Fourteen additional fish species recorded from below

FAUNA OF ARABIA 23: 421–433

Date of publication: 15.07.2007

Fourteen additional fish species recorded from below 150 m depth in the Gulf of Aqaba, including Liopropoma lunulatum (Pisces: Serranidae), new record for the Red Sea Maroof Khalaf and Uwe Zajonz A b s t r a c t : Fourteen fish species are reported for the first time from depths below 150 m in the Gulf of Aqaba. All but one are already known to occur on the Red Sea, but only five were previously recorded from depths below 150 m. One species belonging to the deep-dwelling serranid genus Liopropoma is recorded for the first time from the Red Sea. A list of 80 deep-dwelling fish species known to date from the Jordanian coast is provided.

�� (Serranidae :��) Liopropoma lunulatum �� .�� :�� .�� Liopropoma �� .�� .��

INTRODUCTION The Gulf of Aqaba is a narrow trench with a maximum depth of 1830 m at the north-westernmost end of the Red Sea basin, from which it is semi-isolated by the 252-m deep “Sill of Tiran”. Its hydrographic conditions are characterised by elevated temperatures of 20.5‑27.6 °C and increased salinities of 40.3‑41.6 ‰ throughout the water column, which is similar to the conditions found in the main Red Sea basin (Reiss & Hottinger 1984). The depth of 150 m had commonly been

Authors’ addresses: Maroof Khalaf, Marine Science Station, Aqaba, Jordan; e‑mail: [email protected] Corresponding author: Uwe Zajonz, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; e‑mail: [email protected]

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used in the literature to define the boundary between the photic and aphotic zone in the Gulf of Aqaba. Like in the main Red Sea basin there are no primary deep sea fishes, but shallow- or deepwater immigrants, which secondarily became inhabitants of midwater and bathyal realms (Klause‑ witz 1986, 1989). It is particularly evident that the unusually high temperatures of the deep environment enable littoral species to inhabit much deeper water than their conspecific populations elsewhere. Baranes & Golani (1993) summarized the history of “deep-sea” fish research in the Gulf of Aqaba and provided an annotated account of 69 species. The records reported in the present paper are based on a five-year study (1993‑1998) of the fish species that occur along the Jordanian coast below 150 m depth. The purpose of this paper is to report records of additional species of the deep-dwelling fishes from the Gulf of Aqaba, to document a new fish record for the Red Sea, and to provide a list of the deep-dwelling fishes recorded to date from the Jordanian coast.

MATERIAL AND METHODS All specimens were caught by bottom gillnet or long-line below a depth of 150 m. The exact collecting depths were not recorded because no echo-sounder was available. The fishing gear was operated by local fishermen from traditional beach landing crafts, following instructions given by the senior author. Bottom gill nets consisted of five to seven net sheets of 10 by 100 m and a mesh size of 5 to 7 cm, which were tied together laterally. One hour before sunset, the nets were deployed at depths of 150 to 350 m (unless stated otherwise in the species account) at approximately 3000 m distance from the hotel area of Aqaba City, kept overnight and recovered in the early morning. Baited bottom long-lines were deployed at about 5000 m distance from the shore to collect fish from approximately 600 to 700 m depths. Immediately after recovery of the gear, the samples were photographed, fixed in 5 % formalin and subsequently transferred into 70 % ethyl-alcohol. Counts and measurements follow Hubbs & Lagler (1958). Measurements were taken with dial callipers to the nearest 0.1 mm or with a measuring tape for measurements of more than 300 mm (then to the nearest millimetre), except for Liopropoma specimens, which were measured to the nearest 0.01 mm using a Mitutoyo digital calliper. Counts and measurements for Liopropoma follow Randall & Taylor (1988). Most samples remain in the reference collection of the Marine Science Station, Aqaba, Jordan (MSSA). Two Liopropoma specimens were deposited in the collections of the Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt a.M., Germany (SMF). Information on taxonomy, life habit and distribution ranges of the species were compiled from Compagno (1984), Dor (1984), Smith & Heemstra (1986), Goren & Dor (1994), Randall (1995), Khalaf & Disi (1997), Eschmeyer (1998), FishBase (Froese & Pauly 2006) and Myers (1999) unless stated otherwise. Abbreviations: HL MSSA SL SMF TL

