Pressed Ilovepdf Compressed

All rights reserved
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sultanate of Oman

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His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said

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About the first two Authors
Laith A. Jawad Dr. Juma bin Mohammed Al-Mamry

Laith A. Jawad obtained a degree (MSc) in fish tax- Dr. Juma bin Mohammed Al-Mamry was born in the
onomy from the Zoology Department, University of city of Sur, Sultanate of Oman. His bachelor degree
Bristol, UK, in 1980. He continued as fish taxonomist was from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon his re-
at Basrah University, Iraq, where he worked for more turn from KSA, he worked as a research assistant at
than 20 years before he immigrated to New Zealand the Marine Science and Fisheries Centre in 1988, the
in 1997. During this time, he started the biochemical Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. He then joined
taxonomy of fishes of Iraq and published over 330 as the Head of Marine Biology. In 1996, he completed
scientific papers and book reviews in leading scientif- his master degree in Egypt. He received his PhD from
ic journals. He is the author and co-author of several the University of Wales in March 2006. Since that date,
textbooks in biology published in Arabic. Recently, he he has been involved in scientific research focusing on
contributed five chapters to a book about coastal fishes, the biology and diversity of Omani fishes, the most im-
Coastal Fishes: Habitat, Behavior and Conservation, portant of which is a project titled “Quantitative and
published by Nova publishers, Canada. He also wrote Qualitative Survey of Marine Resources in the Sultan-
a book: Dangerous Fishes of the Eastern and Southern ate of Oman” in which he worked as a manager and
Arabian Peninsula, which is published by Springer, principal investigator of the project, during which he
Germany and it is available on line. made great efforts with the research team in the collec-
He served as fish biodiversity expert and consultant at tion and documentation of Omani fish. He became a
the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Oman for marine biology expert in September 2013 and has since
the period 2008–2012 during which he co-authored been working on collecting Omani fish in this book in
two papers describing a new fish species from the Om- collaboration with Laith Abdul Jalil Jawad. He has
ani waters and reported over 70 fish species as a new published over 60 papers, mostly in the field of biology
record to the Omani waters. and fish diversity in the Sultanate of Oman.
eMail: laith_jawad@hotmail.com eMail: drjumabar@hotmail.com
Work Assesstants :-
Dr. Issam H. Al-Rasady
Dawood S. Al-Mamry
Haitham K. Al-Busaidi
Managerial Supervision :-
Dr Lubna H. Al Kharosi (Director General of Fisheries Research)
Dr Abdulaziz S. Al Marzouqi (Director of Marine Science & Fisheries Center)
Marine Science and Fisheries Centre, Directorate General of the Fisheries Research, Ministry of Agricultutre
and Fisheries, Sultanate of Oman. P.O.Box: 427, Postal Code: 100, Muscat.
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Field Atlas to the Fishes of the Arabian Sea coasts

of Oman
9
Contents
Acknowledgements 10
Preface 11
Introduction 13
Environment 14
The study of fish 17
Taxonomy 20
Evolution 21
Geographical distribution 22
Habitats 23
Nature of the fish fauna of the Arabian Sea coast of Oman 24
Species account 28
Elasmobranch Fishes 28
Bony Fishes 61
Bibliography and recommended reading 525
Source of fish photos and drawings 526
Index - 1 538
Index - 2 552
Index - 3 554
Index - 4 556
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to his Excellency Dr. Fuaad Bin Jafar Al-Sajwani, Minister of Agri-
culture and Fisheries & his Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary for
Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Lubna H. Al-Kharosi, Director Gen-
eral of Fisheries Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Mr. Yaqub Bin Khal-
fan Al Bosaidi Director of the Agriculture and Fisheries Development Fund, for giving us
this opportunity to work on the fish samples in order to study the qualitative and quantita-
tive distribution of marine organisms in the Sultanate of Oman. We thank the Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries for providing the necessary financial support for this project.
We thank the Director of the Marine Science and fisheries Centre Dr. Abdulaziz S. Al-Mar-
zouqi and all the staff at the Marine Science and Fisheries Centre, who supported the pro-
ject of this atlas. We thank Ahmed Al-Aisari, Ibrahim Al-Anbori, and Waheda Al-Amry for
their support.
We thank Yuk Iwatsuki, Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences, Fac-
ulty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Japan for his assistance in the identification of
several fish species collected from the Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Finally, we would like to thank all the individuals and institutions who gave permission to
use their fish images in this book. Their names are listed in the photo credits of this book.
11
Preface
The aim of this book is to create a comprehensive pictorial guide, which is primarily
designed for a mixed audience that includes scientists who are familiar with the science
of ichthyology and for whom knowledge is at preliminary stages. It serves the purpose of
identifying the species and to find basic information about them. Field Guide of the Fishes
of the Arabian Sea Coast of Oman provides images and illustrations of more than 1000
species of coastal and deep-water fishes. This book will help to identify the fish that are
found in marine environments around the southern coasts of Oman and is a pre-requisite
for further scientific studies.
In order to make this book a comprehensive piece of taxonomic work and to present all the
fish species that have been reported from the Arabian Sea coast of Oman so far, the fish
species depicted in this book are divided into two groups. The first group represents those
species that have been examined by the authors and made available to them through the
sea-survey expedition carried out by the research vessel “Al-Mustaquila” during the years
2007–2008 and also through routine visits to the landing sites that are distributed along
the entire Omani coasts of the Arabian Sea. The second group consists of those species that
have been reported to be present in the area by other workers. The names of these scien-
tists together with their recorded species are mentioned in the “Omani fish in publication”
section of this book.
Owing to the wide variations in some fish taxa, the nomenclature system followed in this
book is that of the Fishbase.
As this book is designed for those readers whose taxonomic knowledge is at the basic level,
the fish species were divided into two major groups, Elasmobranchii, the group that con-
stitutes sharks and rays and Actinopterygii, bony fishes. It should be noted that the Arabic
names and Omani names of the species included in this guide, were obtained by Dr Juma
Al Mamry.
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13
INTRODUCTION
14
Environment
T
he southeastern corner of the Arabian Penins ula represents the eastern
and southern borders of the Sultanate of Oman. The northern part of the
Indian Ocean is regionally called the Arabian Sea. It is a semienclosed
basin having a southern connection with the Indian Ocean. It occupies an area of
2.4 millionKm2 (8% of the western Indian Ocean). This part of the Indian Ocean
lines with the Yemeni and Omani coasts. For Oman, the Arabian Sea coast starts
from the Yemeni border to Ra’s al Hadd at the entrance of Sea of Oman.
Figure 1 Sunset at Ashkhara coast.
T
he climatic establishment and seasonal shifting of monsoon winds is the
characteristics of this region and it is due to the complete closure in the
north of the Arabian Sea by the land mass.
Figure 2 Mountainous view of the Arabian Sea coast of Oman.

15
W
ave action generated by winds either locally or elsewhere in the Indian
Ocean wash the Omani coasts. These coasts are characterized by the
presence of consistent and strong upwelling with varying degrees that
result from the southwest monsoon wind commencing in summer. The impact of
monsoon is evident on both the coastal and upwelling regions’ seasonal and intense
processes, which might lead to a force and provide a number of habitat types spa-
tially as well as temporally. There are two major monsoons in the Omani waters,
the southwest monsoon which starts in May–June reaching its peak by September,
and the northeast monsoon extending from December to February.
Figure 3 Sea view of Arabian Sea coast of Oman

16
T
hese two kinds of monsoons are responsible for the upwelling event that
occur in the Arabian Sea area which brings deep nutrient-rich water to the
surface further stimulating higher biological productivity. The monsoon
winds in the northwestern Arabian Sea reverse in response to northwest monsoon,
and allow surface waters to be warm and oxygenated. Such changes happen dur-
ing October–November.
Figure 4 Fibreglass fishing boats and fishing traps ready for use.
17
The Study of Fish
T
he most diverse and widely distributed vertebrates on earth are fishes. The
approximate number of species that are present in freshwater and saltwa-
ter are 26,000. Marine species represent about 14,000. Thus, the number of
species of fish are more than any other vertebrates like amphibians, reptiles, birds,
and mammals combined together. Scientists from around the world scientifically
document over 250 new species every year. In addition, fishes that were not known
before are discovered much more frequently than any other vertebrates.
T
he word fish is well-known to most people and most people can construct
an idea about its shape in their imagination. However, some other verte-
brates like sea snakes look like eels and some eels and pipefish usually get
identified as worms and stonefish, and some anglerfish resemble rocks rather than
fish. The definition of the word fish commonly is vertebrate animals that live in
water with the following set of characters: jaws, upper jaw is fused with the skull;
gills for obtaining oxygen for breathing; internal ears with three canals; eyes that
are reduced or completely absent; fins, median and paired, might be absent in
some species; vertebral centra absent in coelacanths and reduced in some cartilag-
inous fish. The following illustration shows the typical anatomical characteristics
of a fish.
Figure 5 External features of bony fishes.

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Figure 6 The external features of bony fish head.
Figure7 External features of sharks.
Figure 8 External features of rays.

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Figure 9 External features of skates.
Figure10 Fish biometric measurements.

