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Iran. J. Ichthyol. (2021) 8(3): 189-203 © 2021 Iranian Society of Ichthyology P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

New records of some fishes from Hadhramout coast, Gulf of Aden, Yemen

Attaala Muhaysin ALI1* , Mohammed Awadh ALGURABI2 , Botagoz Murasovna NASIBULINA3 Tatyana Fedorovna KUROCHKINA3 , Shima BAKHSHALIZADEH4

1 Consultant (Private Researcher); Abstract Formerly Hadhramout University. 2 During surveys of the Hadhramout coast, the Gulf of Aden, five fish species were recorded. Environment and Fisheries consultant, Qusayr, Hadhramout, Review of all previous studies and publications show that these species from different families Yemen. were not previously reported in the Gulf. The species identified include Lepidocybium 3Faculty of Geology & Geography, Innovative Natural Institute, flavobrunneum (Gempylidae), cinereus (), Conger macrocephalus Astrakhan State University. (Congridae), Histiopterus typus () and multibarbata (Ophidiidae). This 4Department of Marine Sciences,

Caspian Sea Basin Research Center, paper describes the detailed characteristics of each species Universitysss of Guilan, Rasht, Iran. Keywords: Morphometric; ; Anguilliformes; ; Muraenesocidae. Correspondence [email protected]

Article history: Received 12 December 2020; Accepted 22 July 2021; Online 25 September 2021 .

INTRODUCTION coexistence with some invertebrates, has no economic A large number of marine fish species are fished importance in most areas of its distribution, despite the annually in the northern coast of the Gulf of Aden, wide distribution of its representatives in all oceans especially the coast of Hadhramout with an estimated (Van Den Spiegel & Jangoux 1989; Neilsen et al. 40 thousand tons fished in 2011 (Ministry of fish 1999). wealth 2012). However, many of these species are not Family Gempylidae contains 16 valid genera classified yet and their taxonomic affiliation and Fricke et al. (2021). Most inhabit the deep and biology have not been studied by ichthyologists. The mesopelagic waters of the open ocean, are very fauna of Hadhramout coast is mostly little known. A widespread in the tropical zone, but live occasionally deficiency of data on the biology, distribution, and in coastal areas. One species (Gempylus serpens) of abundance of many species are mainly due to incorrect this family is present in Yemen coast, including Gulf identification and of species in the course of Aden, but it is quite rare and special commercial of ordinary and rare scientific fishing operations. fishing is not conducted as in Western Indian Ocean Publications relating to ichthyological or biological (Nakamura & Parin 1993). works characteristic of the Gulf of Aden are limited. Family Muraenesocidae Kaup, 1859, known as The area of Gulf of Aden, including Hadhramout pike conger , includes six genera and 15 species coast is marked by distinctive features, supporting (Froese & Pauly 2020), but according to Nelson et al. attractive environmental and biological conditions for (2016), this family contains four genera and eight more marine organisms, which need profound and species of which we are interested in is the meticulously scientific investigation (Al Saafani & Muraenesox McClelland, 1844 - pike congers. Manilo Shenoi 2007; Ali et al. 2017). (2003) summarizes the content of this family in the The fishes of the orders Perciformes and Arabian Sea by observing three genera and five Anguilliformes are ranging from the most important species. environmentally to the rare; nonetheless they are an Many species of the Congridae family live in important part of Gulf of Aden fauna and the coast of tropical seas, but most of them are insufficiently Hadhramout in particular. Order Ophidiiformes, studied. The difficulty of studying them is exacerbated regardless of its environmental importance through by their largely hidden lifestyle, living in crevices of

Journal homepage: ijichthyol.org DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/iji.v8i3.564 190 Ali et al./ New records of some fishes from Hadhramout coast