= = = = =

Head length Marine Science Station Aqaba, Jordan Standard length Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Total length

Additional fish species recorded from below 150 m depth in the Gulf of Aqaba

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RESULTS Additional records of fish from below 150 m depth Family Alopiidae Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935

Plate 1

Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935. — Memoirs of the Faculty of Sciences, Taihoku Imperial University Formosa 14 (1): 3, 5, Pl. 1 (fig. 2), Pl. 3 (figs. 5‑6). Type locality: Market at Suô, east coast of Taiwan. Alopias pelagicus. — Compagno 1983; Bulletin of the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries 9: 384. — Compagno 1984; Sharks of the world: 229. — Randall 1986 a; Sharks of Arabia: 78. — Ormond & Edwards 1987; Red Sea Fishes. In: Key Environments, Red Sea: 253. S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 171 cm TL, in front of industrial zone, about 150 m depth, gillnet, 1998, MSSA 130‑1/1.

R e m a r k s : Primarily an oceanic species but sometimes close inshore, known from 0‑300 m depths; wide-ranging in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Family Carcharhinidae Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822)

Plate 2

Squalus cuvier Péron & Lesueur in Lesueur, 1822. — Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia 2: 351. Type locality: North-west coast of Australia. Galeocerdo cuvieri. — Tortonese 1954; Rivista di “Biologia Coloniale” 14: 7. — Tortonese 1968; Bulletin of the Sea Fisheries Research Station Haifa, Israel 51: 8. — Compagno 1983; Bulletin of the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries 9: 387, 397. Galeocerdo cuvier. — Gohar & Mazhar 1964: 24‑27. — Compagno 1984; Sharks of the world: 503‑506. — Ormond & Edwards 1987; Red Sea Fishes. In: Key Environments, Red Sea: 253. — Riede 2004: 233. S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d : 2 spms, 103‑298 cm TL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1994‑1995, MSSA 173/1‑2.

R e m a r k s : Pelagic and oceanodromous but not truly oceanic, rather coastal, known from 0‑350 m depths; circumglobal in tropical and temperate seas. Family Sphyrnidae Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834)

Plate 3

Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834. — Class Pisces, Cuvier: 640, Pl. 50. Type locality: South coast of Australia [as New Holland]. Zygaena lewini. — Tortonese 1954; Rivista di “Biologia Coloniale” 14: 12. Sphyrna lewini. — Gilbert 1967; Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum, Smithsonian Institution 119 (3539): 37‑45. — Compagno 1983; Bulletin of the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries 9: 388. — Compagno 1984; Sharks of the world: 545‑547. S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 122 cm TL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gill net, 1995, MSSA 93‑1/1.

R e m a r k s : A semi-oceanic shark, which also occurs in continental deep water; previously known from 0‑275 m depth; wide-ranging in the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, and East Africa. Family Torpedinidae Torpedo panthera Olfers, 1831

Plate 4

Torpedo panthera Olfers, 1831. — Gattung Torpedo: 15, 16. Type locality: Red Sea. Torpedo panthera. — Gohar & Mazhar 1964; Publications of the Marine Biological Station Ghardaqa 13: 102‑103. — Tortonese 1983; Journal of the Faculty of Marine Sciences Jeddah 3: 106. — Compagno & Randall 1987; Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 44 (14): 341. — Ormond & Edwards 1987; Red Sea Fishes. In: Key Environments, Red Sea: 255.

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S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 355 mm TL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1994, MSSA 49‑2/1.

