New records suggesting expanded distribution of tropical marine fish, Atlantic bumper <scp> <i>Chloroscombrus chrysurus</i> </scp> , four‐banded butterflyfish <scp> <i>Chaetodon hoefleri</i> </scp> and Guinean parrotfish <scp> <i>Scarus hoefleri,</i> </scp> in the eastern Atlantic

Abstract

Three species of tropical and subtropical fish have been recorded for the first time in the bay of Dakhla, located in the Atlantic Sahara of Morocco. These species are the Atlantic bumper Chloroscombrus chrysurus, four-banded butterflyfish Chaetodon hoefleri and Guinean parrotfish Scarus hoefleri. Records come from active visual surveys, remote camera surveys and observations by a local fisherman. All species were identified from images and footage using analysis of morphological characteristics. These observations suggest the northward range expansion of these species along the coast, likely due to climate change.