This research was carried out during the period 08/28/2012 - 07/29/2013 in order to
determine the qualitative composition of Puffer Fishes (Tetraodontidae) in the marine
water of Latakia.
Fish samples were collected from three stations (Borj Islam
, Al madina al riyadiah
and Jableh), the total of fishes were / 255 / individuals. All fish individuals were classified,
preserved and placed at the High Institute of Marine Research Laboratory, some biological
factors of the collected fish (K%, GSI%,HIS%) were studied.
Results had revealed the presence of five species of Puffer Fish belong to three
genera of Tetraodontidae: Lagocephalus sceleratus, L. spadiceus, L. suezensis,
Sphoeroides pachygaster, Torquigener flavimaculosus. S. pachygaster species (migratory
species from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea) has been recorded for the first
time in the marine water of Syria. Results showed that L. suezensis were more coincidence
species in the catch. The amounts caught of Puffer Fishes varied according to the stations;
the highest was in Borj Islam. K% was almost similar in all species, while GSI% and
HSI% varied according to the species and seasons.