Fig.1. Sampling sites along the Hadhramout coast, Gulf of Aden, Yemen. rocks and burrows dug out in the sandy bottom. This MATERIALS AND METHODS family in Arabian Sea is consisting of nine genera and Study site: A distinctive administrative region of the 11 species (Manilo 2003). Hadhramout province, located in the northern coast of The family Ophidiidae resembles eels too, but they the Gulf of Aden, has about 350km of coastal waters. are distinguished by the presence of well-developed The water around Hadhramout coast is transitions pelvic fins in the form of long barbels terminating in between relatively warm and brackish Indian Ocean two branches, the fin emerges near the throat. In most water to the south and salty Red sea water masses to of its species the soft rays of dorsal and anal fins are the northwest. continuous around and connect with tail rays; gill Hadhramout coast is characterized by owning some openings wide. Its mouth is large, resembling a sandy beaches, consisting of rocky highlands catfish's mouth. Many species are known and most of backgrounds, such as rocky shores of the east of Bir them from warm seas. In Arabian Sea, it comprises six Ali, Broom, east of Mukalla and Sharma. There are genera with 11 species (Manilo 2003). many areas of environmental importance along the Family Pentacerotidae or armourheads are a small coast, from which the coast of Beer Ali and its islands family of fish. They are native to the Indian Ocean, richly coral formations. The water column in the coast western and central Pacific Ocean. As a rule, they of Hadhramout characterized by a good mix of the occur at shallower depths as single specimens or in surface layers, separated from the sub-surface water groups of low density. This family is divided into two by stable layers at a depth of about 100m (Badhafari subfamilies: Histiopterinae has 6 genera and 7 species, 2003). It is devoid of mangrove plants, but some which, as a rule, live in the coastal zone near the assemblages of limited macroalgae exist (Ormond & bottom and are found at a considerable depth, and Banaimoon 1994). Pentacerotinae, which contain one genus and 6 species Specimens and measurements: From local tuna fishers (Kim 2012). Some of these fish, despite extensive operating near the Hadhramout coast (N14°33’26”, commercial and artisanal fishing operations in the E49°29’59”) on 15 January 2018, nine specimens of waters of the Gulf of Aden occurring since the Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith 1843) were beginning of the last century, have never been found. collected at the landing site of Mukalla. Two In this paper we address what has been gained of specimens of M. cinereus (Forsskål, 1775) from fishes from artisanal fishing during the last years. family Muraenesocidae, one specimen of Conger Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 189-203 191 macrocephalus Kanazawa, 1958, family Congridae were caught by second author 28 February, 3 and 4 March 2020, respectively at the coast of Qusay’ir district, eastern of Mukalla, around coordinate of (N14o46’, E50o37’). One specimen of Histiopterus typus Temmínck & Schlegel, 1844, family Pentacerotidae caught near the shore of Qusayr (N14o50’, E50o22’), Hadhramout coast in 8 March 2020. One specimen of B. multibarbata (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) Ophidiidae family was collected fresh from fishermen in March 21, 2020, who claimed that the place of capture was around the coordinate Fig.2. Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith, 1843) from N14°46’, E50°37’. Hadhramout coast, Yemen, and its head showing the teeth on jaws. Each specimen was photographed in fresh condition (Cape of Good Hope, Africa). and preserved in formalin after recording meristic and Synonyms: Xenogramma carinatum Waite, 1904. morphometric measurements. All measurements were Nesogrammus thompsoni Fowler, 1923 made precisely in the lab. With a measuring tape to the Diplogonurus maderensis Noronha, 1926. nearest 0.5mm. Lepidosarda retigramma Kishinouye, 1926. The sampling is covered by pelagic and demersal Diagnosis: The body is sufficiently oblong, gears; Hook and Line, and fish traps (locally called Al moderately compressed (Fig. 1). Two dorsal fins, the Sakhawi) at depths of 20 to 200m. The areas of first very low with of 9 short hard spines, the second sampling are the main local fishing grounds within the with 1 hard ray and 17 (18) soft rays, followed by 6 coastal 200 mile EEZ (Fig.1). Specimens were finlets; anal fin consists of 2 hard rays followed by 13 identified based on the description of each of Bauchot soft rays and 4 filets. Although Lateral line has & Smith, (1984), Fricke (2004) and Randall & distinctive shape it is faint and highly sinuous along Heemstra (2006) and. In addition, the Fischer and the body originating from upper corner of opercle and Bianchi (1984) were used. The specimens were is slightly in advance of the caudal keel. Teeth in the photographed fresh, morphometric and meristic lower jaw are strong; sharp cusped, conical and totaled measurements were recorded. All proportional 10 pairs. The front pair is smallest; the upper jaw measurements are expressed as percentage of total (maxilla) has multiple short, strong teeth, two anterior (TL), fork (FL), standard lengths (SL) and head length pairs on the anterior roof of the mouth in the form of (HL). The abbreviations wherever they appear in the canines as large as those in the lower jaw (Fig. 2). texts are as follows: (A) anal fin, (D) dorsal fin, (P) Vomer is with a single row of teeth. A thick strong pectoral fin, (V) ventral fin, (LL) lateral line, (DFO) lateral keel on each side of caudal peduncle is flanked dorsal fin origin. by two small supplementary keels above and below.

