Ritrovamento del raro isopode Eisothistos macrurus Wägele, 1979 in Sardegna e Liguria e considerazioni sulla sua distribuzione mediterranea

The anthuroid isopod Eisothistos macrurus is here reported from the marinas of Santa Margherita Ligure (Liguria) and Porto Rotondo (Sardinia). Previously, this species was only known from the Gulf of Naples (type locality), and from the coasts of Israel and Gibraltar. Since E. macrurus displays very scarce capability of autonomous spread, its current wide and disjunct distribution could result from human transport. Since all its Mediterranean records occur from port areas, it is plausible that this species has been transported as fouling on ship hulls.