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Home , Acanthurus leucosternon, Apolemichthys xanthurus, Arothron immaculatus, Atrosalarias fuscus, Caesio caerulaurea, Cantherhines pardalis

Research Journal of Marine Sciences ______ISSN 2321-1296 Vol. 7(1), 1-13, June (2019) Res. J. Marine Sci.

Check list of rocky reef associated of south Kerala coast, Baiju P.T. 1* , Prabhakaran M.P. 2, Benno Pereira F.G. 3 and V. Jayaprakas 4 1Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695581 Kerala, India 2Department of Aquatic Environment Management, School of Fisheries RM & HT, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad, Kochi – 682506, Kerala, India 3Department of , Uni versity of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram -695581 Kerala, India 4Amity Thiruvananthapuram Center for Marine Science and Technology 3 Ravi Nagar, Ambalamukku, Peroorkada, P.O., Thiruvananthap uram- 695005, India [email protected] Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 25 th November 2018, revised 21 st March 2019, accepted 28 th April 2019

Abstract In this manuscript a checklist of 232 of rocky reef associated fishes,a least documented area of tropical ichthyofauna recorded from the rocky reefs of south Kerala coast of the . This 232 species were reported in the present study belong to 2 Classes, 16 Orders, 62 Families and 114Genera. Among the 62 Families recorded in the study, Pomacentridae the found as most specious family with 20 species of fishes belongs to 7 genera and followed by Labridae (18), (15), Chaetodontidae (11), Apogonidae (10), (11), Muraenidae (9), Serranida e (9), (8), Blenniidae (8), Haemulidae (6) , Mullidae (6), (5), Carangidae (5), Gobiidae(5) and Balistidae (5). Among the listed species, 141 species records asLeast Concern, followed by Not Included 77 species, Data Deficient 8 spe cies, Near Threatened 5 species, and Endangered and Vulnerable categories are 1 on each.

Keywords: Rocky reefs, Reef ichthyofauna , South Kerala, IUCN status, visual documentation.

Introduction both biotic and a biotic factors influences the biotic assemblages of reef 16 . Shallow continental shelves contributing the 40% of the species 1-3 inhabit tropical or subtropical waters . Total enlisted fish Among the different biodiversity estimation methods, 4 species are around 32,100 in the world . The ichthyofaunal underwater visual census method can claim a set of benefits diversity and assemblage of the rocky intertidal pool of the over other. It is very useful for fish abundance estimations Watamu Marine National Park of Kenya studied and reported in because they are in depended of fishing methods, easy to do, 5 biquadrates sampling . India is a biodiversity rich country both minimum lab work, effective for rapiddocumentation of reef in fresh water and marine resources, endowed with 29,000km of fish diversity and assemblage and the method do not affect the 2 watercourses and 2.02 million km area of the Exclusive ecosystem in anyway. Even though, the method has certain 6 Economic Zone (EEZ) and 8129km of coastline including . demerits like difficult ies of snorkeling and diving, tendency to Indian marine fish diversity encompasses of about 2456 species miss too small or ambiguous species, chances of observational, reported from various parts of the country, with the major identification, counting recording errors 17 and chance to miss contribution of 1200 species from Andaman and Nicobar the species wise variations, the fishes may scared due to the followed by 402 species, Lakshadweep 603 presence of divers and ref lections from camera are the most 7 species and 762 species respectively . Many commonly observed de merits of this method 18,19 . studies were done extensively in the country and estimated the 8 diversity of major reef fish groups of Indian waters . There are more reports on the diversity of edible and ornamental fish fauna of the country was documented in various parts of the fishes of this area 20-22 , but it’s rare to find the works on rocky country, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 720 s pecies belonging to shore ichthyofaunal diversity except the fewreports 23,24 . From 9 10 90 families , the Gulf of Mannar 71 species, Kavaratti Island the previous literature survey, it is found that, survey 11 of Lakshadweep 121 species belonging to 27 families and 56 accomplished on fish biodiversity of Kerala coastal waters, 12 species was recorded from Mithapur reef of Gulf of Kutch . were restricted in such a way of data collections were made from the fish landing centers and other traditional aid s like fish Underwater visual survey (UVS) made by snorkeling is the traps, hook and line, scoop nets and gill nets, etc. Because of most widely accepted observational method for documenting their specialty in fish catching, there was restricted diversity 13 the shallow water reef fish diversity . In the reef ecosystems, were observed in that study results. From reviewing the the spatial and temporal fish diversity was determined by available literature survey and analysis, it is noticed tha t this is a 14,15 regional ecological paremeters . The ecological parameters fresh attempt to assess the reef ichthyofaunal diversity study on