The tail is well developed and deeply forked. RESULTS Description: The body is elongated with pointed head, Order: Perciformes the eyes are large and slightly oval; the maxilla is Family: Gempylidae Gill, 1862 broadened and rounded behind, and extends to below Genus: Lepidocybium Gill, 1862 the anterior margin of the eye. Gill rakers are Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith 1843) rudimentary and expressed as a few short, weak Escolar spines. The spines of first dorsal fin can hide in a Parent: Lepidocybium Gill, 1862 narrow groove. Body covered with small cycloid Orig. name: Cybium flavobrunneum Smith, 1843 192 Ali et al./ New records of some fishes from Hadhramout coast

Table 1. Meristic and morphometric measurements (cm) for Escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith, 1843) from Hadhramout coast, Gulf of Aden.

specimens Indicators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 TL, cm 105 61 75 117 101.0 83 85 SL, cm 96 53.3 65.8 103 89.0 73.8 75.4 FL, cm 97.9 54.5 67.5 105 94 78 77 Dorsal fins IX+17 X+17 X+17 X+17 IX+17 X+18 X+17 Finlets D/A 5/4 5/4 5/4 5/4 5/4 5/4 5/4 Anal fin II, 14 II, 14 II, 14 II, 14 II, 13 II, 14 II, 14 Pelvic fin 1,5 1,5 1,5 1,5 1,5 1,5 1,5 Pectoral fin 16 16 16 16 16 17 16 HL, cm 24.3 13.7 17.3 25.6 24.1 18.5 18.7 Body depth 22.5 11.8 15.8 23.4 20.9 18.3 17.5 Preanal length 65.45 34.3 49.1 65.7 62 50 47.8 Pre I dorsal 24.63 16.9 18.3 29.7 25 22.9 23.4 Pre II dorsal 54.78 28.3 35.5 52.5 52.7 42 44.3 Prepelvic L. 26.1 15.3 20.1 28 26 23.1 21.7 Prepectoral L. 25.74 14.44 20 26.2 25.6 21.2 20.2 Preorbital 8.27 4.5 5.7 9 9.5 8.5 6.3 Eye Diam. 4.56 3.1 3.4 4.7 4 3.65 3.9 Postorbital 11.2 8.1 12.2 8.6 Upper jaw length 9.5 5.8 6. 4 8.2 10.3 8.8 6.8 Body height 21.14 16.5 23.4 17.5 Head depth 16.9 10.2 16.8 9.2 Pectoral fin L 12.13 10.6 15.4 11.5 II D height 17.8 10.2 14.4 10.7 A height 8.27 9 10.6 9.1 V length 8.27 7.5 12.6 7.75 Least depth 4.0 4 4.2 2.4 4.45 4 scales. Body depth is about 4.27 (23.4%) times in moreover, no concrete data is available for a precise standard length. Head length is 3.9 (25.5%) times in identification. Despite the fishes’ wide distribution, it standard length. The pectoral fin is slightly longer than was first registered and reported from Manar Bay the ventral, 15.8% and 11.9% in SL respectively. during 2004–2006, and from Bengal Bay and the Meristic and morphometric measurements are in Andaman Sea only in 2016 (Nashad et al. 2018). Table 1. Remarks: Since its first appearance in the tuna catch Color: Body and fins is dark brown color, almost black of Hadhramout fishermen in 2017, Escolar has on the back and head. become an increasingly valuable incidental by-catch Distribution: The species is circumglobal in tropical in Hadhramout coast. and temperate seas. It recorded from mid and north of It is an epimesopelagic, oceanodromous species Atlantic: West Africa, Angola, Spain, Portugal, often occurring over the continental slope, to depths of Ireland, Gulf of Mexico, Canada; Pacific Ocean: New 200 m and more (Shcherbachev 1987). It is usually Zealand, West and south of Australia; from Indian caught as by-catch in the pelagic longlines fishery for Ocean it was limited, Comoros Isles, Kenya, tuna. Specialized commercial fishing for this oily fish Madagascar, Mozambique; it may be absent from the is not conducted. This species easily confused with northern Indian Ocean if we doubt the report of Oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus, but differs from it in Sommer et al. (1996), who considered that having specific shaped lateral line and strong lateral observation was from Somalia marine resources, keels on the side of the caudal peduncle (keels absent Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 189-203 193