Fishes can be classified into three major groups:
• Agnatha (with no jaws): The fishes in this group lack jaws, e.g. lampreys and
hagfishes.
• Cartilaginous fishes (with cartilage skeleton): The skeleton of these fishes is
primitive and composed of cartilage the best known examples are sharks and
rays.
• Bony fishes (with bony skeleton): This group is characterized with their bony
skeleton. It is comprised of most types of fishes.
20
Taxonomy
T
he scientific name system was established through a universal system in
1758 by the Swedish naturalists Carl Linnaeus in his 10th edition of Sys-
tema Naturae. This science is called taxonomy and the aim is to accommo-
date all life forms in an established order of relationships with a common interna-
tional language into an organized framework. The scientific name is in two parts:
the first is the generic name and the second is the specific name. The scientific
name of every species has a unique combination of generic and specific names.
Family is a taxonomic rank that fish species are grouped into. Members of a
single family share many features and are thought to have common evolutionary
ancestors. The scientific name of the family usually ends in “-idea”. The related
Families or even one distinct family grouped together in a bigger taxonomic unit is
known as Order and the name ends with the letters “iformes”. The related orders
are combined into Classes, another larger taxonomic unit, and the Classes form
Phylum, which has the animal kingdom and the plant kingdom.
The closely related population of species can live in completely different ge-
ographic habitats, which show some differences in some characters but such dif-
ferences are not enough to justify raising them to the separate species level. Those
populations are usually known as Subspecies.
Scientific name might change through time owing to closer study of the spe-
cies. If two different fishes bear different scientific names and appear to be of the
same species, then the older of the two names takes precedence. On the other hand
new name is required if one species is split into two.
In addition to the generic and specific names, the scientific name also carries
the name of the scientist who was the first to describe that species in scientific pub-
lication with the date of publication. The author’s name who described the species
and the date of publication, sometime, fall between parentheses, this means that
the generic name or specific name has been changed since the original author has
designated the species.
21
Figure 11 Fishing boats preparation for new fishing trip.
Evolution
T
he changes in the environment result into a product and that product is the
species itself. A range of new variations in the characters of the individuals
of any species is passed to the new generation. Such variations might be
favoured by changing circumstances that faces populations. The individuals that
best fit to the new environmental conditions are considered the most successful
ones and continue the line. Over the time species can change differently between
populations and change to another species.
Speciation is a process that happens when populations or faunas are divided into
separate or additional geographic sections that drift apart. The groups of animals
might move in different directions when conditions requiring the least changes
become available. Those species that travel will face slight changes while those
species left behind and get adapted to the changing environment become the most
different species.
22
Figure 12 Loading of fibreglass fishing boats at Dhalkot fishing port.
Geographical Distribution
W
e find different species around the world variously distributed to suit
their actual niche. Such distribution can be very narrow such as a
single stream or very wide such as globally in all tropical seas. Wide-
spread pattern is usually seen in the pelagic fish species, while reef fishes such as
pipefish’s seem to be much localized. Restriction to certain fauna, a sea, or ocean is
obvious for some species. There are many biogeographical zones identified around
continents and in the oceans, but there is some overlap which is greatest near land
masses. Current patterns and deep trenches are known as invisible barriers that
interfere with the distribution of the species.
23
Habitats
I
n general, all species live in a particular habitat called niche. Fishes live in
almost every natural water body on earth that supports macro life. Different
species live in different environments such as freshwater and saltwater and
are found in every habitat. In oceans, they are found from the intertidal zone down
to the deepest part and may live in open water for some time or their entire life.
Figure 13 Preparation of casting net for more fish samples

(Dr. Juma Al Mamry).
24
Nature of the Fish Fauna from the Arabian Sea Coast of Oman
I
n general, marine biodiversity is greater than freshwater and terrestrial fau-
na and benthic diversity is richer than that of pelagic organisms in the marine
habitats. On the other hand, coastal biodiversity is higher in the open ocean
region.

The northwestern Arabian Sea comprises a large number of river deltas with
mangroves, large shelf and rocky areas with patches of corals. Higher biodiversity
ranging from the genetic, population, and species level to the community and eco-
system levels became evident due to this unique feature. The rich biodiversity in
the northern Arabian Sea is indicated by the number of fin fish, crustacean, and
cephalopod species.
Figure 14 Omani scientists working on fish specimens in the laboratory at Sala-
lah City.
Figure 15 Students from Sultan Qaboos University identifying fish specimens
collected from the Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
25
I
Seven elements constitute the fish fauna of this coast, they are: cosmopol-
itan in warm sea, these are small groups, e.g. shark sucker, Echeneis nau-
crates; Indo-Pacific, a large group of species that have wide distribution in
the tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean, e.g. damselfish, Abudefduf vaigiensis,
and the parrotfish, Chlorurus sordidus; Indian Ocean, members of this group are
not known from the Pacific Ocean but may be wide ranging in the Indian Ocean,
e.g. the scorpionfish, Pterois miles, the grouper, Epinephelus multinotatus; Red
Sea and Gulf of Eden, this group are thought to be endemic in these two areas,
but some species are found only in the southern coasts of Oman, e.g. the butterfly-
fishes, Chaetodon larvatus and the anglefish, Pomacanthus asfur; Sea of Oman,
e.g. the anthias, Pseudanthias Marcia; Southern Africa, e.g. the bullhead shark,
Heterodontus ramalheira; and finally the endemic group, e.g. the butterflyfish,
Chaetodon dialeucos.
Figure 16 RV Al-Mustaquila trawler in operation in the Arabian Sea, waters of

Oman.
Figure 17 Loading the catch from the trawl net.

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Figure 18 Bony and cartilaginous fish catch.
Figure 19 Investigating specimens on board of the RV Al-Mustaquila trawler.
Figure 20 Good catch of Rhinoptera jayakari on the deck of RV Al-Mustaquila,

Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
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Figure 21 Large grouper with other fish species and deep sea lobster on the
deck of RV Al-Mustaquila, Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
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Harriotta raleighana Goode& Bean, 1895
Pacific longnose chimaera ‫كاميرا المحيط الهادي طويلة الخطم‬

Classification Size/Weight/Age Environment Climate/Range
Class: Holocephali Maximum length: 120 cm OT (male); 102.5 Bathy demersal; marine; Deep-water: 65°N–49°S.
Order: Chimaeriformes cm TL (female). depth range 200–2600 m.
Family: Rhinochimaeridae
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Iceland, Faeroe Islands, Rockall Trough along Ireland to northern France; Canary Islands and off Cap
Blanc, Mauritania; Namibia and South Africa. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada to Chesapeake Bay in USA; southern Brazil. North Pa-
cific: off Japan and California, USA; also 100 km off southern Baja California. South Pacific: off New Zealand and Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Neoharriotta pinnata (Schnakenbeck, 1931)
Sicklefin chimaera ‫كاميرا الزعنفة المنجلية‬