International Science Community Association 1 Research Journal of Marine Sciences ______ISSN 2321-1296 Vol. 7(1), 1-13, June (2019) Res. J. Marine Sci. the rocky reefs of south Kerala coast. There is no other effort to Results and discussion describe the diversity and assemblage studies coupled in a string, on behalf of rocky reef ichthyofaunal divers ity, which is The 232 fish species were reported in the present study belong a prominent biota of intertidal ecosystems. The manuscript to 2 Classes, 16 Orders, 62 Families and 114 Genera (Table-1). encompasses the primary data on diversity of rocky reef fishes of Mulloor, Vizhinjam, Kovalam (Thiruvananthapuram) and Table-1: of reef fishes observed in the study. Common IUCN Thirumullavaram (Kollam) coast, South west coast of India. Scientific Name And t he present study receives the special attention due to its Name Status methods adopted for diversity assessment that is underwater Class: Chondrichthyes, Subclass: Elasmobranchii, visual sense method find more reliable to record the Order: Orectolobiformes, Family : Hemiscyll iidae ichthyofaunal diversity from their natural habitat. (Bamboo sharks) Slender Chiloscyllium indicum Near bamboo Materials and methods (Gmelin, 1789) Threatened shark The study involves the following ways of assessment methods. Order : Torpediniformes, Family : Torpedinidae Snorkelingsurvey with underwater visual census method was (Electric rays) adopted for the study ; video recording and line transect method Torpedo sinuspersici Variable Data 25 for assessing the reef fish diversity . Fish specimens were Olfers, 1831 torpedo ray Deficient collected by using of fish traps, scoop nets, hook and line and gillnets for confirming the species. The survey took an effort to Family : Narcinidae (Numb fishes) study the diversity of rocky reef associated fishes of the coastal Narcine brunnea Brown Not waters of the southern Kerala, extending from Mulloor (Annandale, 1909) numb fish Included (8022’02’’ N 77000’12’ E) to Thirumullavaram (8053’54.0’’ N 76033’04.5’’ E) in an in-situ way of documentation. The Order : Myliobatiformes, Family : Dasyatidae (Stingrays) conventional reef monitoring methods like snorkel, underwater Brevitrygon walga Dwarf whip Near photography or videotaping and visual documentation were (Müller & Henle, 1841) ray Threatened 26-31 used for the study . The c ollected specimen s were identified Brevitrygon imbricata Scaly whip Data 32-34 by using standard references and the species names were (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) ray Deficient 35 updated with FISHBASE . Superclass: Osteostracomorphi, Class: Actinopterigii/Ray Finned Fishes/Osteichthyes Bony Fish, Order: Anguilliformes (True and Moray ), Family: Muraenidae (Moray eels) nebulosa Snow flake Least (Ahl, 1789) moray Concern Echidna nocturna Freckled Least (Cope, 1872) moray Concern favagineus Laced Not (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) moray Included Gymnothorax javanicus Not Giant moray (Bleeker, 1859) Included Gymnothorax meleagris Turkey Not (Shaw, 1795) moray Included Gymnothorax pictus Paint spotted Not (Ahl, 1789) moray Included Gymnothorax High fin Not pseudothyrsoideus moray Included (Bleeker, 1853) Gymnothorax steindachneri Steindachne Not (Jordan and Evermann, 1903) r's Included Muraenaretifera Reticulate Least (Goode and Bean, 1882) moray Concern Order: Siluriformes, Family: Plotosidae (Eel tail catfishes) Euristhmusmicroceps Small head Not (Richardson, 1845) catfish Included Figure-1: Location map of the study sites.

