Diversity, Habitats and Seasonal Distribution of Fish in Three Protectorates of Southern Sinai on the Red Sea, Egypt

Abstract

The present investigation is an attempt to study the diversity, habitats and seasonal distribution offish of inshore water at thirteen sites of the three Protectorates (Ras Muhammed, Nabq and Abou Galoum) of Southern Sinai on the Red Sea in Egypt. The study revealed that Ras Muhammed embodies three habitats: sandy shore-rocky flat - coral reefs whereas the other two areas, Nabq and Abou Galoum are formed of sandy shore - rocky flat and rocky flat - coral reefs, respectively. The study revealed that 180 fish species belonging to 107 genera, 55 families, 20 suborders, 15 orders and 2 classes are represented in the three sites. Among these 171 fish species (about 95% of the total recorded species) were recorded only in Ras Muhammed, whereas 51 and 46 fish species (about 28% and 26% of the total recorded species) recorded from Abou Galoum and Nabq, respectively. Ninteen families which are economically important were recorded in Ras Muhammed, whereas Nabq and Abou Galoum had 10 families, each. The seasonal distribution offish species indicated that 12 families are available during all seasons of the year (Serranidae, Labridae, Scaridae, Acanthuridae, Siganidae and Balistidae), 9 of these families included fish species of economic importance. This shows that Ras Muhammed is of the richest in fish diversity compared to the other sites studied.