Class: Holocephali Maximum length: 130 cm TL (male). Bathy-demersal; marine; Deep-water: 23°S.
Order: Chimaeriformes depth range 150–500 m,
Family: Rhinochimaeridae usually 200–470 m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Cape Blanc, Mauritania to Walvis Bay, Namibia. Eastern Indian Ocean: the Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
29
Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935
‫سنورة بيضاء‬
Pacific longnose chimaera ‫القرش ضارب الحنطة‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum. length: 347 cm TL (male); 383 Pelagic-oceanic; oceanodro- Tropical: 40°N–32°S,
Order: Lamniformes cm TL (female); common length: 276 cm TL mous; marine; depth range 34°E–83°W.
Family: Alopiidae (male); maximum reported age: 29 years. 0–300 m, usually 0–150 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Maldives, Somalia, South Africa, Western Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, New Cale-
donia, Hawaiian Islands and Tahiti. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and the Galapagos. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Bleeker, 1856)
‫جرجور‬
Grey reef shark ‫قرش الريف الفضي‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 255 cm TL (male); 172 cm Reef-associated; oceanodro- Tropical; 29°N–35°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes TL (female); maximum published weight: mous; marine; depth range 33°E–151°W.
Family: Carcharhinidae 33.7 kg; maximum reported age: 25 years. 0–1000 m, usually 0–280 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Madagascar and the Mauritius-Seychelles area, possibly India; also Red Sea to South Africa if Carcharhinus
wheeleri is synonymized with this species. In the Pacific, it ranges from southern China to northern Australia and the Tuamoto Archipelago.
The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
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Carcharhinus amboinensis (Müller & Henle, 1839)
‫جرجور‬
‫يبابه‬
‫بو كالب‬
Pigeye shark ‫القرش كبير العين‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 280 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical; 26°N–26°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes marine; depth range 0–150
Family: Carcharhinidae m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Nigeria. Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden, South Africa, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pap-
ua New Guinea, and Australia. Also reported from the Mediterranean (Ref. Often confused with sympatric Carcharhinus leucas and Glyphis
gangeticus but the three are distinguishable. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides (Whitley, 1934)
‫بوكالب‬
Graceful shark ‫القرش الرشيق‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 161 cm TL (male); 167 cm Pelagic–neritic; marine; Tropical: 21°N–25°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes TL (female). depth upto 50 m.
Family: Carcharhinidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden, southwestern India, Sri Lanka, Gulf of Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua
New Guinea, and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
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Carcharhinus altimus (Springer, 1950)
‫جرجور‬
‫خام‬
Bignose shark ‫القرش كبير الخطم‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 300 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 40°N–34°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 250 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 25–810 m, usu- 180°W–180°E.
Family: Carcharhinidae published weight: 167.8 kg. ally 80–220 m.
Distribution
Circumglobal, with patchy records in tropical and warm seas. Western Atlantic: Florida, USA to Venezuela. Eastern At-
lantic: Senegal to Ghana, including the Mediterranean. Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, and India.
Western Pacific: China, Taiwan, and Australia. Central Pacific: Hawaii. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and southern Mexico, Colombia, and
Ecuador. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carcharhinus brevipinna (Müller & Henle, 1839)
‫جرجور‬
‫سبلي‬
Spinner shark ‫القرش الغزال‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 300 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Subtropical: 40°N–38°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 250 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 100°W–155°E.
Family: Carcharhinidae published weight: 89.7 kg. 0–100 m.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to northern Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas, then from southern Brazil to north-
ern Argentina. Reported from Cuba. Eastern Atlantic: Spain to Namibia, including the southern Mediterranean Sea. Indo-West Pacific: Red
Sea south to South Africa and eastward to Indonesia, north to Japan, south to Australia. Often referred to as Carcharhinus limbatus in the past.
32
Carcharhinus dussumieri (Müller & Henle, 1839)
‫جرجور‬
‫سبلي‬
White cheek shark ‫القرش ابيض الخد‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 34°N–25°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes depth upto 170 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea between Sea of Oman and Pakistan to Java, Indonesia and the Arafura
Sea, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839)
‫جسري‬
‫ربيعي‬
Silky shark ‫القرش الحريري‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 350 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Subtropical; 23°C–24°C;
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 250 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 42°N–43°S, 169°W–180°E.
Family: Carcharhinidae published weight: 346.0 kg; maximum report- 0–4000 m, usually 0–500 m.
ed age: 25 years.
Distribution
Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
to Uruguay. Eastern Atlantic: Spain, Madeira to northern Angola; St. Paul’s Rocks; Cape Verde. Indo-Pacific: scattered records from the Red Sea and
Natal, South Africa to China, New Zealand, and the Caroline, Hawaiian, Phoenix and Line islands. Eastern Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico
to northern Chile. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
33
Carcharhinus hemiodon (Müller & Henle, 1839)
‫جرجور‬
‫يبابه‬
Pondicherry shark ‫قرش البونديشيري‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 200 cm TL (male). Demersal: amphidromous; Deep-water: 25°N–13°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes brackish; marine.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Sea of Oman to Pakistan, India, and possibly Sri Lanka. Scattered localities from the eastern Indian
Ocean and the western Pacific ranging from India to New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carcharhinus limbatus (Müller & Henle, 1839)
‫بو خرطوم‬
‫بوكشيت‬
‫شد‬
Blacktip shark ‫قرش الذروة السوداء‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 275 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Subtropical: 45°N–38°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 150 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 166°W–171°E.
Family: Carcharhinidae published weight: 122.8 kg; maximum report- depth range 0–64 m, usually
ed age: 12 years. 0–30 m.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madeira, the
Canary Islands, and Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Madagascar and South Africa to China, Australia, Tahiti, Marquesas, and Hawaii. Eastern
Pacific: Baja California, Mexico to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
34
Carcharhinus macloti (Müller & Henle, 1839)
‫جرجور‬
‫سبلي‬
Hardnose shark ‫قرش الخطم الخشن‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 110 cm TL male. Demersal: marine; depth Subtropical: 26°N–11°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes upto 170 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Sea, Myanmar, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Hong
Kong and the Philippines, New Guinea. Also in the Arafura Sea and possibly occurring in the Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
‫دومي‬
‫يهرة‬
Blacktip reef shark ‫قرش الريف اسود الذروة‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 200 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; amphidro- Subtropical: 35°N–25°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mum published weight: 13.6 kg. mous; brackish; marine; 7°E–134°W.
Family: Carcharhinidae depth range 1–75 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and the Tuamoto Archipelago. Apparently rare or absent in the
more easterly groups. Also eastern Mediterranean (through the Suez Canal). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
35
Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827)
‫خالسي‬
‫أرضي‬
‫جرجور‬
Sandbar shark ‫القرش الرملي‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 250 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 23°C–27°C;
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 200 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 45°N–38°S, 164°W–170°E.
Family: Carcharhinidae published weight: 117.9 kg; maximum depth range 1–1800 m,
reported age: 32 years. usually 20–65 m.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: southern Massachusetts, USA to Argentina; also Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Cuba and south and west Car-
ibbean . Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: scattered records ranging
from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands. Eastern Pacific: Revillagigedo and Galapagos islands. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Carcharhinus sorrah (Müller & Henle, 1839)
‫بوكالب‬
‫سبلي‬
‫جرجور‬
Spottail shark ‫القرش منقط الذيل‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 160 cm TL (male); max- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 31°N–31°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes imum published weight: 28.0 kg; maximum marine; depth range down to
Family: Carcharhinidae reported age: 8 years. 140 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (including Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles) to the Philippines, north to China,
south to Australia. Also from Vanikolo Island (Santa Cruz Islands) and the Solomon Islands. Possibly occurring in the Gulf of Aden, Sea of Oman,
and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
36
Carcharias taurus Rafinesque, 1810
‫تميت‬
Sand tiger shark ‫قرش النمراني الرملي‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 320 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Subtropical: 45°N–48°S,
Order: Lamniformes mon length: 250 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 100°W–155°E.
Family: Odontaspididae published weight: 158.8 kg. 1–191 m, usually 15–25 m.
Distribution
Found in all warm seas except perhaps the eastern Pacific. Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and off South Africa to Japan, Korea
and Australia. Present in Arafura Sea. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to Argentina. Old record from Bermuda, south Brazil. Eastern Atlantic:
Mediterranean to Cameroon. Northwest Atlantic: Canada. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822)
‫جرجور‬
‫نمراني‬
Tiger shark ‫القرش النمراني‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 750 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 62°N–42°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 500 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 180°W–180°E.
Family: Carcharhinidae published weight: 807.4 kg; maximum report- depth range 0–371 m.
ed age: 50 years.
Distribution
Circumglobal in tropical and temperate seas. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to Uruguay, including Gulf of Mexico and
the Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland to Angola. Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and Tahiti, north to southern Japan, south to
New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Peru, including the Revillagigedo, Cocos, and Galapagos islands. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
37
Loxodon macrorhinus Müller & Henle, 1839
‫سبلي‬
Sliteye shark ‫قرش العين المشقوقه‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum. length: 98.0 cm TL male. Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 30°N–32°S, 32°E
Order: Carcharhiniformes range 7–100 m. -140° W.
Family: Carcharhinidae.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Negaprion acutidens (Rüppell, 1837)
‫القرش التميت‬
Sicklefin lemon shark ‫القرش الليموني منجلي الزعنفة‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 380 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish;
Order: Carcharhiniformes marine; depth range 0–92 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa (including Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar) to Philippines, north to Vietnam, south
to Australia. Also from Palau, Marshall Islands, and Tahiti. Recorded from Taiwan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
38
Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell, 1837)
‫شطافي‬
‫سبلي‬
‫جرجور‬
Milk shark ‫قرش الحليب‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 175 cm TL (male); 80.8 Benthopelagic; amphidro- Tropical: 35°N–30°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes cm TL (female); common length: 110 cm TL mous; freshwater; brackish;
Family: Carcharhinidae (male); maximum published weight: 5000 g; marine; depth range 1–200
maximum reported age: 8 years. m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Madeira and Mauritania to Angola; reported from the Gulf of Taranto. Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and
East Africa to Indonesia, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rhizoprionodon oligolinx Springer, 1964
‫سبلي‬
Grey sharpnose shark ‫القرش الرمادي دقيق االنف‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 70 cm TL (female). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–18°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes depth range 0–36 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf east to Thailand, Indonesia, China, and Japan. Recorded from the Gulf of Carpentaria and
Palau. This species is very close to Rhizoprionodon taylori, but is geographically separated from it. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
39
Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837)
‫جرجور‬
‫نكة‬
Whitetip reef shark ‫قرش الذروة البيضاء المرجاني‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 213 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 29°N–30°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 160 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 1–330 m, usually 33°E–77°W.
Family: Carcharhinidae published weight: 18.3 kg; maximum report- 8–40 m.
ed age: 25 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia and the Arafura Sea, north to Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south to
New South Wales (Australia), New Caledonia, and the Austral and Pitcairn islands; throughout Micronesia. Eastern Pacific: Cocos and Galap-
agos islands, Panama to Costa Rica. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Centrophorus isodon (Chu, Meng & Liu, 1981)
Blackfin gulper shark ‫القرش المبتلع اسود الزعنفة‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 85.6 cm TL male; 89.3 cm Bathydemersal; marine; Tropical
Order: Squaliformes TL (female). depth range 760–770 m.
Family: Centrophoridae
Distribution
Northwest Pacific: Xisha (Paracel) Islands and off the Zujiang River mouth, Hong Kong. A similar and perhaps identical species
occurs off Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
40
Nebrius ferrugineus (Lesson, 1831)
‫جرجور‬
‫تميت‬
Tawny nurse shark ‫قرش الممرض توني‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 320 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 41°N–27°S,
Order: Orectolobiformes mon length: 250 cm TL (male). depth range 1–70 m, usually 32°E–169°W.
Family: Ginglymostomatidae 5–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Chaenogaleus macrostoma (Bleeker, 1852)
‫جرجور‬
‫سبلي‬
Hooktooth shark ‫قرش السن المعقوف‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 100.0 cm TL (male). Demersal: marine; depth Tropical: 30°N–10°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes upto 59 m.
Family: Hemigaleidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Java and Sulawesi in
Indonesia. This name has been used indiscriminately for the three species of hemigaleids in Indo-Pakistani waters other than Hemipristis elongatus.
41
Hemipristis elongata (Klunzinger, 1871)
‫جرجور‬
‫شيصه‬
Snaggletooth shark ‫قرش السن البارز‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 240 cm TL (male); com- Demersal: marine; depth Tropical: 41°N–34°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 200 cm TL (male). range 1–130 m. 12°E–156°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and southeast Africa to Philippines, north to China, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Paragaleus randalli Compagno, Krupp & Carpenter, 1996
‫سبلي‬
‫جرجور‬
Slender weasel shark ‫قرش ابن عرس المرهف‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 48.3 cm (male). Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Bahrain. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
42
Chiloscyllium arabicum Gubanov, 1980
‫سنورة حمراء‬
Arabian carpetshark ‫قرش السجاد العربي‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 78.0 cm TL (male). Demersal: marine; depth Subtropical; 31°N–8°S,
Order: Orectolobiformes range 3–100 m. 45°E–78°E.
Family: Hemiscylliidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: India, Pakistan, and the Arabian Gulf between Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Chiloscyllium indicum (Gmelin, 1789)
Slender bambooshark ‫سنور البامبو االسطواني‬

Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 65.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; oceanodromous; Tropical: 40°N–10°S,
Order: Orectolobiformes freshwater; brackish; marine. 65°E–160°E.
Family: Hemiscylliidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Sea to India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Sol-
omon Islands. Probably occurring in Korea and Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
43
Heterodontus omanensis Baldwin, 2005
Oman bullhead shark ‫قرش البلهد العماني‬

Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 56.0 cm TL (male); 61 cm Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Heterodontiformes TL (female). upto 72 m.
Family: Heterodontidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Central Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810
‫ذيبة‬
Shortfin mako ‫قرش الماكو قصير الزعنفة‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 400 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic-oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 16°C;
Order: Lamniformes mon length: 270 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 61°N–56°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Lamnidae published weight: 505.8 kg; maximum report- 0–740 m, usually 100–150 m.
ed age: 32years.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan in temperate and tropical seas. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to southern Brazil and Argentina, including the
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii, north to
Primorskiy Kray (Russian Federation), south to Australia and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: south of Aleutian Islands and from southern California,
USA to Chile. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
44
Anoxypristis cuspidata (Latham, 1794)
‫أبو سيف‬
Knifetooth sawfish ‫أبو منشار ذي األسنان الحادة‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 470 cm TL (male). Benthopelagic; amphidro- Tropical: 43°N–18°S,
Order: Pristiformes mous; freshwater; brackish; 33°E–152°E.
Family: Pristidae marine; depth range 0–40 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf to New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia.
Formerly common in the Western Central Pacific, apparently declining in some areas. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pristis zijsron Bleeker, 1851
‫أبو منشار‬
‫بو سياف‬
Longcomb sawfish ‫قرش المشط الطويل‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 730 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; freshwater; brack- Tropical: 30°N–37°S,
Order: Pristiformes mon length: 550 cm TL (male). ish; marine; depth range 0–5 25°E–155°E.
Family: Pristidae m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to southern China, south to New South Wales, Aus-
tralia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
45
Eridacnis radcliffei Smith, 1913
Pygmy ribbontail catshark ‫سنور األقزام شريطي الذنب‬

Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 23.0 cm TL (male); 24 cm Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water: 22°N–10°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes TL (female). depth range 71–766 m.
Family: Proscylliidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: widely distributed but with spotty records from Tanzania, the Gulf of Aden, India (Gulf of Mannar, Bay
of Bengal), Andaman Islands, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The immense range of this species is striking compared to the limited ranges of
other members of the genus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828
‫كر‬
Whale shark ‫قرش الحوت‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 20 m TL (male); common Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 18°C–30°C;
Order: Orectolobiformes length: 1000 cm TL (male); maximum pub- mous; marine; depth range 41°N–42°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Rhincodontidae lished weight: 34,000 kg; maximum reported 5–700 m.
age: 70 years.
Distribution
Circumglobal in tropical and warm temperate seas. Western Atlantic: New York, USA through the Caribbean to central Brazil.
Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Gulf of Guinea; St. Paul’s Rocks. Indian Ocean: throughout the region, including the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.
Western Pacific: Japan to Australia and Hawaii. Eastern Pacific: California, USA to Chile. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
46
Galeus schultzi Springer, 1979
Dwarf sawtail catshark ‫سنور االقزام حاد الذيل‬

Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 30 cm TL (female). Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water: 20°N–15°N.
Order: Carcharhiniformes depth range 329–431 m.
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Distribution
Western Central Pacific: apparently endemic to the Philippines. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Eusphyra blochii (Cuvier, 1816)
‫صيهم‬
‫مثلوث‬
‫أقرن‬
‫قرش المطرقة‬
Winghead shark ‫قرش جناحي المطرقة‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 186 cm TL (male). Benthopelagic; amphidro- Tropical: 31°N–20°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mous; brackish; marine. 47°E–154°E.
Family: Sphyrnidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to the Philippines, north to China, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
47
Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834)
‫قرش القرن‬
‫ابو قطعه‬
Scalloped hammerhead ‫قرش المطرقة الصدفي‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 430 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceano- Tropical: 46°N–36°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 360 cm TL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine; 180°W–180°E.
Family: Sphyrnidae published weight: 152.4 kg; maximum depth range 0–512 m, usually
reported age: 35 years. 1–25 m.
Distribution
Circumglobal in coastal warm temperate and tropical seas. Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to Uruguay, including the
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: western Mediterranean to Namibia. Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, East Africa and throughout the
Indian Ocean; Japan to New Caledonia, Hawaii and Tahiti. Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Ecuador, probably Peru. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Sphyrna mokarran (Rüppell, 1837)
‫قرش المربوع‬
‫أقرن‬
Great hammerhead ‫قرش المطرقة العظيم‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 610 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic-oceanic; oceano- Subtropical: 45°N–37°S,
Order: Carcharhiniformes mon length: 370 cm TL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine; 180°W–180°E.
Family: Sphyrnidae published weight: 449.5 kg. depth range 1–300 m.
Distribution
Circumglobal in coastal warm temperate and tropical seas. Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to Uruguay, including
the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Mediterranean and Morocco to Senegal. Indo-Pacific: throughout the Indian Ocean; Ryukyu
Islands to New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Eastern Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico to Peru. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
48
Hypogaleus hyugaensis (Miyosi, 1939)
‫ابو فراريخ‬
Blacktip tope ‫القرش السكران ذو الذروة السوداء‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 127 cm TL male; 122 cm Demersal; marine; depth Deep-water: 37°N–40°S.
Order: Carcharhiniformes TL (female). range 40–230 m.
Family: Triakidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and the Arabian Gulf to Taiwan and Japan. Reported from Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Iago omanensis (Norman, 1939)
‫سبلي‬
‫معقيب‬
Bigeye houndshark ‫قرش الكلب كبير العين‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 37.0 cm TL male; 58 cm Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water: 30°N–10°N.
Order: Carcharhiniformes TL (female). depth range 110–2195 m.
Family: Triakidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, and Sea of Oman to Pakistan and southwestern India. A low-finned, somewhat
short-headed Iago is largely sympatric with Iago omanensis at least off southwestern India, and in the Bay of Bengal there is possibly a dwarf, oman-
ensis-like Iago that may or may not be distinct. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
49
Mustelus mosis Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1899
‫السبلي األملس‬
‫معقيب‬
Arabian smooth-hound ‫الكلب العربي األملس‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 150 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 30°N–7°N.
Order: Carcharhiniformes range 20–250 m.
Family: Triakidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Maldives, India and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Himantura gerrardi (Gray, 1851)
‫الطباق السام‬
Sharp nose stingray ‫اللخم مرقط الذيل حاد االنف‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 200 cm TL (male). Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical
Order: Rajiformes depth upto 50 m.
Family: Dasyatidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: India to New Guinea, north to Japan. Reported from the Red Sea and east African coast but these western records
need to be confirmed. Collected from the estuary and freshwater of the River Ganges. Probably a species complex. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
50
Himantura imbricata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫طباق‬
‫رابض‬
Scaly whipray ‫اللخم البني حاد االنف‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 25.0 cm WD (male). Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical
Order: Rajiformes freshwater; brackish; marine.
Family: Dasyatidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Mauritius to Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Himantura jenkinsii (Annandale, 1909)
Pointed-nose stingray ‫اللخم السام حاد األنف‬

Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 104 cm WD (male); 110.8 Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical: 26°N–32°S.
Order: Rajiformes cm WD (female). depth range 42–50 m.
Family: Dasyatidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: probably widely distributed but with patchy occurrence. Known from southern Africa and India to Australia and
Papua New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
51
Himantura uarnak (Gmelin, 1789)
‫لخم‬
‫رابض‬
Honeycomb stingray ‫الرابض العسلي االرقط السام‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 200 cm WD (male/un- Reef-associated; amphidro- Subtropical: 23°C–26°C;
Order: Rajiformes sexed); common length: 45.0 cm TL (male/ mous; brackish; marine; 38°N–32°S.
Family: Dasyatidae unsexed); maximum published weight: 120.0 depth range 20–50 m.
kg.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea (and eastern Mediterranean via Suez Canal) to southern Africa and French Polynesia, north
to Taiwan, south to Australia. Also in the Arafura Sea. Collected from the estuary of the River Ganges. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål, 1775)
‫لخمة‬
Cowtail stingray ‫لخم ذيل البقرة السام‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 183 cm WD (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 32°N–32°S.
Order: Rajiformes mon length: 65.0 cm WD (male). mous; freshwater; brackish;
Family: Dasyatidae marine; depth upto 60 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and South Africa to Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Melanesia, and the Arafura
Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
52
Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775)
‫طباق‬
Bluespotted ribbontail ray ‫رابظ البقع الزرفاء ذوالذنب الشريطي‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 35.0 cm WD (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 32°N–30°S,
Order: Rajiformes depth upto 20 m. 32°E–177°W.
Family: Dasyatidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia.
Taeniura meyeni Müller & Henle, 1841
‫الطباق السام‬
‫لخمة‬
Blotched fantail ray ‫اللخم المرقط ذيل المروحة‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 330 cm TL male; maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 41°N–36°S,
Order: Rajiformes mum published weight: 150.0 kg. depth range 20–60 m. 25°E–77°W.
Family: Dasyatidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to southern Japan, Micronesia, tropical Australia and Lord Howe Island. Eastern
Pacific: known only from oceanic islands (Cocos and the Galapagos) but because of sheer number, individuals may colonize the Central America
mainland. More widely known as Taeniura melanospila Bleeker 1853, a junior synonym based on the description of a juvenile specimen. The Ara-
bian Sea coast of Oman.
53
Gymnura poecilura (Shaw, 1804)
‫طباق‬
‫قرفاد رمادي‬
Longtail butterfly ray ‫لخم الفراشة طويل الذيل‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 250 cm WD male. Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Gymnuridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to French Polynesia, north to Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790)
‫قرفاد اسود‬
‫ثور عامر‬
Spotted eagle ray ‫لخم النسر المرقط‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 330 cm WD (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Subtropical: 43°N–32°S,
Order: Rajiformes mon length: 180 cm WD (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 115°W–154°W.
Family: Myliobatidae published weight: 230.0 kg. depth range 1–80 m.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: North Carolina (summer) and Florida, USA and Bermuda to southern Brazil. Throughout Gulf of Mexico and
Caribbean, including Antilles. Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Angola. Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to Hawaii, north to Japan, south
to Australia. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Puerto Pizarro, Peru and the Galapagos Islands. There may be more than one species of spotted
Aetobatus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
54
Aetomylaeus nichofii (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫قرفاد األسفنج‬
Banded eagle ray ‫لخم النسر ذو النطاقات‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 65.0 cm WD male. Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical: 41°N–24°S,
Order: Rajiformes brackish; marine; depth upto 51°E–154°E.
Family: Myliobatidae 70 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to the Philippines, north to Korea and southern Japan, south to northern Australia.
Possibly in the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Manta birostris (Walbaum, 1792)
‫لخم سطحي‬
Giant manta ‫لخم القفعان العمالق‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 910 cm WD male; com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Subtropical: 31°N–35°S,
Order: Rajiformes mon length: 450 cm male; maximum pub- mous; marine; depth range 180°W–180°E.
Family: Myliobatidae lished weight: 3000 kg; maximum reported 0–120 .
age: 20 years.
Distribution
Circumglobal, tropical to temperate: in the Northern Hemisphere, as far north as southern California and Rhode Island on the
United States west and east coasts, Mutsu Bay, Aomori, Japan, the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt and the Azores Islands; in the Southern Hemisphere, as far
south as Peru, Uruguay, South Africa and New Zealand. In some locations, including Mozambique, it is sympatric with Manta alfredi. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
55
Mobula kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841)
Shortfin devil ray ‫قفعان الشيطان قصير الذيل‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 120 cm WD (female); Pelagic-oceanic; marine. Tropical
Order: Rajiformes maximum published weight: 30.0 kg.
Family: Myliobatidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: eastern coast of Africa to Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Mobula japanica (Müller & Henle, 1841)
Spinetail mobula ‫القفعان الياباني طويل الذيل‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 310 cm WD male; 240 cm Reef-associated; marine. Subtropical: 40°N–30°S.
Order: Rajiformes WD (female); common length: 225 cm male.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: off South Africa, the Arabian Sea eastward to the Hawaiian Islands and Polynesia. Eastern Pacific: on the conti-
nental coast. Eastern Atlantic: Côte d’Ivoire but may probably be more wide-ranging. This has to be critically compared with Mobula mobular of the
Mediterranean Sea and nominally elsewhere in the North Atlantic. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
56
Mobula thurstoni (Lloyd, 1908)
Smooth-tail mobula ‫قفعان الذيل األملس‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 220 cm WD male; com- Pelagic–oceanic; marine; Subtropical: 38°N–34°S.
Order: Rajiformes mon length: 150 cm male. depth range 0–100 m.
Distribution
Probably circumtropical but in scattered localities. Eastern Atlantic: off Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. Indian Ocean: off
South Africa, Bay of Bengal, and probably Indonesia. Western Pacific: Gulf of Thailand and northeastern Australia. Eastern Pacific: southern
California, USA to Costa Rica, including the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Reported from Chile. Possibly = Mobula eregoodoo (Cantor, 1849). The
Rhinoptera jayakari Boulenger, 1895
‫قرفاد‬
Oman cownose ray ‫اللخم العماني انف البقرة‬
Class: Elasmobranchii No Information. Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical
Order: Rajiformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from Oman. Validity of this species questioned in Compagno’s 1999 checklist. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
57
Narcine oculifera Carvalho, Compagno & Mee, 2002
‫لخم الكهرباء البني‬

Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 35.0 cm SL (male). Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical
Order: Torpediniformes
Family: Narcinidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Sea of Oman and Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Glaucostegus halavi (Forsskål, 1775)
‫بو حصى‬
‫بربر‬
Halavi’s guitarfish ‫سمك الجيتار‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 120 cm WD (male). Benthopelagic; marine; depth Subtropical
Order: Rajiformes range 0–40 m.
Family: Rhinobatidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Sea of Oman. Nominal records east of Oman need to be confirmed. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
58
Glaucostegus granulatus (Cuvier, 1829)
‫فانطو‬
‫هريري‬
‫بربر‬
Sharpnose guitarfish ‫الجيتار حاد االنف‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 280 cm SL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical
Order: Rajiformes upto 119 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Thailand and Viet Nam. Possibly occurring in China, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo),
Philippines, New Guinea, and Bougainville Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider, 1801
‫فانطو نمراني‬
‫هريري‬
Bowmouth guitarfish ‫جيتار الفم المقوس‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 300 cm TL male; maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 42°N–34°S,
Order: Rajiformes mum published weight: 135.0 kg. depth range 3–90 m. 30°E–171°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia. The
59
Rhinobatos punctifer Compagno & Randall, 1987
‫فانطو‬
‫بربر‬
Spotted guitarfish ‫الجيتار المنقط‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 80.5 cm TL male. Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical
Order: Rajiformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Suez, and Muscat (Oman). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rhinobatos salalah Randall & Compagno, 1995
‫فانطو‬
‫بربر‬
Salalah guitarfish ‫جيتار صالله‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 54.0 cm TL male. Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical
Order: Rajiformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
60
Rhynchobatus djiddensis (Forsskål, 1775)
‫فانطو‬
‫هريري‬
‫بربر‬
Giant guitarfish ‫الجيتار العمالق‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 310 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 35°N–35°S.
Order: Rajiformes mum published weight: 227.0 kg. marine; depth range 2–50 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: restricted to the Red Sea and the tropical western Indian Ocean to South Africa. Apparently misi-
dentified with closely related species in the northern and eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Torpedo panthera Olfers, 1831
‫فتارة‬
Panther electric ray ‫لخم النمر الكهربائي‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 100.0 cm TL (male). Demersal: marine; depth Tropical
Order: Torpediniformes upto 350 m.
Family: Torpedinidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea. Reports from other parts of the western Indian Ocean probably refer to a different species. The
61
Torpedo sinuspersici Olfers, 1831
‫فتارة‬
Variable torpedo ray ‫لخم الطوربيد المتنكر‬
Class: Elasmobranchii Maximum length: 130 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: - 31°S.
Order: Torpediniformes marine; depth upto 200 m.
Family: Torpedinidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea eastward to India and southward to Natal, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Acanthurus dussumieri Valenciennes, 1835
‫فوطة الشوكة البيضاء‬

Eyestripe surgeonfish ‫الجراح أحور العين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 54.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 24°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male). depth range 4–131 m, usually 29°N–36°S, 0°W–155°W.
Family: Acanthuridae 9–130 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa including the Mascarene Islands to the Hawaiian and Line islands, north to southern Japan, south to
Rowley Shoals, southern Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe Island. Absent from most of central Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
62
Acanthurus mata (Cuvier, 1829)
‫فوطة الشوكة الذهبية‬

Elongate surgeonfish ‫الجراح الطويل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 23°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes depth range 5–100 m, usually 32°N–24°S, 32°E–143°W.
Family: Acanthuridae 5–45 m. 32°E-143°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east to the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern
Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Acanthurus sohal (Forsskål, 1775)
‫فوطة الساحل‬
‫جرح الملكي‬
Sohal surgeonfish ‫جراح السهيل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 24°C–30°C.
Order: Perciformes depth range 0–20 m.
Family: Acanthuridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
63
Acanthurus tennentii Günther, 1861
‫فوطه الدائرة الزرقاء‬

Doubleband surgeonfish ‫جراح مزدوج البقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 31.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 24°C–28°C.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–25 m, usually
Distribution
Indian Ocean: East Africa to Sri Lanka and the Lesser Sunda Islands of southern Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes, 1835
‫فوطة ام حجل‬
Yellowfin surgeonfish ‫جراح الزعانف الصفراء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length : 70.0 cm TL (male); common Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 24°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes length : 50.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–100 m, usually 30°N–30°S.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef
and New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific: lower Gulf of California and Clipperton Island to Panama and the Galapagos Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
64
Ctenochaetus striatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
‫فوطة المرجان‬
Striated surgeonfish ‫الجراح المحزز‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 18.0 cm TL (male). depth range 3–30 m, usually 26°N–34°S, 1°W–123°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: throughout the region excluding the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Easter islands. Record from Baker Island
(US Minor Islands) based on a photograph. Absent from Malden and Jarvis islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ctenochaetus strigosus (Bennett, 1828)
‫فوطة الزعفران‬
Spotted surgeonfish ‫الجراح المبقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.6 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 21°C–27°C;
Order: Perciformes depth range 1–113 m. 30°N–30°S.
Distribution
Eastern Central Pacific: endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island. Western Central Pacific: Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
65
Naso elegans (Rüppell, 1829)
‫فوطة ابو كوت‬

Elegant unicornfish ‫جراح القرن األنيق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male). depth starting from 5 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa, and east through the islands of the western Indian Ocean to
southwestern Indonesia, at least to Bali. Not reported from the Oman Sea, Arabian Gulf, or India. Previously considered the Indian Ocean
color variant of Naso lituratus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Naso fageni Morrow, 1954
‫بو جماالت‬
Horseface unicornfish ‫قرن رأس الحصان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 80.0 cm FL male. Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Kenya south to Bazaruto Islands (Mozambique), Aldabra and Seychelles, and east to the Philippines. Report-
ed from southern Japan and Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
66
Naso lituratus (Forster, 1801)
‫فوطة الشوكتين‬
Orangespine unicornfish ‫قرن الشوك البرتقالي‬
Order: Perciformes depth range 0–90 m, usually 35°N–30°S.
Distribution
Pacific Ocean: Honshu, Japan south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia and east to the Hawaiian Islands,
French Polynesia, and Pitcairn. Eastern Pacific: Clipperton Island. Once regarded a wide-ranging Indo-Pacific species, the Indian Ocean
population is now recognized as a separate species, Naso elegans. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Naso unicornis (Forsskål, 1775)
‫بو جماالت القرن‬

Bluespine unicornfish ‫قرن ازرق الشوكتين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–180 m, usually 35°N–33°S.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord
Howe and Rapa islands. Presence in Somalia to be confirmed. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
67
Zebrasoma xanthurum (Blyth, 1852)
‫بو كوت األزرق‬

