43
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 28 · 2018 · 1
original scientifi c article                             DOI 10.19233/ASHN.2018.07
received: 2018-05-03
FIRST RECORD OF THE MEAGRE, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), 
IN SLOVENIAN COASTAL WATERS WITH ADDITIONAL RECORDS FROM 
THE CROATIAN PART OF THE ADRIATIC SEA
Borut MAVRIČ
National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station Piran, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran
e-mail: Borut.Mavric@nib.si
Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, I. Meštrovića 63, 21000 Split, Croatia
ABSTRACT
One specimen of meagre, Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801), was caught by trawling in the waters off Slovenia on 
24th November 2016 at the depth of cca. 20 m above sandy-muddy bottom. This is the fi rst record of this species for 
the Slovenian part of the Adriatic Sea. Due to the fact that there are no wild populations in the Middle and North 
Adriatic and that remaining wild populations in the Southern Adriatic are scarce and small, the specimen is supposed 
to be an escapee from one of the mariculture facilities. Additional occurrences of this species from the Croatian part 
of the Adriatic Sea are reported. 
Key words: meagre, Argyrosomus regius, Adriatic Sea, farm escapee, aquaculture
PRIMA SEGNALAZIONE DI OMBRINA BOCCADORO, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 
1801), IN ACQUE COSTIERE SLOVENE CON ULTERIORI RITROVAMENTI NELLA PARTE 
CROATA DELL‘ADRIATICO
SINTESI
Un esemplare di ombrina boccadoro, Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801), è stato catturato con la rete a strascico 
nelle acque al largo della Slovenia, il 24 novembre 2016, ad una profondità di cca. 20 m, sopra il fondale sabbio-
so-fangoso. Si tratta del primo ritrovamento di questa specie per la parte slovena dell’Adriatico. Poiché non ci sono 
popolazioni allo stato selvatico nell’Adriatico centrale e settentrionale, e visto che le restanti popolazioni selvatiche 
nell’Adriatico meridionale sono scarse e limitate, gli autori ipotizzano che l’esemplare sia scappato da uno degli 
impianti di maricoltura. Vengono inoltre segnalati altri ritrovamenti di questa specie nella parte croata dell’Adriatico.
Parole chiave: ombrina boccadoro, Argyrosomus regius, mare Adriatico, fuggitivo, acquacoltura
44
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 28 · 2018 · 1
Borut MAVRIČ & Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ: FIRST RECORD OF THE MEAGRE, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), IN SLOVENIAN COASTAL ..., 43–50
INTRODUCTION
The meagre, Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801), is a 
demersal, oceanodromus, ray-fi nned fi sh of the family 
Sciaenidae. It is a large top-predator, with a high tro-
phic level (4.3) that consumes large sized and heavy 
preys.  It feeds on a wide range of crustaceans and fi sh 
(Valero-Rodriguez et al., 2015). Adults inhabit inshore 
and shelf waters while juveniles and subadults prefer 
estuaries and coastal lagoons. It mostly occurs over 
sandy bottoms, close to rocks, at depths from 1 - 200 
m (Louisy, 2002). Original distribution of the meagre 
is the eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Gibraltar and 
Congo, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea 
(Griffi ths & Heemstra, 1995). It also migrated via Suez 
Canal to the Red Sea as an anti-Lessepian migrant (Chao 
& Trewavas 1990). 
In the Adriatic Sea, the meagre was historically wide-
spread along the eastern coast, especially in sandy and 
muddy shallows with turbid and fresh water infl uence 
although it was considered rare or very rare (Šoljan, 
1975; Jardas 1985). Grubišić (1967) considered areas 
of Ulcinj (Bojana rivermouth), Omiš (Cetina rivermouth) 
and Neretva rivermouth as the only areas with locally 
abundant populations. However, at the end of 20th 
century the fi sheries reports about the species became 
very scarce, with the Bojana rivermouth (Montenegro) 
being one of the last locations in the Adriatic Sea hosting 
natural/wild populations (Joksimović, 2007). Jardas et al. 