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Common IUCN Common IUCN Scientific Name Scientific Name Name Status Name Status Plotosus limbatus Dark fin eel Least zebra Zebra turkey Least (Valenciennes, 1840) catfish Concern (Cuvier, 1829) fish Concern Plotosus lineatus Striped eel Not picta Northern Least (Thunberg, 1787) cat fish Included (Cuvier, 1829) scorpion fish Concern Order : Aulopiformes (Lizardfish), Parascorpaena aurita Golden Least Family: Synodontidae (Lizard fishes) (Ruppell, 1838) scorpion fish Concern Synodus indicus Indian lizard Least mombasae Frill fin Least (Day, 1873) fish Concern (Smith, 1957) turkey fish Concern Synodus jaculum Lighthouse Least Pterois volitans Least (Russell and Cressey, 1979) lizard fish Concern (Linnaeus, 1758) Concern Order : Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels, pearl fish, brotulas), Pterois russelii Plain tail Least Family: Ophidiidae (Cusk eels) (Bennett ,1831) turkey fish Concern Brotula barbata Bearded Least Scorpaenopsis cirrosa Weedy sting Least (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) brotula Concern (Thunberg, 1793) fish Concern Order: Lophiiformes (Frogfish, Angelfish), Scorpaenopsis venosa Raggy Least Family: Antennariidae (frog fishes) (Cuvier, 1829) scorpion fish Concern Antennatus sanguineus Bloody Least Family : Apistidae (Wasp scorpion fishes) (Gill, 1863) frogfish Concern Super order : Acanthopterygii, Series: Mugilomorpha, Apistuscarinatus Ocellated Least Order: Mugiliformes, Family: Mugilidae (Mullets) (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) wasp fish Concern Chelon macrolepis Large scale Least Family : Synanceiidae (Stone fishes) (Smith, 1846) mullet Concern Orange Mugil cephalus Flathead Least Choridactylus multibarbus Not banded sting (Linnaeus ,1758) grey mullet Concern Richardson ,1848 Included fish Order: Atheriniformes, Family: Atherinidae (Silversides) Suborder: Percoidei, Super family: , Wide- Order : Atherinomorus lacunosus banded Not Most other fish: bass, gobies, perches, , barracudas, (Forster, 1801) hardy head Included angelfish, butterfly fish, blennies, basslets, and silverside more Order: , Family: Ambassidae (Asiatic glass fishes) Family: Holocentridae (Squirrel fishes, soldier fishes) Ambassis ambassis Commerson' Least amaena Brick soldier Least (Lacepede, 1802) s glassy Concern Malabar (Castelnau, 1873) fish Concern Ambassis dussumieri Least Myripristis formosa Data glassy (Cuvier ,1828) Concern Randall and Greenfield , 1996 Deficient perchlet Myripristis murdjan Pinecone Least Family : (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) (Forsskal, 1775) soldier fish Concern Sargocentron rubrum Least Caprodonlongimanus Pink Least Redcoat (Forsskal, 1775) Concern (Gunther, 1859) maomao Concern Yellow- Cephalopholis argus Peacock Least Sargocentron seychellense Not tipped (Schneider, 1801) hind Concern (Smith and Smith, 1963) Included squirrel fish Cephalopholis formosa Blue lined Least Order: Syngnathiformes Pipefish, sea horses, (Shaw, 1812) hind Concern Cephalopholis sonnerati Least Family: Aulostomidae (Trumpet fishes) Tomato hind Aulostomus chinensis Chinese Least (Valenciennes, 1828) Concern (Linnaeus, 1766) trumpet fish Concern Epinephelusbontoides Palemargin Data (Bleeker, 1855) Deficient Family : Fistulariidae (Cornet fishes) Orange- coioides Near spotted Fistularia petimba Red cornet Least (Hamilton, 1822) Threatened Lacepede, 1803 fish Concern grouper Order: (Scorpion fish, rockfish, lionfish), Epinephelus diacanthus Spiny cheek Near Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpion fishes or rockfishes) (Valenciennes, 1828) grouper Threatened