R e m a r k s : Demersal; previously known from 0‑110 m depth; considered to be endemic to the Red Sea. Gohar & Mazhar (1964) noted that “in the north-western Red Sea it seems to seek deeper water during the cold season”. The record of Torpedo sinuspersici Olfers, 1831 by Baranes & Golani (1993: 302; 313 Pl. 1, fig. 3) appears to be a misidentification of this species. Family Lophiidae Lophiomus setigerus (Vahl, 1797)

Plate 5

Lophius setigerus Vahl, 1797. — Skrifter naturhistorike det kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab Kiøbenhavn 4: 215, Pl. 3 (figs. 5‑6). Type locality: Pacific Ocean, off China. Lophiodes mutilus (non Alcock, 1893). — Klausewitz 1981; Senckenbergiana maritima 13 (4/6): 195; Klausewitz 1986; Senckenbergiana maritima 17 (4/6): 285 (misidentification). Lophiomus setigerus. — Caruso 1989; Copeia 1989 (4): 1072. S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 205 mm SL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1996, MSSA 95‑1/1.

R e m a r k s : Demersal; known from 70‑250 m depth in the Indo-Pacific and from 750‑800 m depth in the central Red Sea. Family Holocentridae Myripristis chryseres Jordan & Evermann, 1903

Plate 6

Myripristis chryseres Jordan & Evermann, 1903. — Bulletin of the U.S. Fishery Commission 22 [1902]: 171. Type locality: Hilo, Hawaii Island. Myripristis chryseres. — Khalaf et al. 1996; Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 403 (new record Red Sea). — Randall & Greenfield 1996; Indo-Pacific Fishes 25: 27. — Khalaf & Disi 1997; Fishes of the Gulf of Aqaba: 55. S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 162 mm SL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1994, MSSA 32‑8/1.

R e m a r k s : Based on this specimen, Khalaf et al. (1996) recorded the species for the first time from the Red Sea. They stated “below 50 m” as depth of capture. The first author subsequently confirmed the actual depth as about 350 m, hence its inclusion in the present paper. Myripristis chryseres is a demersal species, previously known to occur at depths of 12 to 235 m. Randall & Greenfield (1996) stated that the species has a predilection for deeper water. Wideranging in the Indo-West Pacific, but only known from a few localities. Sargocentron marisrubri Randall, Golani & Diamant, 1989

Plate 7

Sargocentron marisrubri Randall, Golani & Diamant, 1989. — Israel Journal of Zoology 35: v. 35: 189, figs. 1 A, 2‑4. Type locality: 1 mile north of Port Sudan Harbour, Red Sea. Sargocentron marisrubri. — Khalaf & Disi 1997; Fishes of the Gulf of Aqaba: 57. — Randall 1998; Indo-Pacific Fishes 27: 46. S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 231 mm SL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1994, MSSA 131/1.

R e m a r k s : Demersal; previously known from 39‑49 m depths; endemic to the Red Sea, only known from the Gulf of Aqaba and from the coast of Sudan.

Plates 1–8. 1: Alopias pelagicus; MSSA 130‑1/1, TL 171 cm. 2: Galeocerdo cuvier; MSSA 173/1‑2, TL 103 cm. 3: Sphyrna lewini; MSSA 93‑1/1, TL 122 cm. 4: Torpedo panthera; MSSA 49‑2/1, TL 355 mm. 5: Lophiomus setigerus; MSSA 95‑1/1, TL 250 mm. 6: Myripristis chryseres; MSSA 32‑8/1, TL 205 mm. 7: Sargocentron marisrubri; MSSA 131/1, TL 231 mm. 8: Liopropoma lunulatum; MSSA 356/1, TL 117 mm.


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Plates 9–14. 9: Aulacocephalus temmincki; MSSA 29‑2/1, TL 151 mm. 10: Terapon jarbua; MSSA 72‑1/1, TL 325 mm. 11: Pristipomoides sieboldii; MSSA 38‑7/1, TL 530 mm. 12: Taractichthys steindachneri; MSSA 87‑1, TL 490 mm. 13: Callionymus filamentosus; MSSA 151/1, TL 281 mm. 14: Abalistes stellaris; MSSA 4‑8/1, TL 195 mm.

Family Serranidae Liopropoma lunulatum (Guichenot, 1863) new record

Plate 8

Grystes lunulatus Guichenot, 1863. — Faune ichthyologique. In: Notes sur l’ile de la Réunion (Bourbon): Tome II, Annexe C: 4. Type locality: Réunion Island. Liopropoma lunulatum. — Randall & Taylor 1988; Indo-Pacific Fishes 16: 22‑23. S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d : 2 spms, 106‑117 mm SL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1996, MSSA 356/1‑2; 2 spms, 103‑105 mm SL, collected with preceding ones, SMF 29305.