(2008) have declared it as a regionally extinct species 
in the Red Book of Sea Fishes of Croatia. For the Slo-
venian sea there are no records for this species in the 
available literature, such as Matjašič & Štirn (1975) and 
Kryštufek & Janžekovič (1999). The meagre has suffered 
alarming declines in other parts of the Mediterranean as 
well (Quéro & Vayne, 1987; Quéro, 1989; Wolff, 2000), 
mostly due to overexploitation and habitat degradation. 
On the other hand, it is considered as an emerging spe-
cies in the Mediterranean aquaculture (Monfort, 2010), 
with the main production reported in Egypt (brackish 
ponds) and in Spain, France, Italy and Turkey (off-shore 
mariculture).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The meagre specimen was caught by trawling in the 
waters off Slovenian coast on 24th November 2016 at the 
depth of cca. 20 m above sandy-muddy bottoms (Fig. 1). 
The specimen was sold at the local market, but was pho-
tographed by the fi sherman previously since it was not 
identifi ed (Fig. 2a). The researchers from Marine Biology 
Station of the National Institute of Biology were informed 
about the catch and were given the photographs to 
identify the specimen. Using the photographs, the total 
length of the specimen was estimated. Additionally, we 
managed to locate 3 records of this species caught in the 
wild from Croatia whose identifi cation was also based 
solely on photographs of the specimens (Fig. 1). 
On 26th July 2011, a specimen was caught near vil-
lage of Brist (middle Adriatic, Croatia) (Fig. 2b). In sum-
mer of 2012 another specimen of meagre was collected 
by sportive fi sherman from area of Pelješac peninsula 
(southern Adriatic; Croatia) (Fig. 2c) and in December 
2017 one specimen was caught in waters off Zadar 
(middle Adriatic, Croatia). Photos of all the mentioned 
specimens were sent to the Institute of Oceanography 
and Fisheries in Split (Croatia). Beside photos, data 
on weight were provided directly by the fi shermen for 
individuals from Brist and Pelješac while we estimated 
length of the specimen from Zadar in relation to the size 
of the fi sh container. Since we did not get the permission 
for publication of the photo of the Zadar specimen, 
this one is not shown in the paper, but is available on 
request.
Fig. 1: Map of the Adriatic Sea with localities where 
meagre specimens were caught (black dots; numbers 
represent the following localities: 1- Piran, 2 – Brist, 
3 – Pelješac, 4 – Zadar, 5 – Rab), with localities (Apuglia, 
Monfalcone, Hvar, Zadar) where the meagre is cultivat-
ed (squares) and the area (Bojana river mouth) where 
the last known natural population still occurs (circle). 
Sl. 1: Zemljevid Jadranskega morja z območji, kjer so 
bili ujeti obravnavani primerki hame (črne pike; šte-
vilke predstavljajo naslednja območja najdb: 1 – Piran, 
2 – Brist, 3 – Pelješac, 4 – Zadar, 5 – Rab), z območji 
(Apulija, Monfalcone, Hvar, Zadar), kjer hame vzgajajo 
v marikulturah (kvadrati) in z območjem (ustje reke Bo-
jane), kjer obstaja še zadnja znana naravna populacija 
te vrste (krog).
45
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 28 · 2018 · 1
Borut MAVRIČ & Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ: FIRST RECORD OF THE MEAGRE, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), IN SLOVENIAN COASTAL ..., 43–50
Fig. 2: Photographs of the caught meagre specimens from: a – Piran (photo: M. Buh), b – Brist 
(photo: Željko and Ernesto Trampa), c – Pelješac (photo: Pero Ugarković), d – Rab (photo: Šime 
Sušić). 
Sl. 2: Fotografi je ujetih primerkov hame iz: a – Pirana (foto: M. Buh), b – Brista (foto: Željko in 
Ernesto Trampa), c – Pelješca (foto: Pero Ugarković), d – Raba (foto: Šime Sušić). 