Fig.3. Muraenesox cinereus: A, front part of the male; B, front part of the female; C, two pairs of pharyngeal pads; D, Vomer teeth. in Oilfish), side keel is quite distinguished. More local traps. finlets exist behind the second dorsal and anal fins. Diagnosis: The body is moderately deep, its greatest The species has very fatty flesh that may have laxative depth is 11-11.8 in TL (8.5-9.1% TL); and posteriorly properties due to the complex wax esters elongated and compressed. The dorsal fin rays 258- (gempylotoxin) naturally present in its diet. The fish 263; anal rays 195-197; pectoral fin soft rays 16; cannot metabolize this complex wax, leading to oil Lateral pores to anus front 49-52; Vertebrae 145 and content as high as 15 - 25%. Hence, its meat may have 148. Pre-anal lateral pores are 49 to 52. Gill rakers are lax or poisonous properties (Pérez–Zarza 1993; absent but in the middle of the branchial arches. Lawley et al. 2012). This fish sometimes marketed as Dorsal and anal fins are confluent with the caudal fin; "butterfish" or "white tuna" and is known as snake the origin of the anterior dorsal fin is located in front mackerel. of the levels of gill openings. The Vomer teeth, of the median row are numbered 12 dagger-like, prominent Order: Anguilliformes sharp, are tricuspid (three pointed structured) and are Family: Muraenesocidae Kaup 1856 triangular laterally with straight anterior margins. The Genus: Muraenesox McClelland, 1843 pectoral fin base is behind the dorsal fin insertion – its Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskal, 1775) length 4.6-4.9% in TL, the pelvic fin is absent. The head is large, conical in shape and is more than one- Arabian pike fifth of the body length – about 18% TL; interorbital Muraena cinerea Forsskål, 1775: 22, 364 [13] (Jeddah, space somehow convex, it is 8-8.5 times in head Saudi Arabia, Red Sea. Holotype: ZMUC P31250, a length; the eye is relatively large, horizontal diameter dry skin). 9-10% of HL; the snout length is 25.6 and 26.2% of Synonyms: Muraena cinerea Forsskål, 1775 HL. Table 2 is shown measurements and counts of Muraena arabica Bloch & Schneider, 1801 morphological characteristics. Examined materials: Two specimens, one male (104.5 Description: The body is elongated and cylindrical at cm body length) and one female (130.0cm body the cranial end, compressed along the tail; slimy and length), were caught in proximity to rock formations serpentine-like without scales. The head is conical, the in the Qusayr city district, within the Hadhramout snout and lower jaw are elongated; the mouth is wide, coast (N14o56' E50o22') in May 2020 (Fig. 3). The exceeding the posterior margin of the eye. The nostril specimens were caught at depth of more than 100m by is tubular anterior, simple posterior and with a pore 194 Ali et al./ New records of some fishes from Hadhramout coast

Table 2. Meristic and morphometric characters in Muraenesox cinerius (Forsskål, 1775) from Hadhramout coast.

Morphological characteristics Value %% Male Female Male Female Morphometric characters Total length cm 104.5 130 Weight gr. 2000 3500 Maturity stage IV* IV* Head length cm 19.1 23.6 18.3 18.2 Head depth 9.5 11 9.1 8.5 Predorsal distance 16.3 19.5 15.6 15 Length of dorsal fin 88.2 110.5 84.4 85 Depth of dorsal fin 2 2.2 1.9 1.7 Length of anal fin 60 73 57.4 56.2 Depth of anal fin 1.6 2 1.5 1.5 Preanal distance 44.5 57 42.6 43.8 Length of pectoral fin 4.8 6.4 4.6 (21.8 4.9 (20.3) in TL) Minimum body depth - Maximum body depth 9.5 11 9.1 8.5 In the percentage of head length Eye diameter 2 2.2 10.3 9.3 Interorbital distance 2.3 3 11.8(8.5 12.5(8) Snout length 5 6.3 25.6 26.25 Postorbital distance 12.1 15.6 63.4 66.1 Head depth 9.5 11 48.7 46.6 Meristic characters Dorsal fin ray 263 258 Pectoral fin ray 16 16 Number of vertebrae 145 148 Anal fin ray 197 195 Caudal fin ray 11 12 Lateral pores to anus front 49 52 Dorsal fin rays to anus 67 70 Gill rakers Absent Absent Branchiostegal rays 15 Vomerine teeth 12 11 Premaxillary teeth (right) 2 Premaxillary teeth (left) 1 Dentary teeth (all) 50 46

nearer the eye than to the anterior edge of the snout. Color: The color is gray on the head and body, the The teeth are strong and pointed, arranged in three ventral side is lighter; the dorsal and anal fins are rows on the jaws. There are six teeth at the front of the bordered with black at the margin; the ends of the lower jaw, two in the middle and prominent, making pectoral fins are black. the lower jaw plow-like, with two very marked lateral Distribution: The range of M. cinereus expanded to sharp teeth (Fig. 3D); when mouth closed, the large cover, in addition to East Pacific, a wide range from canines of the lower jaw fit into a groove of the snout. northern Australia, Indonesia and Japan to Indian and Gill arches are like smooth sandpaper. We counted 50 Pakistan coasts, Persian Gulf, Oman Sea and Red Sea lateral relatively small denticles on the lower jaw. Gill (Fischer & Bianchi 1984; Randall 1995; Moazzam & openings are latero-ventral. Osmany 2015). It has been found in the Mediterranean Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 189-203 195

