New Records of Callinectes sapidus (Crustacea, Portunidae) from Malta and the San Leonardo River Estuary in Sicily (Central Mediterranean)

The current study provides new data on the known records of Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, from Maltese Islands through two ovigerous female specimens collected Salini (Malta), a Natura 2000 site, in August 2020. Additional species were also presented San Leonardo River estuary, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy), 2022. both Malta and Sicily identified using morphological molecular analyses. latter has shown that all analysed share their mitochondrial DNA barcode region with most recorded haplotype same Mediterranean Sea. Knowing distribution range expansion alien is important for continuous monitoring marine species, which essential implementation best possible mitigation measures. This especially relevant C. sapidus, as it considered one worst invaders Therefore, given this edible, fishing may allow some control over its population size further expansion. crucial to inform fishers about exact location, making such measure more effective.