46
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 28 · 2018 · 1
Borut MAVRIČ & Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ: FIRST RECORD OF THE MEAGRE, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), IN SLOVENIAN COASTAL ..., 43–50
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
All specimens were identifi ed as Argyrosomus regius 
based on distinctive features that could be clearly seen 
from the photographs provided (Fig. 2). All specimens had 
elongated body pearly-silver in colour with bronze hints 
on the dorsal part and fi ns of reddish colour; the second 
dorsal fi n much longer than the fi rst; ventral fi ns posi-
tioned directly below relatively short pectoral fi ns. Head 
is rather large in respect to the body with a large terminally 
positioned mouth of yellowish colour. The estimated total 
length (TL) of the specimen from Slovenia was 650 mm 
(Fig. 2a) while the Croatian specimen from Brist measured 
740 mm TL and weighed 4.5 kg (Fig. 2b) and the specimen 
from Pelješac weighed 2.2 kg (Fig 2c, no data on TL). For 
the specimen from Zadar area, we estimated the TL rang-
ing between 750-800 mm.  According to the previously 
documented length-at fi rst maturity (Gonzalez-Quiros et 
al., 2011; Abou Shabana et al., 2012) all specimens were 
either mature or close to its matureness.
Prior to these records, the last documented record of a 
wild specimen in the Adriatic Sea dates from August 2008, 
from the area near Neretva river mouth in Croatia (Dulčić 
et al., 2009). This specimen was considered as an escapee 
from the mariculture. In Croatian waters the meagre was 
declared as regionally extinct species (Jardas et al., 2008), 
although there is a small possibility that some specimens 
can fi nd their way into Croatian waters from the area of 
Bojana river mouth (Montenegro), hosting one of the last 
wild populations of this species (Joksimović, 2007) in the 
Adriatic Sea. Since there are no wild populations in the 
Middle and North Adriatic and due to the fact that the 
only remaining wild populations in the southern Adriatic 
are scarce (Joksimović, 2007; Jardas et al., 2008; Dulčić et 
al., 2009), we presume that the specimen collected near 
Brist (Croatia) probably originated from the mariculture 
facilities from Mljet island which was active during 2011 
when the specimen was collected. The same is probably 
true for the specimen from Pelješac where, beside one 
specimen reported herein, several other specimens were 
caught in summer 2012 by various fi shermen (P. Ugar-
ković, pers. comm). 
We are also aware of a specimen caught near 
Ulcinj (Montenegro) in May 2016 which appeared on 
social network (Facebook group »More i Ribolov«) as 
a curiosity. Presence of farmed meagre escapees have 
been reported from many areas in the Mediterranean, 
even in areas far from meagres natural distribution, or 
in areas where it is considered locally absent or extinct 
(Mayol et al., 2000; Dulčić et al., 2009; Sanchez-Jerez 
et al., 2011; Arechavala-Lopez et al., 2015). There are 
several places in the Adriatic where the meagre is still 
farmed, although the production is relatively small in 
comparison to overall marine fi sh production (Kružić 
et al., 2016; Cataudella & Spagnolo, 2011). In Croatia 
there are two areas where meagre is still cultured in the 
fl oating cages, the fi rst on island Hvar and the second 
on islands off Zadar (Pašman, Ugljan, Dugi otok) (Kružić 
et al., 2016). Farms from Zadar area were probably the 
source of meagre escapees encountered in the area. 
Indeed, in 2012 there were media reports of signifi cant 
quantities of smaller specimens (300-700 g) of meagre 
being caught near Lošinj Island by the local fi shermen 
which probably originated from fi sh farms in vicinity 
(Šuljić, 2012). In Italian part of the Adriatic Sea two ar-
eas host the meagre production, Adriatic part of Apulia 
and the Gulf of Trieste (Cataudella & Spagnolo, 2011).
