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Abstract

The man of war fish Nomeus gronovii (Gmelin, 1789) is reported for the first time from Lebanese waters and represents the first documented occurrence of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. A juvenile specimen was captured by a local fisherman in February 2026 at a depth of 23 m near Ramkin Island (Palm Islands Nature Reserve, eastern Meditteranean Sea) using a trammel net. Identification was confirmed through detailed morphological and meristic analyses. This record underscores the importance of coordinated marine biodiversity monitoring efforts and citizen science initiatives in detecting rare, non-indigenous, or previously unrecorded species. Although the introduction pathway remains uncertain, possible mechanisms include natural dispersal via surface currents or anthropogenic transport. 
Continued monitoring is recommended to evaluate the potential establishment and ecological implications of this species in the region.

Keywords: Nomeus gronovii; Non-Indigenous Species; Eastern Mediterranean Sea