The Current State of Exotic Crustacean Decapoda Fauna in Syrian Marine Waters (Update and Review)

Alien species represent an important part of the crustaceans of Syrian fowl, which are about 128 species. The total number of migratory species in Syrian waters recorded in this work make up only 27 species. This number represents 21.5% of all marine Decapoda known in Syria and 38.8% of introduced species in the Mediterranean. Decapoda species introduced into Syria belong to 10 different families and are spread over 22 genera. The family Penaeidae and the family Portunidae are the most represented in introduced species with 7 for each. The Leucosiidae family ranks second by the number of species with 4 lessepsian and then the Pasiphaeidae and Alpheidae families represented by two species. Only one introduced species has been reported for the following families: Palinuridae, Majidae, Matutidae, Xantidae and Pilumnidae. Of the 27 species decapod found in Syria, 5 have been reported for the first time in the marine waters of this country during the last decade and two among this, registered in 2017 for the first time. These species are Melicertus hathor, Alpheus audouini, Arcania elongata, Matuta victor and Gonioinfradens paucidentatus. It is accepted that alien species may have ecological, economic or health related influences, especially after they succeed in establishing dense population, or presenting invasive characters. The invasion of exotic species on the Syrian coast by the Suez Canal plays also a big role in modifying the original specific composition of Syrian waters.