According to geographic position, the Cà Zuliani 
mariculture at Monfalcone in the Gulf of Trieste seems 
to be the appropriate site where the Slovenian specimen 
originated from. In that farm, placed in the East-West 
canal of Monfalcone, two small cages were, at the time, 
devoted to the production of the meagre. The sea water 
in this canal is heated by the discharge water of electric 
plant helping to a better production of the species, 
known not to be prone to the temperatures below 11°C, 
which are common for the area during winter periods. 
Without the heated water discharges the production 
of the meagre would not be possible, as was observed 
in the beginning of 2017 when all specimens from the 
cages died due to water temperature drop, which was 
a direct consequence of the disrupted water discharge 
from the power plant (biologist and mariculture oper-
ator Walter de Walderstein, pers. comm.). The water 
temperature drops during winter time, from the site 
of production through the canals to the waters of the 
Gulf of Trieste, which would most probably prevent any 
possible escapees to reach the open sea. According to 
the interview held with Walter de Walderstein there 
were also no damages observed to the cages in the ca-
nal and therefore no fi sh are presumed to have escaped 
from there. According to these statements it cannot be 
excluded that the Slovenian specimen could originate 
from the distant maricultures from the Middle Adriatic, 
which are several hundred kilometres away from the 
place of capture. Meagre have a low degree of site 
fi delity (Toledo-Guedes et al., 2009; Arechavala-Lopez 
et al., 2016) and regularly perform seasonal migrations. 
Moreover, they are capable of swimming over long 
distances (Gonzalez-Quiros et al., 2011; Morales-Nin 
et al., 2012). Distance from Middle Adriatic mariculture 
facilities to the Gulf of Trieste could still be within its 
range and possible to overcome. According to Grubišić 
(1967), this species has been occurring in the northern 
Adriatic until the middle of the 20th century, although 
it was very rare. Despite this fact the meagre has so far 
never been recorded for the area of the Slovenian Sea 
according to available literature (Matjašič & Štirn, 1975; 
Kryštufek & Janžekovič, 1999), making the specimen 
reported here-in the fi rst record for the Slovenian Sea.
Finally, although rare, occurrences of meagre in the 
Adriatic Sea seem to be occasional in the recent years. 
During the fi nal preparation of this manuscript, we got 
informed about the catch of meagre from in waters off 
47
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 28 · 2018 · 1
Borut MAVRIČ & Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ: FIRST RECORD OF THE MEAGRE, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), IN SLOVENIAN COASTAL ..., 43–50
Lopar on Rab island (10th April 2018; Croatian coast; 
W=1.75 kg) (Fig. 1) accompanied with a photo of the 
specimen (Fig. 2d) (Šime Sušić, pers. comm.). 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Authors would like to thank a fi sherman Mr. Mar-
jan Buh, Mr. Pero Ugarković, Mr. Ernesto Trampa, Mr. 
Željko Trampa, Mr Šime Sušić and Mrs. Franka Jović for 
providing photos of the caught meagre specimens. Ad-
ditionally, we would like to thank prof. dr. Lovrenc Lipej 
for his help with determining the Slovenian specimen 
and his encouragement with preparing the manuscript. 
Our gratitude goes also to a colleague Nicola Bettoso 
for providing us information regarding the mariculture 
in Monfalcone.
48
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 28 · 2018 · 1
Borut MAVRIČ & Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ: FIRST RECORD OF THE MEAGRE, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), IN SLOVENIAN COASTAL ..., 43–50
PRVI PRIMER POJAVLJANJA HAME, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), 
V SLOVENSKEM OBALNEM MORJU Z DODATNIMI ZAPISI POJAVLJANJA 
IZ HRVAŠKEGA DELA JADRANA
Borut MAVRIČ
National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station Piran, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran
Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, I. Meštrovića 63, 21000 Split, Croatia
POVZETEK
Primerek hame, Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801) so 24. novembra 2016 ujeli v pridneno vlečno mrežo na 
peščeno muljastem delu slovenskega morja, na globini okoli 20 m. To je prvi zapis za to vrsto v slovenskem morju. 