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R e m a r k s : This is the first record from the Red Sea, representing a remarkable extension of the known distribution range, which comprises Mauritius, Réunion (Mascarene Islands), Taiwan, Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands), Guam (Mariana Islands), Rarotonga (Cook Islands) and Tahiti (Society Islands). Liopropoma lunulatum is a demersal species with a predilection for deeper water. Three of the specimens reported by Randall & Taylor (1988) were collected at depths of 100 to 178 m. Colour in alcohol and when fresh approximately as described by Randall & Taylor (1988), except that the specimens from the Gulf of Aqaba have a greater number of dark spots on the anterior and ventral portions of the body and on the dorsal and caudal fins, compared to the specimen they depicted (Randall & Taylor 1988: Pl. IV, fig. E). Apart of the differences in colouration the specimens from Aqaba also differ from those reported by Randall & Taylor (1988) in having 15‑18 gillrakers (vs. 18‑20); a smaller body depth, i.e. 3.42‑3.52 in SL (vs. 2.85‑3.3); a smaller body width, i.e. 1.91‑2.05 in body depth (vs. 1.75‑1.85); and a slightly longer head, i.e. 2.4‑2.51 in SL (vs. 2.5‑2.6). The four specimens from the Gulf of Aqaba are considered to be significantly different from specimens collected outside the Red Sea. Since, however, the present knowledge of the natural variation among different populations of L. lunulatum is limited (Randall & Taylor 1988), the Aqaba population is currently described as a sub-species by the present authors. Species-level differentiation of the Aqaba population may be demonstrated by future research, which should include collecting additional specimens from the Red Sea and elsewhere, and taking tissue samples for genetic analysis. Two congeners, Liopropoma susumi (Jordan & Seale, 1906) and Liopropoma mitratum Lubbock & Randall, 1978 were recorded by Lubbock & Randall (1978) from shallow waters of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. Both are clearly distinct from the present species. Aulacocephalus temmincki Bleeker, 1854

Plate 9

Aulacocephalus temmincki Bleeker, 1854. — Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen 26: 12. Type locality: Nagasaki, Japan. Aulacocephalus temmincki. — Ajiad 1987; Cybium 11 (1): 104. — Khalaf & Disi 1997; Fishes of the Gulf of Aqaba: 72. S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d : 2 spms, 130‑150 mm SL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1995, MSSA 29‑2/1‑2.

R e m a r k s : Reef-associated, demersal; known to occur between 20 and 120 m depth; previously recorded from 90 m depth in the Gulf of Aqaba by Ajiad (1987); known from the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and East Africa. Family Terapontidae Terapon jarbua (Forsskål, 1775)

Plate 10

Sciaena jarbua Forsskål, 1775. — Descriptiones animalium avium, amphibiorum, piscium, insectorum, vermium; quae in itinere orientali observavit. Post mortem auctoris edidit Carsten Niebuhr: 50, xii. Type locality: Jidda, Red Sea. Terapon jarbua. — Vari, in: Fischer & Bianchi 1984: FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean fishing area 51: [pag. var.]. — Khalaf & Disi 1997; Fishes of the Gulf of Aqaba: 81. S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d : 3 spms, 150‑270 mm SL, in front of phosphate port, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1994, MSSA 72‑1/1‑3.

R e m a r k s : Demersal; previously known to occur between 20 and 290 m depth; known from the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea. Family Lutjanidae Pristipomoides sieboldii (Bleeker, 1854)

Plate 11

Chaetopterus sieboldii Bleeker, 1854. — Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen 26: 20. Type locality: Japan.

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Pristipomoides sieboldii. — Allen, in: Fischer & Bianchi 1984: FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean fishing area 51: [pag. var.]. S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 415 mm SL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1996, MSSA 38‑7/1.