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Common IUCN Common IUCN Scientific Name Scientific Name Name Status Name Status Epinephelus faveatus Barred-chest Data Caranx ignobilis Giant Least (Valenciennes, 1828) grouper Deficient (Forsskal, 1775) trevally Concern Epinephelus malabaricus Malabar Near Caranx heberi Black tip Least (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) grouper Threatened (Bennett, 1830) trevally Concern Trachinotus coppingeri Swallowtail Least Family: Pseudochromidae (dotty backs) (Gunther, 1884) dart Concern Pseudochromis caudalis Stripe-tailed Not Caranxlatus Horse-eye Least (Boulenger ,1898) dotty back Included (Agassiz, 1831) jack Concern Family: Opistognathidae (Jawfishes) Family: Leiognathidae (Slimys, slipmouths, or ponyfishes) Opistognathus nigro- Birdled jaw Not Aurigequula fasciata Striped pony Least marginatus (Rüppell ,1830) fish Included (Lacepede, 1803) fish Concern Family: (Bigeyes or catalufas) Karalla daura Gold stripe Not (Cuvier, 1829) pony fish Included arenatus Atlantic big Least (Cuvier ,1829) eye Concern Family: Lutjanidae (Snappers) Priacanthus blochii Paeony bull Least bohar Two-spot Least (Bleeker, 1853) eye Concern (Forsskal, 1775) red snapper Concern Priacanthus sagittarius Arrow bull Least Lutjanus decussatus Checkered Least (Starnes, 1988) eye Concern (Cuvier, 1828) snapper Concern Common Family: Apogonidae (Cardinal fishes) Lutjanus kasmira Least blue stripe (Forsskal, 1775) Concern Apogon amboinensis Amboina Data snapper (Bleeker ,1853) cardinal fish Deficient Yellow Lutjanus lemniscatus Not Apogon limenus Sydney Least streaked (Valenciennes, 1828) Included (Randall andHoese , 1988) cardinal fish Concern snapper Apogon sinus Not Lutjanus lutjanus Big eye Least (Randall , 2001) Included (Bloch, 1790) snapper Concern Apogoncathetogramma Not Lutjanus argentimaculatus Mangrove Least (Tanaka, 1917) Included (Forsskal, 1775) red snapper Concern Cheilodipterus arabicus Tiger Not Lutjanus fulviflamma Dory Least (Gmelin, 1789) cardinal Included (Forsskal, 1775) snapper Concern Lepidamia multitaeniata Smallscale Not Lutjanus fulvus Black tail Not (Cuvier, 1828) cardinal Included (Forster, 1801) snapper Included Ostorhinchus moluccensis Moluccan Not Lutjanus indicus Not (Valenciennes, 1832) cardinal fish Included (Allen, White and Erdmann Broad Included Ostorhinchus fasciatus Not 2013) banded (White, 1790) Included Lutjanus rivulatus Blubber lip Least cardinal fish (Cuvier, 1828) snapper Concern Ostorhinchus cookie Cook's Not Lutjanus russellii Russell's Least (Macleay, 1881) cardinal fish Included (Bleeker, 1849) snapper Concern Taeniamia fucata Orange lined Not Lutjanus stellatus Least Star snapper (Cantor, 1849) cardinal fish Included (Akazaki, 1983) Concern Family: Sillaginidae (Smelt-whitings) Lutjanus viridis Blue and Least (Valenciennes, 1846) gold snapper Concern Sillagociliata Least pinjalo Least Sand sillago Pinjalo (Cuvier, 1829) Concern (Bleeker, 1850) Concern Sillagosihama Silver Least Pristipomoides typus Sharp tooth Least (Forsskal, 1775) sillago Concern (Bleeker ,1852) job fish Concern Family: Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos) Family: (Fusiliers) Carangoides bartholomaei Least caerulaurea Blue and Least (Cuvier, 1833) Concern (Lacepede, 1801) gold fusilier Concern