Sea (east coast), migrating from the Red Sea (Golani and made up a short, somewhat irregular patch. The & BenTuvia 1982) and has penetrated the Gulf (Peter most stable meristic character of Eels is the number of the Great), Russia (Sokolovsky et al. 2007). Although vertebrae, which were 135-138 in our specimen. many authors note its occurrence in coastal zones up Dorsal and anal fins soft rays were 271 in dorsal fin to 100-150 measures (Fischer & Bianchi 1984) but it and 169 in anal fin. There were 17 pectoral fin rays has been caught in the Red Sea to depths of 150 to and 35 preanal pores in both specimens. 800m (Goldschmidt et al. 1996). Description: Conger macrocephalus (Kanazawa, Remarks: Muraenesox cinereus are commercially 1958) caught offshore of the Hadhramout coast was important in China, India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia characterized (Table 3, Fig. 4a, b). The cross-section where the 2017 global annual production exceeded of the anterior half of the body is cylindrical, oval near 360 thousand tons (FAO 2019). It is an active predator the middle, and moderately compressed posterior of fish and cephalopods, largely piscivorous while profile. The head is relatively flattened, conical from predating crustaceans and molluscs (Young et al. above. In general, the profile behind the vertical level 2012). It was also noted that M. cinereus have a high of the eyes is somewhat straight. Body depth at the trophic level, even above that of some sharks (Golani dorsal fin origin is 40% of the head length. The snout & Ben Tuvia 1982; Goldschmidt et al. 1996). is relatively long, 26.6-30% of the head, and slightly Although this fish is a predator, its gill arches lack the pointed, its length 2.3 times of the eye diameter. The usual gill rakers in fish that eat fish and other mouth is terminal, wide and surrounded by thick organisms (King & Macleod 1976). Muraenesox developed lips. The tongue is distinctly large with a cinereus is aquacultures in Japan (Kanda et al. 1991). pointed end (Fig. 4B). In the specimen no 1, the rows of teeth on the upper jaw appear in one row, the second Order: Anguilliformes row is blurred, while the second row is evident as half Family: Congridae Kaup, 1856 of outer row in the second specimen. Vomer teeth are Genus: Conger Bosc, 1817 small, blunt and appear as a patch overlapping the Conger macrocephalus Kanazawa, 1958 intermaxillary teeth in both specimens (Fig. 4C, D). Common conger-eel The eye is small, less more than 2% of the body Conger macrocephalus Kanazawa, 1958 (Verde Island length; situated somewhat over the body axis, its passage, Luzon Island, Philippines, 13°34'37"N, diameter is 11.4-11.9% of the head length. Lateral-line 121°07'30"E, ca. 330 m. pores (neuromasts) are regularly spread along the skin Material examined: 1. Male specimen: 880 mm TL surface, and there are 35-37 preanal pores. Typical of was caught by traps on 2 March 2020; most Anguilliformes, there are no gill rakers on 2. Male specimen 920 mm TL which caught by traps smooth gill arches; there are two visible upper and too on 26 November 2020, both caught in offshore lower pairs of pharyngeal plates similar to those in waters of Qusayr city (N14o56' E50o22'), on the M. cinereus (Fig. 3D). Hadhramout coast, east of Mukalla city at depth of Color: Color of fresh body is medium to dark grayish about 120-130m. The specimens were measured and brown; white in the abdomen. The head is dark gray photographed fresh (Fig. 4). in the top half and light at the bottom, with a blackish Diagnosis: The predorsal length is 21.8-23.3% TL and margin on dorsal and anal fins. preanal length 40.2-42% TL. The head is long, relative Distribution: This species has been described using a to the total length of the body–up to five times the head single specimen from the Philippines by Kanazawa length. The origin of the dorsal fin is approximately (1958); from Taiwan by Ho et al. (2015). It was above the posterior half of pectoral fin. Teeth in reported in the northwestern Indian Ocean from Oman Maxillary and Dentary are short and acute; distinctly and Reunion (Smith et al. 2017) and has not yet been in one row in specimen no.1. Vomerine teeth are small recorded in the Red Sea. The species seems widely 196 Ali et al./ New records of some fishes from Hadhramout coast

Fig.4. Conger macrocephalus (Kanazawa, 1958): A, whole view of specimen; B, the head; C, the upper jaw of specimen no. 1; D, the upper jaw of specimen no. 2.

