Tropical species discovered in Galicia waters for the first time

Researchers from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) have confirmed the presence of two tropical marine species in Galician waters for the first time: the sardinella (Sardinella aurita) and the hermit crab Dardanus calidus.

The discovery of the sardinella, identified through morphological and genetic analysis of five specimens caught in northern Galicia in early 2026, marks a significant expansion of the species' known distribution in the eastern Atlantic. Scientists warn that the sardinella shares food resources and habitat with the sardine, a species of high economic importance to the Galician fishing fleet. An increase in sardinella populations could intensify competition and impact the profitability of local fisheries.

Additionally, the presence of the hermit crab Dardanus calidus was documented in Corrubedo. This finding is notable as the specimen was located approximately 460 kilometers north of its usual habitat on the Portuguese coast. These findings, published in the journals Cybium and Biology, provide new evidence of the tropicalization process occurring along the Iberian Atlantic coast.