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Common IUCN Common IUCN Scientific Name Scientific Name Name Status Name Status Gymnocaesio gymnoptera Slender Least Upeneus oligospilus Short-fin Least (Bleeker, 1856) fusilier Concern (Lachner, 1954) goatfish Concern Pterocaesio marri Marr's Least Family: Pempheridae (Sweepers) (Schultz ,1953) fusilier Concern Pempheris molucca Not Family: Gerreidae (Mojarras) - (Cuvier ,1829) Included Gerres microphthalmus Pempheris Not Not - (Iwatsuki, Kimura and - (Randall and Bineesh, 2014) Included Included Yoshino, 2002) Pempheris adusta Dusky Not Gerresoyena Common Least (Bleeker, 1877) sweeper Included (Forsskal, 1775) silver-biddy Concern Family: Monodactylidae (Moony fishes) Family: Haemulidae (Grunts) Monodactylus argenteus Silver Least Indian (Linnaeus, 1758) moony Concern Plectorhinchus vittatus Ocean Not Family: Kyphosidae (Sea chubs) (Linnaeus, 1758) oriental Included sweet lips Kyphosus vaigiensis Least Brassy chub Plectorhinchus chubbi Dusky Not (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) Concern (Regan, 1919) rubber lip Included Family: Drepaneidae (Sickle fishes) Plectorhinchus gibbosus Harry hot Least (Lacepede, 1802) lips Concern Drepane punctata Spotted Not Pomadasys guoraca Not (Linnaeus, 1758) sickle fish Included - (Cuvier, 1829) Included Family: Chaetodontidae (Butterfly fishes) Pomadasys aheneus Yellow back Not (McKay and Randall , 1995 grunt Included Chaetodon auriga Threadfin Least Pomadasys furcatus Banded Not (Forsskal , 1775) butterfly fish Concern (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) grunter Included Chaetodon collare Red tail Least (Bloch ,1787) butterfly fish Concern Family: Nemipteridae (Thread fin breams, Whip tail breams) Indian Chaetodon decussates Not White cheek vagabond Scolopsis vosmeri Not (Cuvier ,1829) Included monocle butterfly fish (Bloch, 1792) Included bream Chaetodon lunula Raccoon Least Thumb (Lacepede, 1802) butterfly fish Concern Scolopsis bimaculata print Not Chaetodon octofasciatus Eight band Least Ruppell, 1828 monocle Included (Bloch ,1787) butterfly fish Concern bream Chaetodon plebeius Blue blotch Least Family: Lethrinidae (Cuvier ,1831) butterfly fish Concern Lethrinus harak Thumbprint Least Chaetodon trifasciatus Melon Least (Forsskal, 1775) emperor Concern (Park, 1797) butterfly fish Concern acuminatus Pennat coral Least Family: Mullidae (Goatfishes) (Linnaeus, 1758) fish Concern Parupeneus chrysopleuron Yellow Heniochus pleurotaenia Phantom Least Not (Temminck and Schlegel, striped goat (Ahl, 1923) banner fish Concern Included 1843) fish Heniochus chrysostomus Three band Least Parupeneus fraserorum Not (Cuvier , 1831) pennant fish Concern - (Randall and King , 2009) Included Heniochus singularius Singular Least Parupeneus indicus Indian goat Least (Smith and Radcliffe, 1911) banner fish Concern (Shaw, 1803) fish Concern Family: (Angelfishes) Parupeneus macronemus Long-barbel Not (Lacepede, 1801) goat fish Included xanthurus Yellowtail Least Upeneus doriae Gilded goat Not (Bennett, 1833) angel fish Concern (Gunther, 1869) fish Included Pomacanthus annularis Blue ring Least (Bloch, 1787) angel fish Concern

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Common IUCN Common IUCN Scientific Name Scientific Name Name Status Name Status Pomacanthus imperator Emperor Least Neopomacentrus nemurus Coral Not (Bloch, 1787) angel fish Concern (Bleeker, 1857) demoiselle Included Pomacanthus semicirculatus Semicircle Least Neopomacentrus sindensis Arabian Not (Cuvier, 1831) angel fish Concern (Day, 1873) demoiselle Included Super family: Cirrhitoidea Neopomacentrus metallicus Metallic Not Family: Cirrhitidae(Hawk fishes) (Jordan and Seale, 1906) demoiselle Included Cirrhitichthys bleekeri Not - Neopomacentrus xanthurus Red Sea Not (Day, 1874) Included (Allen andRandall ,1980) demoiselle Included Cirrhitichthys aureus Yellow Not Plectroglyphidodon White Not (Temminck & Schlegel 1842) hawk fish Included lacrymatus (Quoy and spotted devil Included Cirrhitus pinnulatus Stocky hawk Least Gaimard, 1825) (Forster, 1801) fish Concern Family: Labridae (Wrasses) Suborder: Labroidei, Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids) Anampses elegan Elegant Least Etroplus suratensis Least (Ogilby ,1889) Concern Pearl spot Bay of (Bloch, 1790) Concern Bodianusneilli Least Family : Pomacentridae Bengal - (Day, 1867) Concern (Damselfishes) hogfish Abudefduf bengalensis Bengal Least Cheilinus chlorourus Floral Least (Bloch, 1787) sergeant Concern (Bloch, 1791) wrasse Concern Abudefduf concolor Least Choerodon robustus Robust tusk Least - (Gill, 1862) Concern (Gunther, 1862) fish Concern formosa Least Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnaeus, Sergeant- Least Queen coris 1758) major Concern (Bennett, 1830) Concern Abudefduf septemfasciatus Banded Least Diproctacanthus xanthurus Yellowtail Least (Cuvier, 1830) sergeant Concern (Bleeker, 1856) tube lip Concern binotopsis Least Abudefduf sordidus Black spot Least - (Forsskal, 1775) sergeant Concern (Bleeker, 1849) Concern Abudefduf vaigiensis Indo-Pacific Least Halichoeres dispilus Chameleon Least (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) sergeant Concern (Gunther, 1864) wrasse Concern Halichoeres leucurus Least Chromis flavicauda Cobalt Data - (Gunther, 1880) chromis Deficient (Walbaum, 1792) Concern Chromislimbaughi Limbaugh's Least Halichoeres melanurus Tail-spot Least Greenfield and Woods, 1980 damselfish Concern (Bleeker, 1851) wrasse Concern Chrysiptera brownriggii Surge Not Halichoeres nebulosus Nebulous Least (Bennett, 1828) damselfish Included (Valenciennes, 1839) wrasse Concern Chrysiptera sheila Sheila's Not Halichoeres scapularis Zigzag Least Randall, 1994 damselfish Included (Bennett, 1832) wrasse Concern Chrysiptera unimaculata One spot Least Halichoeres nigrescens Bubble fin Least (Cuvier, 1830) demoiselle Concern (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) wrasse Concern Dischistodus prosopotaenia Honey-head Not Iniistius bimaculatus Two-spot Least (Bleeker, 1852) damsel Included (Rüppell, 1829) razor fish Concern Blue streak Neoglyphidodon melas Bowtie Not Labroides dimidiatus Least cleaner (Cuvier, 1830) damselfish Included (Valenciennes, 1839) Concern wrasse Neoglyphidodon boning Ocellated Not Three- (Bleeker, 1852) damsel Included Stethojulis strigiventer Least ribbon (Bennett, 1833) Concern Neopomacentrus cyanomos Regal Not wrasse