Table 3. Meristic and morphometric characters in Conger large head but the head of our specimen was smaller macrocephalus, Hadhramout coast. than those recorded from Philippines-24.8%, and . Oman-21%, and larger than those from Taiwan-15.4- Meristic and Value 17.7% TL (Kanazawa 1958; Smith et al. 2017; Smith morphometric Male 1 Male 2 characteristics & Ho 2018). Although Kanazawa (1958) described mm % TL mm % TL the dorsal fin origin over the pectoral fin, we found our TL (mm) 880 920 Preanal 370 42 370 40.2 specimen’s dorsal fin located in the posterior half of Predorsal 205 23.3 201 21.8 the pectoral fin. With regard to the teeth on the jaws, Prepectoral L 176 20 165 17.9 Head length 175 19.9 160 17.4 we find that there are a few teeth in the front of the Trunk 195 22.2 215 23.4 upper and the lower jaws scattered and almost buried Body depth in 70 7.9 85 9.2 DFO parallel to the main external row. It is believed that Depth at anus 51 5.8 52 5.6 they may represent the second row mentioned by some % HL 160 Snout 46 26.3 49 30.6 authors (Kanazawa 1958; Smith et al. 2017), although Eye 20 11.4 19 11.9 these authors discussed that some specimens may not Upper jaw 57 32.6 55 34.4 length have a second row of teeth. Interorbital 30 17.1 29 18.1 distance Pectoral fin 56 32 60 37.5 Order: Ophidiiformes length Family Ophidiidae Rafinesque, 1810 Meristic characters (number) Predorsal 15 15 Genus Brotula Cuvier, 1829 vertebrae Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 Preanal 37 39 vertebrae Goats beard brotula Total vertebrae 135 138 Brotula multibarbata Temminck & Schlegel, Preanal pores 35 37 Dorsal fin rays 271 273 Recorded by Regan (1909). Anal fin rays 196 193 Synonyms: Brotula burbonensis Kaup, 1858 Pectoral fin rays 17 17 Brotula ensiformis Günther, 1862 Geneiates ferruginosus Dorsal fin rays 96 90 to anus level Tickell, 1888 nomen nudum Brotula formosae Jordan & Evermann, 1902 Brotula japonica Steindachner & Döderlein, 1887 distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Brotula jayakari Günther, 1909 Remarks: Conger macrocephalus is one of the rarest Brotula marginalis Jenkins, 1901 species found in Indian Ocean. It is characterized by a Brotula muelleri Günther, 1909 Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 189-203 197