R e m a r k s : Bathydemersal; previously known to occur over rocky bottoms at depths of 180‑270 m; known from the Indo-West Pacific, including the Red Sea and East Africa; also recorded from Vema Seamount in the eastern South Atlantic; apparently a voracious predator, thus assumedly an important constituent of the fish community at mid depths.

Family Bramidae Taractichthys steindachneri (Döderlein, 1884)

Plate 12

Argo steindachneri Döderlein in Steindachner & Döderlein, 1884. — Denkschriften der Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien 47 (1. Abth.): 242 [34], Pl. 7. Type locality: Tokyo, Japan. Taractichthys steindachneri. — Aron & Goodyear 1969; Israel Journal of Zoology 18: 241. — Khalaf & Disi 1997; Fishes of the Gulf of Aqaba: 98. S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 395 mm SL, in front of Jordan Fertiliser Industry, about 700 m depth, long-line, 1995, MSSA 87‑1.

R e m a r k s : Benthopelagic; Aron & Goodyear (1969) recorded Taractichthys steindachneri from about 200 m depth south-west of the sill of Tiran, but not from the Gulf of Aqaba proper. Hence, the present specimen represents the first documented record from the Gulf of Aqaba; known from the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to California.

Family Callionymidae Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes, 1837

Plate 13

Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1837. — Histoire naturelle des poissons etc. … 12: 303, Pl. 359. Type locality: Manado, Sulawesi [Celebes], Indonesia. Callionymus filamentosus. — Fricke, in: Smith & Heemstra 1986: Smiths’ Sea Fishes: 771. S p e c i m e n e x a m i n e d : 1 spm., 145 mm SL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1994, MSSA 151/1.

R e m a r k s : Demersal; previously known to occur at depths of 16‑100 m; Indo-West Pacific, including the Red Sea and East Africa.

Family Balistidae Abalistes stellatus (Anonymous, 1798)

Plate 14

Balistes stellatus Anonymous (ex Commerson & Lacepède), 1798. — Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung 3: 682. Type locality: Mauritius. [Based on ‘Le Baliste Etoilé’ of Lacepède (1798), based on a manuscript of Ph. Commerson.] Balistes stellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801. — Systema Ichthyologiae iconibus etc. …: 476. Type locality: Indian Ocean. Abalistes stellatus (non Lacepède). — Hutchins, in: Fischer & Bianchi 1984: FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean fishing area 51 [pag. var.]; Smith & Heemstra, in: Smith & Heemstra 1986: Smiths’ sea fishes: 877. — Khalaf & Disi 1997; Fishes of the Gulf of Aqaba: 212. S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d : 3 spms, 106‑180 mm SL, in front of hotel beach, about 350 m depth, gillnet, 1994‑1995, MSSA 4‑8/1‑3.

R e m a r k s : Demersal; known to occur at depths of 4‑1, 170 m (Norman 1939); Indo-West Pacific, including the Red Sea and East Africa, also recorded from Eastern Atlantic (St. Helena and south coasts of Africa).


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List of deep-dwelling species recorded to date from the Jordanian coast The present study revealed the occurrence of 80 fish species (nine elasmobranchs and 71 teleosts) in deep waters off the Jordanian coast, representing 56 families. Most specimens have been deposited in the voucher collection of the MSSA. The species are listed in Table 1. Nomenclatorial remarks The French vernacular name “Le Baliste Etoilé” used by Commerson and Lacepède in Lacepède (1798) had been made available by an anonymous author (1798) as Abalistes stellatus by indication. No types are known (Eschmeyer 1998, Fricke 1999). A neotype designation by Fricke (1999), aimed at stabilising the usage of A. stellatus, is invalid (Fricke 2000). Matsuura (2001) considered the older name to be invalid and used A. stellaris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801). The Balistes stellaris of Bloch & Schneider (1801), however, is based on Lacepède’s description as well. Until a stable nomenclature and a valid neotype designation is provided the present authors prefer to use the oldest available name. The hogfish Bodianus trilineatus (Fowler, 1934) was provisionally placed in the synonymy of Bodianus leucostictus (Bennett, 1831) by Randall (1986 b). Khalaf et al. (1996) accordingly Table 1: List of deep-dwelling fish species from Jordan. Family Triakidae Carcharhinidae

