The occurrence of Zenion hololepis in Portuguese continental waters is reported for the first time. A total of five specimens were collected in two separate fisheries research surveys, in 2008 and 2009. Analyses of morphometric and meristic characteristics confirmed all five specimens as Z. hololepis, while DNA barcode sequence data delivered a genus-level assignment. The records here described constitute a new extended northern limit for the distribution of Z. hololepis in the eastern Atlantic and the first DNA barcode data for this species.