Publication Date:
2017-08-10
Description:
During the years 1989–1993 an intensive collection of fishes from the aphotic zone (below 150 m) of the northern part of the Gulf of Aqaba was conducted.
This survey recorded 69 fish species, 8 elasmobranchs, and 61 teleosts, belonging to 45 families.
Fifteen species are endemic to the Red Sea: Mustelus mosis, Narcine bentuviai, Rhinobatos punctifer, Ophichthus echeloides, Rhynchoconger sp., Physiculus marisrubri, Ostichthys hypsipterygion sufensis, Pterygotrigla sp., Uranoscopus marisrubri, Parascolopsis sp.1 and sp. 2, Atrobucca geniae, Chromis pelloura, Samariscus sp., Thamnaconus modestoides erythraeensis.
Eleven species are new records for the Red Sea: Gymnothorax johnsoni, Rhynchoconger sp., Synodus doaki, Pterygotrigla sp., Chelidoperca pleurospilus, Carangoides equula, Parascolopsis sp. 1 and sp. 2, Bodianus leucostictus, Paracaesio sordidus, and Samariscus sp. Two species, Cociella crocodilo and Parascolopsis eriomma, are first substantiated records for the Red Sea.
None of the species recorded in this list is considered conventional deep-sea fishes. The ichthyofauna of the aphotic zone of the Gulf of Aqaba is composed of species of shallower origin.
Type:
Article
,
PeerReviewed
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