(Bleeker, 1856) demoiselle Included Thalassoma lunare Moon Least (Linnaeus, 1758) wrasse Concern

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Common IUCN Common IUCN Scientific Name Scientific Name Name Status Name Status Thalassoma jansenii Jansen's Least Scatophagus argus Least Spotted scat (Bleeker, 1856) wrasse Concern (Linnaeus, 1766) Concern Family: Scaridae (Parrot fishes) Family: Siganidae (Rabbit fishes) Scarusovifrons White- Knob snout Data Siganus canaliculatus Least (Temminck and Schlegel spotted parrot fish Deficient (Park, 1797) Concern 1846) spine foot Scarus ghobban Blue-barred Least Siganus javus Streaked Least (Forsskal, 1775) parrot fish Concern (Linnaeus, 1766) spine foot Concern Scarus viridifucatus Round head Least Golden- Siganuslineatus Least (Smith, 1956) parrot fish Concern lined spine (Valenciennes, 1835) Concern Suborder: Trachinoidei foot Family: Uranoscopidae (Stargazers) Siganus rivulatus Least

Ichthys copus lebeck Long nosed Not (Forsskal and Niebuhr, 1775) Concern (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) stargazer Included Family: Zanclidae () Suborder: Blennioidei Zanclus cornutus Least Family: Blenniidae (Comb tooth blennies) Moorish idol Alticuskirkii Kirk's Least (Linnaeus, 1758) Concern (Gunther, 1868) blenny Concern Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeon fishes) Atrosalarias fuscus Least - (Rüppell, 1838) Concern leucosternon Powder blue Least Entomacrodus nigricans Least (Bennett, 1833) surgeonfish Concern Pearl blenny Gill, 1859 Concern Acanthurus triostegus Convict Least West (Linnaeus, 1758) surgeonfish Concern Entomacrodus cadenati Least African rock Acanthurus xanthopterus Yellow fin Least (Springer, 1967) Concern hopper (Valenciennes, 1835) surgeonfish Concern Entomacroduslighti Least Acanthurus bahianus Ocean Least - (Herre, 1938) Concern (Castelnau , 1855) surgeon Concern Entomacrodus vermiculatus Vermiculate Least Acanthurus dussumieri Eye stripe Least (Valenciennes, 1836) d blenny Concern (Valenciennes,1835) surgeon fish Concern Entomacrodus vomerinus Least Acanthurus grammoptilus Fine lined Least