Ker v srednjem in severnem delu Jadrana ni divjih populacij hame, gre verjetno za primerek, ki je ušel iz marikulture. 
Avtorja v članku podajata tudi dodatna pojavljanja iz hrvaškega dela Jadrana. 
Ključne besede: hama, Argyrosomus regius, Jadransko morje, ubežnik, akvakultura
49
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 28 · 2018 · 1
Borut MAVRIČ & Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ: FIRST RECORD OF THE MEAGRE, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), IN SLOVENIAN COASTAL ..., 43–50
REFERENCES
Abou Shabana, N.M., S.H., Abd El Rahman, M.A., 
Al Absawy & S.S. Assem (2012): Reproductive biology 
of Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801) inhabiting the south 
eastern Mediterranean Sea, Egypt. Egyptian Journal of 
Aquatic Research, 38, 2, 147-156. 
Arechavala-Lopez, P., J.M. Valero-Rodriguez, J.M., J. 
Peñalver-García, D. Izquierdo-Gomez & P. Sanchez-Jer-
ez (2015): Linking coastal aquaculture of meagre (Ar-
gyrosomus regius) and Western Mediterranean coastal 
fi sheries through escapes incidents. Fisheries Manage-
ment and Ecology, 22, 317-325.
Arechavala-Lopez, P., I. Uglem, D. Izquierdo-Go-
mez, D. Fernandez-Jover & P. Sanchez-Jerez (2016): 
Rapid dispersion of escaped meagre (Argyrosomus regi-
us) from a coastal Mediterranean fi sh farm. Aquaculture 
research, 1-11. DOI: 10.1111/are.12986.
Chao, L.N. & E. Trewavas (1990): Sciaenidae. pp. 
813-826. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post 
and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fi shes the eastern 
tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; 
and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. 
Cataudella, S. & M. Spagnolo (eds.) (2011): The 
state of Italian marine fi sheries and aquaculture. Min-
istero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali 
(MiPAAF), Rome (Italy), 620 pp.
Dulčić, J., V. Bratulović & B. Glamuzina (2009): The 
meagre Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801), in Croatian 
waters (Neretva channel, Southern Adriatic): Recovery 
of the population or an escape from mariculture? An-
nales Series Historia Naturalis, 19(2), 155-158. 
González-Quirós, R., J. Árbol, M. M. García-Pa-
checo, A. J. Silva-García, J. Naranjo & B. Morales-Nin 
(2011): Life-history of the meagre Argyrosomus regius 
in the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Iberian). Fisheries Research, 
109(1), 140-149. 
Griffi ths, M.H. & P.C. Heemstra (1995): A contribu-
tion to the taxonomy of the marine fi sh genus Argyroso-
mus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae), with descriptions of two 
new species from southern Africa. Ichthyol. Bull., J.L.B. 
Smith Inst. Ichthyol. No. 65, 40 pp.
Grubišić, F. (1967): Ribe, rakovi i školjke Jadrana. 
Jugoriba, Zagreb. (In Croatian)
Jardas, I. (1985): Check-list of the fi shes (sensu lato) 
of the Adriatic Sea (Cyclostomata, Selachii, Osteichthy-
es) with respect of taxonomy and established number. 
Biosistematika, 1, 45-74. (In Croatian)
 Jardas, I., A. Pallaoro, N. Vrgoč, S. Jukić-Peladić 
(2008): Crvena knjiga morskih riba Hrvatske. Ministarst-
vo kulture i Državni zavod za zaštitu prirode, Zagreb.
Joksimović, A. (2007): Najpoznatije ribe crnogorsk-
og primorja. Crnogorska Akademija nauka i umjetnosti, 
Posebna izdanja (monografi je i studije), Vol. 58. Odel-
jenje prirodnih nauka, Vol. 30, 140 pp.
