Diodon hystrix
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Alien: Casual
"Based on our genetic results, it is difficult to determine if the Cyprus sample is an aquarium release or a Lessepsian immigrant, because this species is found worldwide and shows little genetic differentiation at the COI marker level. It is plausible that a careless aquarium hobbyist released the fish after it outgrew the aquarium, as it is a relativaley common practice (Semmens, Buhle, Salomon, & Pattengill-Semmens, 2004). Further work, sampling and observations are therefore necessary to conclusively elucidate the introduction pathway" (Kleitu et al. 2020).
Kleitou P, Giovos I, Antoniou C, Ioannou G, Bernardi G (2020)The third record of black-spotted porcupinefish Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758 in the Mediterranean Sea. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 36(2): 227-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/jai.13999
Michail C, Crocetta F, Zenetos A, Langeneck J, Tsiamis K, Tiralongo F, Kletou D, Constantinou G, Cai LL, Vasiliades L, Rousou M, Katsanevakis S, Tanduo V, Hadjieftychiou SI, Papageorgiou IV, Kleitou P (2026) Marine non-indigenous species of Cyprus: pathways, introduction dynamics, spatial patterns, and policy implications. Biological Invasions 28(97). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-026-03814-6