‫جرح الزرقاء‬
Yellowtail tang ‫مسح الذيل األصفر‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 10.0 cm TL (male). depth range 0–20 m, usually 31°N–14°S, 34°E–81°E.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf; recorded from Maldives. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Acropoma japonicum Günther, 1859
Glowbelly ‫سمكة البطن المتوهج‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male). Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water: 36°N–37°S,
Order: Perciformes depth range 100–500 m. 21°E–154°W.
Family: Acropomatidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Japan, south to northern Australia, including the Arafura Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
68
Albula argentea (Forster, 1801)
‫تر‬
‫بو خبيب‬
‫عيفا‬
Silver bonefish ‫سمك العظام الفضي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine. Tropical
Order: Albuliformes
Family: Albulidae
Distribution
Western Pacific: Indo-Malayan to South Pacific; probably including Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Albula forsteri Valenciennes, 1847
‫تر‬
‫بو خبيب‬
‫عيفا‬
Longjaw bonefish ‫سمك الفم الطويل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm SL (male). Benthopelagic; brackish; ma- Tropical: 24°N–29°S,
Order: Albuliformes rine; depth range 2–90 m. 112°E–130°W.
Family: Albulidae
Distribution
Western Pacific: Western and eastern Australia to Fiji, the Hawaiian Islands, and French Polynesia, perhaps Micronesia. Con-
fused in the literature and in collections with other species of the Genus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
69
Albula oligolepis Hidaka, Iwatsuki & Randall, 2008
‫تر‬
‫بو خبيب‬
‫عيفا‬
Smallscale bonefish ‫سمك القشور الصغيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.4 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine. Tropical
Order: Albuliformes
Family: Albulidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: South Africa, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Yemen, Oman, India, western Thailand, and
northeastern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Alepocephalus bicolor Alcock, 1891
Bicolor slickhead ‫سمكة اللونين ذات الراس الزلق‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 29.0 cm SL (male). Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water
Order: Osmeriformes depth range 439–1080 m.
Family: Alepocephalidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: ranging to the Ryukyu Trough. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
70
Conocara fiolenti Sazonov & Ivanov, 1979
Fiolenti’s smooth-head ‫سمكة الرأس السلس‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 37.2 cm SL (male). Bathypelagic; marine; depth Deep-water: 41°N–31°S,
Order: Osmeriformes range 1370–1600 m. 32°W–152°E.
Family: Alepocephalidae
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: off Azores Island. South Atlantic (31°S, 3°E), Indian Ocean (11°25°S, 88°52°E) and Pacific (19°49°N,
151°48°E). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ambassis gymnocephalus (Lacepède, 1802)
‫صليحوة‬
Bald glassy ‫السمك الزجاجي االصلع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical: 22°C–28°C.
Order: Perciformes freshwater; brackish; marine;
Family: Ambassidae pH range: 7.2–8.2.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to the Philippines, north to China and Taiwan, south to northern Australia. The
71
Ambassis natalensis Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908
‫صليحوه‬
Slender glassy ‫الزجاجة النحيلة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 9.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; freshwater; brack- Subtropical: 25°S–33°S.
Order: Perciformes ish; marine
Family: Ambassidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Natal to Algoa Bay in South Africa. Reported from east Africa, including Madagascar. The Arabi-
an Sea coast of Oman.
Photoblepharon steinitzi Abe & Haneda, 1973
‫صليحوه سوداء‬
Flashlight fish ‫سمكة المصباح اليدوي‬
Order: Beryciformes
Family: Anomalopidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Comoros, and Reunion. Also southern Oman, Somalia, and the Maldives. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
72
Antennarius coccineus (Lesson, 1831)
Scarlet frogfish ‫سمك الضفدع القرمزي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 35°N–40°S,
Order: Lophiiformes depth range 0–104 m. 28°E–107°W.
Family: Antennariidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the easternmost islands of the Pacific Plate. Eastern Pacific: in tropical coastal
waters. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Antennarius indicus Schultz, 1964
Indian frogfish ‫سمك الضفدع الهندي‬

Order: Lophiiformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: East Africa, Gulf of Aden, and Seychelles to southeast India and Sri Lanka, north to the Sea of Oman.
73
Antennarius nummifer (Cuvier, 1817)
Spotfin frogfish ‫سمك الضفدع مبقع الزعانف‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 40°N–50°S,
Order: Lophiiformes depth range 0–293 m. 1°W–147°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society islands, north to Japan, south to New
Zealand. Eastern Atlantic: Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, and St. Helena. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Antennarius pictus (Shaw, 1794)
Painted frogfish ‫سمك الضفدع السهمي‬

Order: Lophiiformes depth range 0–75 m. 29°E–155°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
74
Antennarius scriptissimus Jordan, 1902
Calico frogfish ‫سمك الضفدع كاليكو‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 28.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical
Order: Lophiiformes depth range 73–185 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758)
Sargassumfish ‫سمك سارجسوم‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; oceanodro- Subtropical: 43°N–24°S.
Order: Lophiiformes mous; marine; depth range
Family: Antennariidae 0–50 m, usually 0–2 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: tip of South Africa eastward to Indian and Sri Lanka, including the Red Sea, Madagascar, Réunion and Mauritius.
Western Pacific: Hokkaido to tropical Australia (as far south as Perth in the west and Sydney in the east), including Taiwan, Philippines, Moluccas,
southern Papua New Guinea, Guam, Tonga, New Caledonia and New Zealand; Mariana Islands in Micronesia. Occurrence in the eastern Pacific
remains problematic. Northwest Atlantic: Canada. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, Uruguay. Eastern Atlantic:
Azores and off West Africa; record from Vardø, northern Norway (Düben & Koren 1846) is based on a straggler taken northward by the North
Atlantic and Norwegian currents. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
75
Apistus carinatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫ابو لبن‬
‫ابو جناج‬
‫فريالة‬
Ocellated waspfish ‫سمكة الدبور المرتجف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male/un- Demersal: marine; depth Deep-water
Order: Scorpaeniformes sexed); common length: 10.0 cm TL (male). range 14–60 m, usually
Family: Apistidae 15–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf south to Natal, South Africa and east to India and the Philippines,
north to China and Japan, south Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon apogonides (Bleeker, 1856)
‫صليحوه حمراء‬
Short-tooth cardinal ‫الكارديان قصير االسنان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 8.0 cm SL (male). depth range 3–60 m, usually
Family: Apogonidae 10–34 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the Philippines, north to Miyakejima, Japan and Taiwan, south to northern Australia. The
76
Apogon aureus (Lacepède, 1802)
‫صليحوة الطوق‬
‫ام حجل‬
Ring-tailed cardinalfish ‫سمكة كارديان الذيل المطوق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.5 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Miyakejima, Japan, south to Australia and
New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon coccineus Rüppell, 1838
‫صليحوة الفرشاة‬
Ruby cardinalfish ‫سمك كارديان روبي‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan and Easter islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.
77
Apogon cookii Macleay, 1881
‫صليحوة‬
Cook’s cardinalfish ‫سمكة الكاردنال كوك‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the Sea of Oman south to Natal and east to the western Pacific where it ranges from
Japan to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Recently reported from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon cyanosoma Bleeker, 1853
‫صليحوة‬
Yellowstriped cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال الخطوط الصفراء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 6.0 cm SL (male). depth range 1–50 m, usually
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Mozambique and east to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu and Bonin islands, south to New Cale-
donia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
78
Apogon dhofar Mee, 1995
‫صليحوه‬
Dhofar cardinalfish ‫سمكة الكاردنال الظفاري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.0 cm TL (male). Demersal: marine; depth Tropical
Order: Perciformes range 0–10 m.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from central and southern Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon evermanni Jordan & Snyder, 1904
‫صليحو‬
Evermann’s cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال ايفارمان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 28°N–11°S.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Mauritius and Seychelles; Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Marshall, Hawaiian and Marquesan
islands. Western Central Atlantic: Bahamas, Cozumel to Isla Providencia and Curacao. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
79
Apogon exostigma (Jordan & Starks, 1906)
‫صليحوة‬
Narrowstripe cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنيل الشريط الضيق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.0 cm TL male. Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–28°S.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Line and Mangaréva islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to southern Great Barrier Reef
and Austral Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon fasciatus (White, 1790)
‫صليحوة‬
‫سحوه‬
Broadbanded cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردينل النطاقات الواسعة‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 7.0 cm SL (male). depth range 2–128 m.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf south to Mozambique and east to the western Pacific where it ranges from Japan
to Sydney. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
80
Apogon fleurieu (Lacepède, 1802)
‫صليحوة ام حجل‬
Cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.5 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Deep-water
Order: Perciformes depth upto 30 m.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman and scattered localities in East Africa, Seychelles, India, Sri
Lanka, the Indo-Malayan region, and Hong Kong. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon fraenatus Valenciennes, 1832
‫صليحوة‬
Bridled cardinalfish ‫سمكة الكاردنال المقيد‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Durban, South Africa and to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New
South Wales, Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
81
Apogon gularis Fraser & Lachner, 1984
‫صليحوة شفافة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 6.6 cm TL male. Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea; Bahrain, and Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon holotaenia Regan, 1905
‫صليحوة‬
Copperstriped cardinalfish ‫سمكة الكاردنال نحاسي الخطوط‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique, Seychelles, Réunion, Oman, and India. Also collected in Malaysia. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
82
Apogon kalosoma Bleeker, 1852
‫صليحوة النيسر الحمراء‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 6.5 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Central Pacific: Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon lineatus Temminck & Schlegel, 1842
‫صليحوة‬
Indian perch ‫الهندي الساكن‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 9.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Funka Bay of Hokkaido to the South China Sea and farther south Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
83
Apogon natalensis Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908
‫صليحوة المرجان‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Durban, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon nigripinnis Cuvier, 1828
‫صليحوة‬
Bullseye Cardinalfish ‫كاردينال بولس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific. Red Sea and south to Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Migrated to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
Also occurs in the Arafura Sea. Likely at Seychelles. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
84
Apogon omanensis Gon & Mee, 1995
‫صليحوة‬
Oman cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال عمان‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon pseudotaeniatus Gon, 1986
‫صليحوة‬
Doublebar cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال الشريط المزدوج‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf to the Indo-Malayan region, north to Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
85
Apogon quadrifasciatus Cuvier, 1828
‫صليحوة‬
Twostripe cardinal ‫سمكة كاردنال الشريطين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical
Order: Perciformes marine; depth range 0–80 m.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Inhaca Island and east the Philippines and New Guinea, north to Japan, south to northern
Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon queketti Gilchrist, 1903
‫صليحوة‬
Spotfin cardinal ‫كاردينال الذروة السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.0 cm TL (male). Benthopelagic; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and off Natal, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
86
Apogon semiornatus Peters, 1876
‫صليحوة‬
Oblique-banded cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال منحرف النطاقات‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.5 cm TL male. Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Sea of Oman south to Natal, South Africa and east to the western Pacific where it ranges
from southern Japan to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apogon striatus (Smith & Radcliffe, 1912)
‫صليحوة القواطع‬
‫سمكة كاردنال الزعانف الكبيرة‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Central Pacific: Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
87
Apogon taeniatus Cuvier, 1828
‫صليحوة بو نقطة‬
Twobelt cardinal ‫كاردنال التوبلت‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 17.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf south to Mozambique, Aldabra and Madagascar. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Apogon timorensis Bleeker, 1854
‫صليحوة‬
Timor cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال تيمور‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 9.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical
Order: Perciformes tory; marine; depth range
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and southern Oman south to Natal, South Africa and east to the western Pacific where it occurs
from Japan to northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
88
Archamia fucata (Cantor, 1849)
‫صليحوة النطاط‬
Orangelined cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال برتقالي الخطم‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and east coast of Africa, eastward to the Marshall Islands, Samoa and Tonga; north to Ryukyu
Islands; south to northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Archamia pallida Gon & Randall, 1995
‫صليحوة بيضاء‬
‫الكاردينال الشاحب‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the east side of Masirah Island, off central Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
89
Cheilodipterus arabicus (Gmelin, 1789)
‫صليحوة‬
Tiger cardinal ‫كاردنال النمر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Tanzania, Mozambique, Seychelles, and India. Absence of the species elsewhere in the
Indian Ocean, is probably due to inadequate sampling. Absence from the Gulf of Aqaba and Arabian Gulf may be the result of competition
with lachneri and persicus, respectively. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cheilodipterus macrodon (Lacepède, 1802)
‫صليحوة البقعة السوداء‬

