pori | Actinopterygii: Mullidae | 1950 | - | |
| Upeneus tragula | Actinopterygii: Mullidae | 2018 | - | |
| Urocaridella pulchella | Crustacea: Palaemonidae | 2008 | - | |
| Vanderhorstia mertensi | Actinopterygii: Gobiidae | 2008 | - | |
| Zafra savignyi | Mollusca: Columbellidae | - |
Mediterranean species to Red Sea
- Argyrosomus regius
- Biuve fulvipunctata
- Gobius cobitis
- Gobius paganellus
- Serranus cabrilla
- Solea aegyptiaca
- Umbrina cirrosa
General references
- Dulcic, J. and A. Pallaoro. Lessepsian Fish Migrants Reported in the East Adriatic Sea: An Annotated List, Ser. hist. nat..
- Golani, D.. Impact of Red Sea Fish Migrants through the Suez Canal on the Aquatic Environment of the Eastern Mediterranean, Yale FE&S Bulletin 103.