Fig.5. A: General view of Brotula multibarbata Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 from Hadhramout coast, B: head with barbells and a peculiar pectoral fin. Brotula multicirrata Vaillant & Sauvage, 1875 Table 4. Morphometric and Meristic characteristics of Brotula multibarbata Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 from Hadhramout Brotula palmietensis Smith, 1935 coast, Gulf of Aden. Material examined: One male specimen 367mm TL . was caught by traps 21 March 2020 in offshore waters o Morphometric characteristics value of Qusay’ir city, at about the coordinates (N14 56' o mm % TL E50 22'), Hadhramout coast, east of Mukalla city at TL (mm) 367 depth of about 150-170m. The specimen was Preanal length 170 46.3 measured and photographed fresh (Fig. 5). Predorsal length 85 23.2 Prepectoral Length 95 25.9 Diagnosis: Dorsal and anal fins are confluent; three Preventral Length 47 12.8 barbels on each side of the snout and the mandible, Head length 90 24.5 scales cycloid, are slightly overlapping and relatively Trunk 80 21.8 Body depth in DFO 80 21.8 small. Their number was 144 in a lateral line. There Head length 90mm % HL were 116 dorsal rays, 86 anal rays and 24 pectoral Snout 18 20 Eye 20 22.2 rays. The pelvic fin is a 2-rayed filament (forked Upper jaw length 28 31.1 barbel-like structures), originating under the throat. Interorbital distance 20 22.2 The head is relatively large 4.4 in TL. Pectoral fin length 35 38.9 Meristic counts Description: This fish is characterized by a laterally Gill rakers 21 3 well Developed compressed, largely elongated body, with pelvic fins Predorsal vertebrae 5 located on the throat, each of which branched into two Preanal vertebrae 14 Total vertebrae 58 unequal rays in their back half (Fig. 5 b). It has 6 Scales to anus level 64 barbels on the snout and 6 under the lower jaw. The Dorsal fin rays 116 body, although elongated and compressed on the sides Anal fin rays 86 Lateral line scales 144 in the last half of the body, is thick in structure. The Scales above LL 13 height of the body is 21.8% of the total length; the Scales under LL 44 head is large and constitutes 22.5% of the total length. Pectoral fin rays 24 Ventral fin rays 2 The mouth is large, the upper jaw makes up about 31% Developed gill rakers 3 of the length of the head. The eyes are large 22% HL Branchiostegal rays 8 and larger than the snout (Table 4). The lateral line is Dorsal fin rays to anus level 30 distinguished; the scales are small, smooth - cycloid, 198 Ali et al./ New records of some fishes from Hadhramout coast covering upper part of head and completely covering fourth dorsal-fin spines the longest. Its base is long body. and slightly less than half the standard body length at Color: The body is uniformly brownish when alive. 46.3% SL. The height of the dorsal fin is 82.8% of the The dorsal and anal fins are dark brown with dark body height; body heights are 53.7% of the SL. The edges bordered by an outer thin white stripe. Barbels base of the pelvic fin is located directly below the and ventral rays are pale and the eyes are azure, with pectoral fin. Teeth in the upper jaw are in two rows in a dark blue iris. the front and are of the molar type. The mandibular Distribution: Permanent habitats are corals reef teeth are somewhat short and slightly pointed (Fig. 6 associated, between rocks; accessional occurs in soft b), Vomer is toothless. The mouth is peculiar, small, bottoms and water columns. The range of the terminal. The hind rays are very short; the third dorsal B. multibarbata extends from the Red Sea and the spine having a denser structure. Similarly, the second Persian Gulf to Japan, east Africa to the Hawaiian spine in the anal fin is the longest and is the most Islands through Malaysia, Philippines, along the distinctive characteristic of this species among the shores of the Indian Ocean and throughout the Pentacerotidae family. Andaman waters (Menon & Rao 1972). Description: There are 4 dorsal spines, 24 soft rays; 3 Remarks: Brotulers are of no practical importance due anal spines, 10 soft rays, 16 pectoral rays, 1 pelvic to their inaccessibility and stray occurrences. spine and 5 soft rays. The lateral line complete with However, B. multibarbata are eaten in Japan, and the 62 scales, scales small and ctenoid, scales on the head deep-sea brotulid is highly valued in the market. The cover the operculum, cheek and preopercle. There are size range differs when compared to our specimen, 26 vertebrae and the gill rakers are in two rows, 21 and 37.5 to 75-100cm according many sources (Carpenter 16 (in number). The head is covered with striated et al. 1997; Nielsen et al. 1999; Chung-Bae et al. 2002; bones and the head length is 2.8 in SL. Caudal pedicles Froese & Pauly 2020), typically about 30cm. It is are short and deep, 8.5 in SL. The eyes are large and carnivorous, usually feeding on benthic and pelagic very prominent, with a diameter of 4.3 times the head crustacean (shrimps/crabs) and small fish. It is a fish length and more than 10 in standard length (Table 5). typical of the marine bottom. It is caught on lines and Color: The color of the body and fins is dark brown, in traps, occasionally marketed fresh and is a good with several light-colored stripes on both sides of the food fish in the Persian Gulf (Carpenter et al. 1997). body and a light stripe along the base of the dorsal fin. The pectoral and caudal fins are light and the ventral Order: Perciformes fins are dark brown in color. Family Pentacerotidae Bleeker, 1859 Distribution: Widely distributed in Indo- West Pacific Genus Histiopterus Temminck & Schlegel, 1844 region, recorded from the Red Sea, inclusive Gulf of Histiopterus typus Temminck & Schlegel, 1844 Aqaba (Klausewitz 1980; Baranes & Golani 1993), Sailfin armorhead Oman, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and Australia. Synonyms: Histiopterus spinifer Gilchrist, 1904 It has also been recorded in the Gulf of Mannar, India Material examined: One male specimen: 367mm TL (Padate et al. 2014) and confirmed in the Persian Gulf was caught by traps 8 March 2020, near the shore of (Jawad et al. 2018). The depth varies between 40- Qusayr (N14o50’, E50o22’), Hadhramout coast, east of 400m (Smith 1964; Hardy 1983). Mukalla city at a depth of about 500m. The specimen Remarks: Histiopterus typus is only species of the was measured and photographed fresh (Fig. 6). genus Histiopterus. It inhabits a close proximity to Diagnosis: The body is oblong-oval and compressed, rocky and coral reefs in deeper waters from 40 to the profile is high; without a wide dorsal fin body and 100m. It is a native fish to the Indian Ocean and the appears semicircular. The dorsal fin is high in western Pacific Ocean. Its first record from Reunion comparison with the body, sail like, with the third and by Hubbs (1944); although it is listed as being present Int. J. Aquat. Biol. (2019) 7(4): 189-203 199

Fig.6. Sailfin armorhead, Histiopterus typus, 213 mm SL and open mouth, coast of Hadhramout, Gulf of Aden.