Sphyrnidae Alopiidae Narcinidae Torpedinidae Rhinobatidae Congridae Muraenesocidae Ophichthidae Muraenidae Sternoptychidae Stomiidae

Synodontidae

Species Mustelus mosis Klunzinger, 1871 Iago omanensis (Norman, 1939) Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827) Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822) Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834) Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935 Heteronarce bentuviai (Baranes & Randall, 1989) Torpedo panthera Olfers, 1831 Rhinobatos punctifer Compagno & Randall, 1987 Rhynchoconger trewawasae Ben-Tuvia, 1993 Mureanesox cinereus (Forsskål, 1775) Ophichthus echeloides (D’Ancona, 1928) Gymnothorax elegans Bliss, 1883 Gymnothorax johnsoni (Smith, 1962) Maurolicus mucronatus Klunzinger, 1871 Astronesthes martensii Klunzinger, 1871 Stomias affinis Günther, 1887 Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795)

Family

Paralepididae Myctophidae Moridae Ophidiidae Batrachoididae Lophiidae Monocentridae Trachichthyidae Holocentridae

Fistulariidae Scorpaenidae Triglidae

Species Synodus doaki Russell & Cressey, 1979 Lestidiops jayakari (Boulenger, 1889) Benthosema pterotum (Alcock, 1890) Diaphus coeruleus (Klunzinger, 1871) Physiculus marisrubri Brüss, 1986 Brotula multibarbata Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 Thalassothia cirrhosa (Klunzinger, 1871) Lophiomus setigerus (Vahl, 1797) Monocentris japonica (Houttuyn, 1782) Hoplostethus marisrubri Kotlyar, 1986 Ostichthys acanthorhinus Randall, Shimizu & Yamakawa, 1982 Ostichthys hypsiterygion sufensis Golani, 1984 Myripristis chryseres Jordan & Evermann, 1903 Sargocentron marisrubri Randall, Golani & Diamant, 1989 Fistularia petimba Lacepède, 1803 Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1849) Pterygotrigla spirai Golani & Baranes, 1997

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Family Dactylopteridae Serranidae

Priacanthidae Terapontidae Apogonidae Acropomatidae Lutjanidae

Sparidae

Nemipteridae

Malacanthidae Sciaenidae Bramidae


Species Dactyloptena peterseni (Nyström, 1887) Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775) Epinephelus epistictus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842) Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål, 1775) Epinephelus radiatus (Day, 1868) Epinephelus morrhua (Valenciennes, 1833) Liopropoma lunulatum (Guichenot, 1863) Aulacocephalus temmincki Bleeker, 1854 Pristigenys niphonia (Cuvier, 1829) Terapon jarbua (Forsskål, 1775) Apogon pseudotaeniatus Gon, 1986 Acropoma japonicum Günther, 1859 Paracaesio sordida Abe & Shinohara, 1962 Pristipomoides filamentosus (Valenciennes, 1830) Pristipomoides sieboldii (Bleeker, 1854) Polysteganus coeruleopunctatus (Klunzinger, 1870) Argyrops spinifer (Forsskål, 1775) Parascolopsis eriomma (Jordan & Richardson, 1909) Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986 Branchiostegus sawakinensis Amirthalingam, 1969 Atrobucca geniae Ben-Tuvia & Trewawas, 1987 Taractichthys steindachneri (Döderlein, 1884)

Family Carangidae

Pentacerotidae Chaetodontidae Pomacentridae Labridae Mullidae

Uranoscopidae Trichonotidae Pinguipedidae Callionymidae Gempylidae Trichiuridae Ariommatidae Bothidae Samaridae Monacanthidae Balistidae Tetraodontidae