(Valenciennes, 1836) Concern (Richardson,1843) surgeon fish Concern Lupinoblennius paivai Paiva's Endangere Acanthurus lineatus Lined Least (Pinto, 1958) blenny d B2 ab (Linnaeus, 1758) surgeonfish Concern Acanthurus nigroris Blue lined Least Suborder: Gobioidei, Family: Gobiidae (Gobies) (Valenciennes, 1835) surgeon fish Concern Not Acanthurus randalli Gulf Least Bathygobius sp. - Included Briggs and Caldwell ,1957 surgeon fish Concern White Naso unicornis Blues pine Least Bathygobius coalitus Not spotted frill (Forsskal, 1775) unicorn fish Concern (Bennett, 1832) Included Indian sail- goby Zebrasoma desjardinii Least fin Bathygobius cyclopterus Spotted frill Not (Bennett, 1836) Concern (Valenciennes, 1837) goby Included surgeonfish Bathygobius laddi Brown boy Not Suborder: Scombroidei, Family: Sphyraenidae (Barracudas) (Fowler, 1931) goby Included Bathygobius lineatus Southern Vulnerable Sphyraena obtusata Obtuse Not (Jenyns, 1841) frill fin D2 (Cuvier, 1829) barracuda Included Sphyraena qenie Least

Suborder: , Family: Ephippidae (Klunzinger, 1870) Concern Plataxteira Long fin Not Order: Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes) (Forsskal, 1775) batfish Included Family: Paralichthyidae (large tooth flounders) Pseudorhombus javanicus Javan Not Family: Scatophagidae (Scats) (Bleeker, 1853) Flounder Included

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Common IUCN Common IUCN Scientific Name Scientific Name Name Status Name Status Pseudorhombus arsius Large tooth Not Bennett's bennetti Least (Hamilton, 1822) flounder Included sharp nose (Bleeker, 1854) Concern Three puffer Pseudorhombus triocellatus Not spotted (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) Included Family: Diodontidae (Porcupine fishes and Burr fishes) flounders Cyclichthys orbicularis Bird beak Not Family: Samaridae (Crested flounders) (Bloch, 1785) burr fish Included Cockatoo Long spined Samaris cristatus Not Diodon holocanthus Not right eye porcupine (Gray ,1831) Included (Linnaeus , 1758) Included flounder fish Spot-fin Family: Soleidae (Soles) Diodon hystrix Not porcupine (Linnaeus, 1758) Included Synaptura commersonnii Commerson' Not fish (Lacepede, 1802) s sole Included Order: -, Puffer fish, Triggerfish There were totally 16 fish Orders identified from the four and Boxfish, Family: (Triple spines) stations of the two year study. Among these, Perciformes, the Pseudotriacanthus strigilifer Long-spined Not most specious order in the study by a colossal number of fish (Cantor, 1849) tripod fish Included species of 170, scattered in 37 families, which comes around 72.5% of the total fish species composition. Followed by, Order Family :Balistidae (Trigger fishes) Tetraodontiformes sharing the 16 species spread in 6 Families Orange- and 6.5% of total species composition. Order Balistapus undulates Not lined trigger Scorpaeniformes comes to third in this line up with 10 (3.5%) (Park, 1797) Included fish species of fishes from 6 Families. Anguilliformes (9 species) Odonusniger Red-toothed Not formed 3.5% of the total species formation of 3 Families. Orders (Ruppell, 1836) trigger fish Included including Beryciformes and Pleuronectiformes with a species Pseudobalistes Yellow count of 5 from each and shared 2% of the total fishes. Orders, Not flavimarginatus (Ruppell, margin Torpediniformes, Myliobatiformes, Aulopiformes, Included 1829) triggerfish Mugiliformes and Sygnathiformes contributed 2 species from Sufflamen chrysopterum Half-moon Not each and parting 1% of the entire fish species diversity. The (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) trigger fish Included orders like Orectolobiformes, Ophidiiformes, Lophiformes and Sufflamen fraenatum Masked Least Atheriniformes contributing 1 species in each and sharing only (Latreille, 1804) trigger fish Concern 0.5% of the total ichthyofaunal diversity (Figure-2).