Kružić, N., B. Mustać, I. Župan & S. Čolak (2016): 
Meagre (Argyrosomus regius Asso, 1801) aquaculture in 
Croatia. Journal of Fisheries, 74, 14-19. DOI: 10.1515/
cjf-2016-0003
Kryštufek, B. & F. Janžekovič (ur.) (1999): Ključ za 
določanje vretenčarjev Slovenije, DZS, Ljubljana, 544 
pp.
Louisy, P. (2002): Guide d’identifi cation des pois-
sons marins. Europe et Méditerranée. Paris: Eds. Eugène 
Ulmer, 430 pp. 
Matjašič, J. & J. Štirn (1975): Flora in Favna severne-
ga Jadrana. Pris. 1., SAZU, Razprave, 4, 19-23. 
Mayol, J., A.M. Grau, F. Riera F. & J. Oliver (2000): 
Llista vermella dels peixos de les Balears. Quaderns de 
pesca, 4, 1-126. 
Monfort, M.C. (2010): Present market situation 
and prospects of meagre (Argyrosomus regius), as an 
emerging species in Mediterranean aquaculture. Studies 
and Reviews. General Fisheries Commission for the 
Mediterranean. No. 89. Rome, FAO, 28 pp. 
Morales-Nin, B., Geffen A.J., Pérez-Mayol S., Palmer 
M., González-Quirós R. & Grau A. (2012): Seasonal and 
ontogenic migrations of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) 
determined by otolith geochemical signatures. Fisheries 
Research, 127, 154-165.
Quéro, J.-C. (1989): Le maigre, Argyrosomus regius 
(Asso) (Pisces, Sciaenidae) en Mediterranee Occiden-
tale. Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de France, 114, 
81-89.
Quéro, J.-C. & J.-J. Vayne (1987): Le maigre, Ar-
gyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801) (Pisces, Perciformes, 
Sciaenidae) du Golfe de Gascogne et des eaux plus 
septentrionales. Revue des Travaux de l’Institut des 
Peches Maritimes, 49, 35-66. 
Sanchez-Jerez, P., D. Izquierdo-Gomez, P. Are-
chavala-Lopez, J. Bayle-Sempere, D. Fernandez-Jover, 
J- M. Valero-Rodriguez & T. Dempster (2011): Escapes 
of Argyrosomus regius in the Mediterranean Sea from 
fi sh farms: helping a rare species to be abundant in 
coastal areas. Proceedings of Aquaculture Europe 2011 
(AE2011), European Aquaculture Society, Rhodes, 
Greece, pp. 969-970.
Šoljan, T. (1975): I pesci dell’Adriatico. Arnoldo 
Mondadori Editore, Verona, 522 pp.
Šuljić, B. (2012): Available online at: http://www.
zadarskilist.hr/clanci/11102012/hame-u-mrezi-stajacici.
Toledo-Guedes, K., P. Sanchez-Jerez, G. Gonza-
lez-Lorenzo & A. Brito (2009): Detecting the degree of 
establishment of a non-indigenous species in coastal 
ecosystems: sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax escapes from 
sea cages in Canary Islands (Northeastern Central Atlan-
tic). Hydrobiologia, 623, 203-212.
50
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 28 · 2018 · 1
Borut MAVRIČ & Branko DRAGIČEVIĆ: FIRST RECORD OF THE MEAGRE, ARGYROSOMUS REGIUS (ASSO, 1801), IN SLOVENIAN COASTAL ..., 43–50
Valero-Rodriguez, J.M., K. Toledo-Guedes, P. Are-
chavala-Lopez, D. Izquierdo-Gomez & P. Sanchez-Jerez 
(2015): The use of trophic resources by Argyrosomus 
regius (Asso, 1801) escaped from coastal Mediterranean 
fi sh farms. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 31, 10-15.
Wolff, W.J. (2000): The south-eastern North Sea: 
losses of vertebrate fauna during the past 2000 years. 
Biological Conservation, 95, 209-217.