First in situ photograph of the genus Protogrammus (Callionymidae) and first record of Protogrammus cf. alboranensis for French waters (Corsica)
Abstract
The recently described Alboran, dragonet Protogrammus alboranensis Fricke, Ordines, Farias & García-Ruiz, 2016, has only been reported once, off the Balearic Islands, since its description. During the Gombessa 6 scientific expedition off Cape Corse in July 2021, two individuals, male and female, were photographed in their habitat while scuba diving at -120 m. This represents a first sighting of the species in French waters and a significant extension of its distribution range in the western Mediterranean. Observed in its natural habitat, the species is distinguished primarily by the characteristic electric yellow markings present in the male. They were encountered atop coralligenous domes covered by gorgons and surrounded by rings formed by a unique geochemical process. This example of a first in situ observation of the Alboran dragonet shows the value of deep diving and photography, particularly for the description of microhabitats and the behaviour of small animals. As the description of Protogrammus sousai (Maul, 1972) from the waters off Madeira may also apply to the specimens from Corsica, further clarification is required based on additional material.
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BibTeX
@article{ballesta2026first,
title = {{First in situ photograph of the genus Protogrammus (Callionymidae) and first record of Protogrammus cf. alboranensis for French waters (Corsica)}},
author = {Laurent Ballesta and Samuel Iglésias and Gwenaelle Delaruelle and Florian Holon and Julie Deter},
journal = {Cybium : Revue Internationale d’Ichtyologie},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.26028/cybium/2026-034},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05745997v1},
note = {CC BY-SA 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - First in situ photograph of the genus Protogrammus (Callionymidae) and first record of Protogrammus cf. alboranensis for French waters (Corsica)
AU - Laurent Ballesta
AU - Samuel Iglésias
AU - Gwenaelle Delaruelle
AU - Florian Holon
AU - Julie Deter
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/10
JO - Cybium : Revue Internationale d’Ichtyologie
DO - 10.26028/cybium/2026-034
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05745997v1
AB - The recently described Alboran, dragonet Protogrammus alboranensis Fricke, Ordines, Farias & García-Ruiz, 2016, has only been reported once, off the Balearic Islands, since its description. During the Gombessa 6 scientific expedition off Cape Corse in July 2021, two individuals, male and female, were photographed in their habitat while scuba diving at -120 m. This represents a first sighting of the species in French waters and a significant extension of its distribution range in the western Mediterranean. Observed in its natural habitat, the species is distinguished primarily by the characteristic electric yellow markings present in the male. They were encountered atop coralligenous domes covered by gorgons and surrounded by rings formed by a unique geochemical process. This example of a first in situ observation of the Alboran dragonet shows the value of deep diving and photography, particularly for the description of microhabitats and the behaviour of small animals. As the description of Protogrammus sousai (Maul, 1972) from the waters off Madeira may also apply to the specimens from Corsica, further clarification is required based on additional material.
SN - 0399-0974
SN - 2101-0315
ER -