Large-toothed cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال االسنان الكبيرة‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Pitcairn, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa. The Ara-
90
Cheilodipterus novemstriatus (Rüppell, 1838)
‫صليحوة الساعة‬
Indian Ocean twospot cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال المحيط الهندي ثنائية البقعة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 30°N–10°S.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Sea of Oman, and the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cheilodipterus persicus (Gon, 1993)
‫صليحوة الساعة‬
Persian cardinalfish ‫سمكة الكاردنال الفارسي‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
91
Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Cuvier, 1828
‫صليحوة البقعة الصفراء‬

Five-lined cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال خمسية الخطوط‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Mozambique and eastward to the Pitcairn Group, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe
Island and Rapa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Fowleria aurita (Valenciennes, 1831)
‫صليحوة المقل‬
Crosseyed cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال العين العابرة‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and eastward to Samoa and Mangaréva, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south
to northern Australia, and Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
92
Fowleria variegata (Valenciennes, 1832)
‫صليحوة‬
Variegated cardinalfish ‫سمكة الكاردنال الملون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 8.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–24°S.
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef; Guam in
Micronesia. Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Holapogon maximus (Boulenger, 1888)
‫صليحوة الزعانف الصفراء‬

Titan cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال تيتان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed. Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Apogonidae
Apogoninae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Oman and the southern Arabian coast. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
93
Jaydia truncata (Bleeker, 1855)
‫صليحوة الذروة السوداء‬

Flagfin cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال العلم‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf to Japan and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rhabdamia cypselura Weber, 1909
‫صليحوة الجسم الشفاف‬

Swallowtail cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال ذنب البشق‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the Marshall Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New Guinea. Recently reported from
Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
94
Siphamia versicolor (Smith & Radcliffe, 1911)
‫صليحوة العين المستحية‬

Sea urchin cardinalfish ‫سمكة كاردنال قنفذ البحر‬
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Maldives to Mariana Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to northwestern Australia; Mariana and
eastern Caroline Islands in Micronesia. Recently reported from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792)
‫خن‬
‫يام‬
‫شم‬
Spotted catfish ‫الخن المبقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 80.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; potamodromous; Tropical: 33°N–4°S.
Order: Siluriformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine;
Family: Ariidae depth range 50–100 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: off the west and east coast of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar to the Arafura Sea and the
Indo-Australian Archipelago (excluding Australia). Known from the Mekong Delta. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
95
Netuma bilineata (Valenciennes, 1840)
‫خن‬
‫يام‬
‫شم‬
Bronze catfish ‫الخن البرونزي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 62.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; freshwater; brack- Tropical
Order: Siluriformes ish; marine.
Family: Ariidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to the Indo-Malayan region, northern Australia, Queensland, and north to southern
Japan. Has long been confused with Arius thalassinus (Rüppell 1837). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Netuma thalassina (Rüppell, 1837)
‫خن‬
‫يام‬
‫شم‬
Giant catfish ‫الخن العمالق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 185 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; amphidromous; Subtropical
Order: Siluriformes mon length: 70.0 cm TL (male); maximum freshwater; brackish; marine;
Family: Ariidae published weight: 1000 g. depth range 10–195 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known with certainty from the Red Sea and the northwestern Indian Ocean. A closely related form
occurs in the Philippines and Gulf of Thailand. The wider distribution usually given for this species stems from misidentifications of similar species
overlapping its range. Also reported from Australia, Polynesia and Japan and rarely in the Mekong delta. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
96
Plicofollis dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1840)
‫خن‬
‫يام‬
‫شم‬
Blacktip sea catfish ‫خن الذروة السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 62.0 cm SL (male); maxi- Demersal; freshwater; brack- Tropical
Order: Siluriformes mum published weight: 1400 g. ish; marine; depth range
Family: Ariidae 20–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-west Pacific: Mozambique and Madagascar to Sri Lanka, the east coast of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar to Sumatra.
Plicofollis tenuispinis (Day, 1877)
‫خن‬
‫يام‬
‫شم‬
Thinspine sea catfish ‫خن الشوكة الرقيقة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 36.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical
Order: Siluriformes mon length: 23.0 cm TL (male). brackish; marine; depth
Family: Ariidae range 20–50 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique and Arabian Gulf to Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
97
Ariomma indica (Day, 1871)
‫ديايوه‬
‫بنكره‬
Indian driftfish ‫السمكة الهندية العائمة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm SL (male); com- Benthopelagic; oceanodro- Tropical: 33°N–28°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 18.0 cm SL (male). mous; marine; depth range
Family: Ariommatidae 20–300 m, usually 20–100 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: South Africa to the Arabian Gulf (but not in the Red Sea) east to the Indo-Malayan region, north to Japan.
Atherinomorus lacunosus (Forster, 1801)
‫شعبان‬
‫منشوس‬
Hardyhead silverside ‫سمكة الرأس الصلب الفضية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Subtropical: 32°N–23°S.
Order: Atheriniformes marine; depth range 1–39 m.
Family: Atherinidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaii, the Samoan and Phoenix islands, north to southern Japan and the Oga-
sawara Islands, south to Queensland, Australia and New Caledonia. Recently migrated into the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
Replaced by Atherinomorus insularum in the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
98
Hypoatherina temminckii (Bleeker, 1854)
‫شعبان‬
Samoan silverside ‫السامون الفضية‬
Order: Atheriniformes
Family: Atherinidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Delagoa Bay, Mozambique to the Cook Islands, north to the Caroline Islands, south to
Queensland, Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Abalistes stellatus (Lacepède, 1798)
‫قرقوب ازرق الزعانف‬

‫حمارة‬
Starry triggerfish ‫سمكة الزناد النجمية‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes depth range 7–350 m. 32°E–158°W.
Family: Balistidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to South Africa (also reported from West Africa), east to the western Pacific. The
99
Canthidermis macrolepis (Boulenger, 1888)
‫بو جماالت‬
‫بقومي‬
Large-scale triggerfish ‫سمكة الدهام كبير القشور‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male). Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Balistidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to the Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Melichthys indicus Randall & Klausewitz, 1973
‫قرقوب أسود‬
Indian triggerfish ‫سمكة الدهام الهندي‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes depth range 1–30 m.
Family: Balistidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa eastward to western Thailand and Sumatra, Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
100
Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1836)
‫قرقوب ازرق‬
Red-toothed triggerfish ‫سمكة دهام األسنان الحمراء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Tropical: 32°N–24°S.
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). mous; marine; depth range
Family: Balistidae 5–40 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa and east to the Marquesas and Society islands, north to southern
Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef in Australia and New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rhinecanthus assasi (Forsskål, 1775)
‫قرقوب ابيض‬
‫حماره‬
Picasso triggerfish ‫سمكة دهام البيكاسو‬
Family: Balistidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Sea of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
101
Sufflamen chrysopterum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫قرقوب اصفر الذيل‬

