Journal of Ichthyology, Vol. 43, Suppl. 1, 2003, pp. S75–S149. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2003 by Manilo, Bogorodsky. English Translation Copyright © 2003 by MAIK “Nauka /Interperiodica” (Russia). Taxonomic Composition, Diversity and Distribution of Coastal Fishes of the Arabian Sea L. G. Manilo1 and S. V. Bogorodsky2 1 National Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, B. Khmelnitsky ul. 15, Kiev, 01030 Ukraine, e-mail:
[email protected] 2 Station of Naturalists, S. Tyulenina ul. 13-29, Omsk, 644090 Russia e-mail:
[email protected] Received February 25, 2003 Abstract—Based on new data and numerous literature sources we present a list of coastal fishes of the Arabian Sea found at depths up to 500 m which includes 1769 species from 720 genera and 198 families. Brief charac- teristics of families are provided, as well as their overall composition and that of the region studied. The most abundant taxa are noted. The species composition of the coastal zone of the Arabian Sea is compared to that of the Red Sea, South Africa, and tropical Atlantic. The ichthyofauna is classified according to types of distribu- tion, endemic species are reviewed and zoogeographic partitioning of the North-Western part of the Indian Ocean is considered. Development of the oceanic fishery and the quest bian Sea by YugNIRO (AzCherNIRO) on vessels for new fishery objects and regions at the end of the “Nauka”—second cruise (1967), fourth cruise (1969), 1960s of the 20th century were the beginning of sys- 10th cruise (1974), 12th cruise (1976), “Fiolent”—7th tematic investigations of biological resources of the cruise (1977), 17th cruise (1983), “Dmitrii Stefanov”— shelf areas and subsequently—pelagic regions and 5th cruise (1990), P.P.