Table 5. Morphometric and Meristic characteristics of in the Gulf of Aden in Fischer & Bianchi (1984), but Histiopterus typus Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 from no details of its actual presence are given in the texts. Hadhramout coast, Gulf of Aden.

. Morphometric value DISCUSSIONS characteristics mm %% SL Scientific research on the marine fauna and flora of the TL (mm) 256 Gulf of Aden began in the 1950s and 1960s (see Forked length 248 97 % TL Stander length 213 84% TL Druzhinin 1973), but information about its rare Preanal length 160 75 species is incomplete and fragmented. There are few Predorsal length 72 33.8 detailed studies of the marine organisms present in the Prepectoral Length 85 39.9 Preventral Length 95 44.6 region, and this part of the Gulf of Aden is still among Head length 90 42.3 the least studied regions. The results are mainly based Trunk 166 77.9 on observational data that can be considered valid if Maximum body height 115 54 Peduncle height 25 11.7 the corresponding species is not confused with others. Dorsal fin length 100 47 Our study relies on expert reviews. Anal fin length 36 16.9 The rare or apparent absence of several species in Ventral fin length 40 18.8 Pectoral fin length 90 42.3 the Yemeni demersal habitat, and are now rarely, if Head length 90 mm %% HL ever seen in the marketplace, is the result of the Snout 34 37.8 introduction deep sea fishing gears and methods for Eye 21 23.3 Upper jaw length 20 22.2 highly prized fishes by the Yemeni fishermen in last Interorbital distance 15 16.7 year’s. Meristic counts Nielsen et al. (1999) and Froese & Pauly (2020) Gill rakers 16, 21 Predorsal vertebrae 5 deem the distribution of all species we have described Preanal vertebrae 14 in the present study includes the Gulf of Aden. Total vertebrae 26 However, we did not find any publications precisely Scales in LL 62 Dorsal fin rays VI, 24 claiming their presence in the Gulf of Aden in general Anal fin rays III, 10 and the Hadhramout coast in particular. These Lateral line scales 62 considerations may refer to their presence in the Pectoral fin rays 16 Ventral fin rays I, 5 southern sector of the Red Sea (Golani & Bogorodsky Branchiostegal rays 7 2010; Bogorodsky et al. 2014). Moreover, we found no reason in the literature for Nielsen et al. (1999) to 200 Ali et al./ New records of some fishes from Hadhramout coast cover such an extensive range in distribution for the REFERENCES B. multibarbata including the Gulf of Aden (Page 123 Ali, A.M. & Bazar, S.R. 2005. First Record of Anguilla and fig. 222). Nielsen et al. (1999) did not specifically bengalensis from Arabia with notes on freshwater fishes mention a source for the species' presence in the from Hajr Stream/Hadhramout/ Yemen. Zoology in the Middle East 34: 35-44. waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Yemeni coast, in Ali, A.M. & Bazar, S.R. 2016. First observations on particular. 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مقاله پژوهشی گزارشهای جدید از تعدادی ماهیان در سواحل حضر موت، خلیج عدن، یمن

*1 عطاءاهلل محسین علی ، محمد عوض الغرابی2، بوتاگز موراسونا ناسیبولینا3، تاتیانا فدروانا کروچکینا3، شیما بخشعلی زاده4 1دانشکده علوم محیطی و زیست دریایی، دانشگاه حضرموت، مکال، یمن. 2مشاور شیالت و محیط زیست، ریاست اداره قصیعر، استان حضرموت. 3دانشکده زمینشناسی و جغرافیا، موسسه نوآور طبیعی، دانشگاه دولتی آستاراخان. 4گروه علوم دریایی، مرکز تحقیقات حوضه دریای خزر، دانشگاه گیالن، رشت، ایران.

چکیده: در طی بررسیهای ساحل حضرموت، خلیج عدن، پنج گونه ماهی گزارش شد. بررسی تمام مطالعات و مقاالت قبلی نشان میدهد که قبالً این گونههای متعلق به خانوادههای مختلف در خلیج عدن گزارش نشده بودند. گونههای شناسایی شده شامل (Muraenesox cinereus ،Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Gempylidae (Histiopterus typus (Pentacerotidae) ،Conger macrocephalus (Congridae) ،(Muraenesocidae و (Brotula multibarbata (Ophidiidae بود. این مقاله ویژگیهای دقیق در مورد هر گونه را توصیف میکند.

کلماتکلیدی: ریختسنجی، سوف ماهی شکالن، مارماهیان، روده ماهی شکالن، مارماهیان درنده دریایی.

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