Family: Monacanthidae () Among the 62 Families recorded in the study, Pomacentridae the most specious family with 20 species of pardalis Honey comb Least fishes belongs to 7 genera. Followed by Labridae (18), (Ruppell, 1837) file fish Concern Lutjanidae (15), Chaetodontidae (11), Apogonidae (10), Family: (Box fishes) Acanthuridae (11), Muraenidae (9), Serranidae (9), Scorpaenidae (8), Blenniidae (8), Haemulidae (6), Mullidae (6), Ostracion cubicus Yellow box Least Holocentridae (5), Carangidae(5), Gobiidae(5) and Balistidae (Linnaeus, 1758) fish Concern (5) (Figure-3). gibbosus Humpback Least (Linnaeus, 1758) turret fish Concern According to IUCN red data list, among the232 fish species listed in the study were categorizein to 6groups, Least Concern Family: (Puffers) 141 species, followed by Not Included 76 species, Data White- Deficient 8 species, Near Threatened 5 species, and Endangered hispidus Least spotted and Vulnerable categories are 1 on each (Figure-4). (Linnaeus, 1758) Concern puffer Black While considering the percentage composition of IUCN Red Arothron nigropunctatus Least spotted List Categories, Least Concern 61%, followed by Not (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) Concern puffer Included33%, Data Deficient 4%, Near Threatened 2% species, Arothron immaculatus Immaculate Least and Endangered and Vulnerable categories are 0.1% on each (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) puffer Concern (Figure-5).

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Orectolobiformes Torpediniformes Myliobatiformes Anguilliformes Siluriformes Aulopiformes Ophidiiformes Lophiformes Mugiliformes Atheriniformes Beryciformes Sygnathiformes Scorpaeniformes Perciformes Pleuronectiformes Tetraodontiformes 1% 1% 0.5% 1% 1% 0.5% 2% 2% 1% 0.5% 0.5% 6.5% 3.5% 1%

3.5%

72.5%

Figure-2: Percentage composition of fish species in different Orders.

25

20

15

10 No. of of No.species

5

0

Families

Figure --3: Number of fish species in different families.

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Endangered, 1

Vulnerable, 1 Near Threatened, 5

Data Deficient, 8

Not Evaluated, 76

Least Concern, 141

Figure-4: The IUCN Red List Categories of fish species studied.

Near Threatened Data Deficient Least Concern Not Evaluated Endangered Vulnerable

0.1% 0.1% 2% 4%

33%

61%

Figure-5: The IUCN Red List Percentage of Categories of fish species studied.

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There are large numbers of investigations on the fish nature of reef substratum and the structure of reef fish assemblages of various coastal systems. The rocky reef fish assemblages. Appearance rates was high in schooling fishes diversityof western coast of India was documented and reported such as Atherinomoruslacunosus, Taeniamiafucata and a total of 184 species. This work has been done extensively on Caesiocaerulaurea and low in solitary species such as rocky reefs of Vizhinjam (Kerala) to Muttom, (Tamil Nadu) 36 . Cephalopholisargus, Cantherhinespardalis and Dendrochirus Even though the present work restricted between a small area zebra . The studyresults prove that rocky reefs support a high from Mulloor, Vizhinjam, Kovalam and Thirumullavaram, but ichthyofaunal diversity. The physical structure of the reefs able to record 232 species of fishes belongs to 16 Orders, supports the ichthyofauna as shelter, nursery ground and food 62Families and 114Genera. The ichthyfaunal diversity of coral source. And the present study results from the south Kerala reefs of the Gulf of Kutch and Western Indiawas investigated coast only. So the entire Kerala coastal rocky reefs can support and reported. And the study revealed about 41 species, which even more species of fishes including the commercial and non- belongs to 27 families and 35 genera were listed out 37 . The commercial species. Further categorization species were done present study documented a species diversity of 232 species on the basis of IUCN Red List Categories. According to this, coming under 2 classes, 16 orders, 62 families and 114genera. there are six categories of fish species were listed, Least In another attemptthe Okinawan coral reefs were observed and Concern 61%, followed by Not Included 33%, Data Deficient studied the effects of two habitat structures like coral, rocky and 4%, Near Threatened 2% species, and Endangered and sandy sea bottoms. And they were reported a total of 215 Vulnerable categories are 0.1% on each. species belonging 110 genera of 40 families were recorded 37 . While comparing the result of the present study, there were 232 Acknowledgements species of fishes belonging 114 Genera of 62 Families. We expressing our heart fed thanks to local fishing groups of The commercial fish faunal diversity of Indian water was the area for their assistances during the field study. We are studied and documented extensivelythroughout the country 38 . registering our thanks to the Kerala State Welfare department However, little is known about non-commercial fishes 39-42 . So for providing the financial support to the work. the present effort might be a milestone in the ichthyofaunal diversity studies of rocky reefs with the aids of underwater References visual senses methods. In the present study, the family wise species diversity is comparable with the national average of 1. 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