PRESENCE OF THE LIONFIH, PTEROIS VOLITANS (ACTINOPTERYGII: SCORPAENIDAE), IN THE CIÉNAGA GRANDE DE SANTA MARTA: FALL OF THE LAST FORTRESS

Abstract

Pterois volitans has invaded the continental Colombian Caribbean in less than four years, occurring in almost all coastal systems and structures. In September 2013, an adult specimen of this species was fihed in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, a large estuarine lagoon located in northern Colombia, Magdalena province, northeast section of the Magdalena River delta (10° 43’- 11° 00’ N and 74° 16’- 74° 43’ W). This, the fist record of this fih in that ecosystem, confims the complete occurrence of the invader in all the Colombian Caribbean ecoregions.