Some interesting species in the coastal fish fauna of Ustica Island (Mediterranean Sea)

A study on the coastal fish assemblage inhabiting the marine reserve of Ust ica Island was carried out from 1994 to 1997 by means of two visual census techniques. The occurrence of species such as Sphyraena viridensis, Spariso ma cretense, Lappanella fasciata, Scorpaena maderensis, Thorogobius ephippi atus, Gobius vittatus and Caranx crysos within the censused fish fauna of U stica is of particular interest providing relevant information on these spe cies, concerning biogeographic aspects, habitat preference and some ecologi cal and behavioural features. The utility of visual census techniques for i n situ ecological studies on coastal fishes is pointed out.