Species Trachurus indicus Necrasov, 1966 Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus, 1758) Decapterus russelli (Rüppell, 1830) Carangoides equula (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844) Histiopterus typus Temminck & Schlegel, 1844 Chaetodon jayakari (Norman, 1939) Chromis pelloura Randall & Allen, 1982 Bodianus trilineatus (Fowler, 1934) Choerodon robustus (Günther, 1862) Parupeneus heptacanthus (Lacepède, 1802) Parupeneus rubescens (Lacepède, 1801) Upeneus davidaromi Golani, 2001 Uranoscopus marisrubri Brüss, 1987 ? Trichonotus nikii Clark & von Schmidt, 1966 Parapercis somaliensis Schultz, 1968 Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes, 1837 Thyrsitoides marleyi Fowler, 1929 Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 Ariomma brevimanus (Klunzinger, 1884) Bothus pantherinus (Rüppell, 1830) Samariscus inornatus (Lloyd, 1909) Thamnaconus modestoides erythraeensis Bauchot & Maugé, 1978 Abalistes stellatus (Commerson & Lacepède in Anonymous, 1798) Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin ex Forster, 1789)

referred their new Red Sea record of a red striped Bodianus to this species. Subsequently, B. trilineatus was relegated from this synonymy by Parenti & Randall (2000). In his recent review of the genus Gomon (2006) confirmed both as valid species and placed them together in the subgenus Peneverreo. The valid name for the deep-dwelling, red striped Bodianus reported from the Red Sea by Baranes & Golani (1993), Khalaf et al. (1996) and the present paper appears to be B. trilineatus. The single slimehead of the Red Sea is often referred to as Hoplostethus mediterraneus Cuvier, 1829 (e.g. Baranes & Golani 1993, Khalaf & Disi 1997). However, Kotlyar (1986), who is revising the group on a world-wide base, recognised this population as Hoplostethus marisrubri.


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DISCUSSION Contrary to the main Red Sea basin, which had been explored by modern expedition vessels using specialised deep-sea sampling gear (e.g. POLA I‑II 1895‑98, MESEDA I‑III 1977‑81, MINDIK 1987), the Gulf of Aqaba had not been adequately sampled for bathyal fishes for a long time. The gap in knowledge, however, has been filled step by step during the past 20 years. Scientists of the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences at Eilat (IUI) and the Marine Science Station at Aqaba (MSSA) extensively investigated the ichthyofauna of the aphotic zone, using trammel nets, traps and long-lines set with small fishing boats. Their research resulted in a plethora of species newly recorded or described from bathyal depths of the Gulf of Aqaba. A first review and an annotated account of 69 “deep-sea” fishes recorded in a four-years study in the northern Red Sea was provided by Baranes & Golani (1993). Since then, several new species and new records from deep waters of the Gulf of Aqaba were published. The last deep-dwelling species described from the Gulf of Aqaba was the goatfish Upeneus davidaromi Golani, 2001. As a result of these investigations the deep ichthyofauna of the Gulf of Aqaba had finally been considered better known than that of the Red Sea proper (Baranes & Golani 1993, Klausewitz 1994, Goldschmidt et al. 1996). Recent advances in the knowledge include the 14 species reported in the present paper, and some additional 15 from throughout the Gulf of Aqaba which have been identified by the second author in various collections. They include several new records for the Red Sea and will be presented in an updated checklist of the deep-dwelling species of the Gulf of Aqaba (Zajonz et al., in prep.), bringing up the total number of species to about 120. In the meantime, however, also the knowledge of the deep-water ichthyofauna of the main Red Sea basin has advanced. A review of the deep-water and deep-sea fishes of the entire Red Sea will comprise approximately 160 species in total of which about 120 are recorded from the main Red Sea basin (Zajonz, in prep.).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to express our gratitude to the staff of the MSSA, in particular Mr O. Al-Momani, for their assistance. The authors are grateful to the Aqaba Fishermen Society which facilitated our study. Dr Ahmad Disi is gratefully acknowledged for providing assistance and encouragement during the work, and Dr Friedhelm Krupp, Dr Jack Randall and an anonymous referee for providing useful comments on the manuscript. Dr Anne Newton is thanked for English language corrections and Dr Martin Gomon for information on the identity of Bodianus trilineatus. The present study was jointly supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Council; grant KR 1758/1‑1) and by the Deanship of Academic Research, the University of Jordan, Amman.

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