‫حماره‬
Halfmoon triggerfish ‫سمكة دهام نصف القمر‬
Family: Balistidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa south to the Chalumna River, South Africa and east to Samoa, north to southern Japan,
south to Lord Howe Island. Replaced by closely related Sufflamen albicaudatus in the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sufflamen fraenatum (Latreille, 1804)
‫قرقوب بني‬
‫حماره‬
Masked triggerfish ‫سمكة الدهام المقنع‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 26.0 cm TL (male). mous; marine; depth range
Family: Balistidae 8–186.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa and east to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to
southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
102
Bifax lacinia Greenfield, Mee & Randall, 1994
‫برطم‬
Two-faced toadfish ‫سمكة العلوج ثنائي الوجه‬
Order: Batrachoidiformes range 6–8 m.
Family: Batrachoididae
Distribution
Colletteichthys dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1837)
Flat toadfish ‫سمكة الضفدع مسطح الرأس‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 27.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Batrachoidiformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male).
Family: Batrachoididae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: found in the Arabian Gulf and along the coasts of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
103
Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846)
‫حاقول‬
‫عالق‬
‫خرخور‬
‫مصفحة‬
Flat needlefish ‫سمكة حاقول االبرة المسطحة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 140 cm TL male/unsexed; Reef-associated; oceano- Subtropical: 38°N–37°S,
Order: Tetraodontiformes common length: 70.0 cm SL male/unsexed; dromous; brackish; marine; 180°W–180°E.
Family: Balistidae maximum published weight: 4800 g. depth range 0–3 m.
Distribution
Worldwide distribution in tropical and warm temperate waters. Eastern Atlantic: Cape Verde and Dakar to Moçamedes, Angola;
ranging further south to Namibia. Western Atlantic: Chesapeake Bay (USA), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Throughout the Indian
Ocean. Western Pacific: off coasts and islands from southern Japan through the East Indies to Australia. Reported from Tuvalu. Eastern Pacific: Mexico
to Peru. Entire Caribbean, Antilles and South American coast to Rio de Janeiro. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Platybelone argalus argalus (Lesueur, 1821)
‫الحاقول النحيل‬
‫عالق‬
‫خرخور‬
Keeltail needlefish ‫سمكة حاقول الذيل المستعرض‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical
Order: Beloniformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male). depth range usually 0–2 m.
Family: Belonidae
Distribution
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to Brazil, including the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
104
Tylosurus acus acus (Lacepède, 1803)
‫حاقول‬
‫عالق‬
‫خرخور‬
Agujon needlefish ‫سمكة ابرة اوجون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 153 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine. Subtropical
Order: Beloniformes mon length: 90.0 cm SL (male); maximum
Family: Belonidae published weight: 3710 g.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: off Morocco and the Mediterranean. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Tylosurus acus melanotus (Bleeker, 1850)
‫حاقول‬
‫عالق‬
‫خرخور‬
Keel-jawed needle fish ‫سمكة ابرة جاويد المستعرضة‬
Order: Beloniformes mon length: 115 cm TL (male). mous; marine; depth range
Family: Belonidae 0–1 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the central and south Pacific. Eastern Central Pacific: oceanic islands such as the Revillagigedo,
Clipperton and Cocos. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
105
Tylosurus choram (Rüppell, 1837)
‫حاقول‬
‫عالق‬
‫خرخور‬
Red Sea houndfish ‫سمكة البحر االحمر المطاردة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; marine. Tropical
Order: Beloniformes mon length: 70.0 cm TL (male).
Family: Belonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Sea of Oman, including the eastern Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Strongylura leiura (Bleeker, 1850)
‫الحاقول الناحل‬
‫عالق‬
‫ هكول‬-‫خرخور‬
Banded needlefish ‫سمكة ابر النطاقات‬
Order: Beloniformes mon length: 35.0 cm OT (male). mous; brackish; marine.
Family: Belonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Somalia and Tanzania to Durban, South Africa east to Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and southeast Asia to New
Guinea, Australia, and the Philippines. Reported from southern China. The Australian population is regarded as subspecies Strongylura leiura ferox.
106
Strongylura strongylura (van Hasselt, 1823)
‫حاقول بو نقطة‬
‫عالق‬
‫خرخور‬
‫هكول‬
Spottail needlefish ‫سمكة ابرة الذيل المنقوط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; brackish; ma- Tropical
Order: Beloniformes mon length: 22.0 cm SL (male). rine; depth range 10–13 m.
Family: Belonidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf eastward along the coasts of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, then extending to southern
China, the Philippines, and northern Australia. A record from Zanzibar (Tanzania) needs confirmation. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Beryx mollis Abe, 1959
‫حمراء المقل‬
‫ديك احمر‬
Mollis Alfonsino ‫موليس الفونسنو‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm SL (male). Benthopelagic; marine; depth Deep-water
Order: Beloniformes range 100–500 m.
Family: Berycidae
Distribution
Northwest Pacific: Japan. Also known from the Western Indian Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
107
Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834
‫حمراء المقل‬
‫ديك‬
Splendid alfonsino ‫الفونسنو الرائغة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; marine; depth Subtropical: 45°N–43°S,
Order: Beryciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male/unsexed); range 25–1300 m, usually 180°W–180°E.
Family: Berycidae maximum published weight: 4000 g; maxi- 400–600 m.
mum reported age: 23 years.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf eastward along the coasts of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, then extending to southern
China, the Philippines, and northern Australia. A record from Zanzibar (Tanzania) needs confirmation. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Alloblennius anuchalis ( Springer & Spreitzer , 1978 )
Blenniesfish ‫سمكة بلينيز‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 2.4 cm SL male. Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Mauritius and Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
108
Alloblennius parvus Springer & Spreitzer, 1978
‫نطاط الصخور‬
Dwarf blenny ‫القزم المخطط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 2.6 cm SL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Alticus kirkii (Günther, 1868)
‫النطاط‬
Kirk’s blenny ‫الكيرك المخطط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Mozambique and Reunion to India, including the Arabian Gulf. Also in the Red Sea if Lophalticus kirkii magnusi
is a junior synonym. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
109
Antennablennius adenensis Fraser-Brunner, 1951
Aden blenny ‫العدني المخطط‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf and Pakistan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Antennablennius australis Fraser-Brunner, 1951
Moustached rockskipper ‫حارس الصخور ابو شنب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
110
Antennablennius bifilum (Günther, 1861)
Horned rockskipper ‫حارس الصخور ابو قرن‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to Port Alfred, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Antennablennius hypenetes (Klunzinger, 1871)
‫النطاط رأس العصفور‬

Arabian blenny ‫العربي المخطط‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: entire Arabian Peninsula from the northern Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
111
Antennablennius simonyi (Steindachner, 1902)
Simony’s blenny ‫السموني المخطط‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Antennablennius variopunctatus (Jatzow & Lenz, 1898)
Orangedotted blenny ‫المخطط البرتقالي‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique to Pakistan, including the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. Reported as likely at Sey-
chelles but Randall and van Egmond 1994 believe otherwise. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
112
Aspidontus taeniatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1834
‫الفأرة‬
False cleanerfish ‫سمكة المنظف الكاذب‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Pacific Ocean: Cocos-Keeling Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Line, Marquesan, and Tuamo-
to islands, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales; throughout Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Blenniella periophthalmus (Valenciennes, 1836)
Blue-dashed rockskipper ‫نطاط الصخور مزرق الخطوط‬

Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa, east to the Marquesas and Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands;
throughout Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
113
Cirripectes filamentosus (Alleyne & Macleay, 1877)
Filamentous blenny ‫المخطط الخيطي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 9.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 32°N–30°S 41° -
Order: Perciformes depth range 0–20 m. 167°E.
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: northern Madagascar and Cargados Carajos northward to the southern Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf;
Andamans Sea to Western Australia, throughout Indo-Australian Archipelago to the Solomon Islands, as far as Taiwan but not on the Pacific
Plate. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ecsenius nalolo Smith, 1959
Nalolo ‫نالولو‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: west of mid-Indian ocean ridge, north to Djetta, Saudi Arabia and south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa,
and Cargados Carajos [=St. Brandon’s Shoals]. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
114
Ecsenius pulcher (Murray, 1887)
Gulf Blenny ‫المخطط الخليجي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max Length: 11.0 cm TL. Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman, and northwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent
as far south as the Gulf of Kutch. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Hirculops cornifer (Rüppell, 1830)
Highbrow rockskipper ‫نطاط الصخور الرفيع‬

Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Pondoland, South Africa. Likely at Seychelles. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
115
Istiblennius edentulus (Forster & Schneider, 1801)
Rippled rockskipper ‫نطاط الصخور المتموج‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.0 cm TL (male); 13.2 Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 32°N–32°S.
Order: Perciformes cm SL (female). marine; depth range 0–5 m,
Family: Blenniidae usually 0–1 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord
Howe and Rapa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Istiblennius pox Springer & Williams, 1994
Scarface rockskipper ‫نطاط الصخور سكارفيس‬

Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf and Pakistan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
116
Istiblennius spilotus Springer & Williams, 1994
Spotted rockskipper ‫نطاط الصخور المبقع الكبير‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.0 cm TL (male); 9.7 cm Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes SL (female).
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Pakistan and the Sea of Oman to Natal, South Africa, and Madagascar. Recently reported from Reun-
ion. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Mimoblennius cirrosus Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
‫نطاط الصخور الراقي‬

Fringed blenny ‫مخطط الهدب‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
117
Oman ypsilon Springer, 1985
Oman blenny ‫المخطط العماني‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from central Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Omobranchus elongatus (Peters, 1855)
Cloister blenny ‫المخطط الناسك‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 5.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 22°C–28°C.
Order: Perciformes marine.
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Tanzania and Mozambique to New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
118
Omobranchus fasciolatus (Valenciennes, 1836)
‫نطاط الصخور الشفاف‬

Arab blenny ‫المخطط العربي‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Inhambane, Mozambique, and Arabian Gulf to Gulf of Kutch. Reported as likely at
Seychelles but Randall and van Egmond 1994 believe otherwise. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Omobranchus mekranensis (Regan, 1905)
Mekran blenny ‫المخطط المكراني‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman, and Pakistan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
119
Omobranchus punctatus (Valenciennes, 1836)
Muzzled blenny ‫المخطط المكمم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 9.5 cm SL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 35°N–37vS,
Order: Perciformes mum reported age: 4 years. marine. 20°E–178°W.
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Fiji and north to Japan. Known from Delagoa Bay, Mozambique, and Suez Canal on the Afri-
can coast. Western Atlantic: introduced at Trinidad and Panama Canal near Atlantic end. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Parablennius opercularis (Murray, 1887)
Cheekspot blenny ‫مخطط بقعة الخد‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to Pakistan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
120
Parablennius pilicornis (Cuvier, 1829)
‫نطاط الصخور الحذر‬

Ringneck blenny ‫مخطط ربطة العنق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.7 cm SL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical: 44°N–56°S.
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Spain and Portugal to Möwe Bay, Namibia. Also in the Mediterranean along the coast from Morocco, Alge-
ria, Spain. Southwest Atlantic: Brazil and Patagonia, Argentina. Western Indian Ocean: Natal to Knysna in South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Parablennius thysanius (Jordan & Seale, 1907)
Tasseled blenny ‫مخطط المزينة التقليدية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 6.2 cm TL (male); 5 cm TL Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Perciformes (female). range 1–10 m.
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf, central coast of Oman, Pakistan, southwest India, Sri Lanka, Gulf of Thailand, and Philippines.
121
Pereulixia kosiensis (Regan, 1908)
Kosi rockskipper ‫نطاط الصخور كوسي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; marine. Subtropical
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Pakistan south to Durban, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Petroscirtes ancylodon Rüppell, 1835
Arabian fangblenny ‫المخطط الفانج العربي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.5 cm TL (male); 7.86 Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes cm SL (female).
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: northern Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf. Mediterranean Sea: Iskenderun Bay. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
122
Petroscirtes mitratus Rüppell, 1830
Floral blenny ‫المخطط الزهري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.5 cm TL male. Reef-associated; marine. Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Phoenix, Samoan and Tongan islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Aus-
tralia and New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos (Bleeker, 1852)
‫عاشق المرجان‬
Bluestriped fangblenny ‫مخطط فانغ بلوزي االمعاء‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Knysna, South Africa and east to the Line, Marquesan and Society islands, north to southern
Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Replaced by Plagiotremus ewaensis in the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
123
Plagiotremus townsendi (Regan, 1905)
Townsend’s fangblenny ‫مخطط فانج تاونسند‬

Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scartella emarginata (Günther, 1861)
Maned blenny ‫مخطط عرف الديك‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: southern Angola eastward to India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
124
Xiphasia setifer Swainson, 1839
‫مزف‬
‫نمر‬
Hairtail blenny ‫مخطط ذيل الشعر‬
Family: Blenniidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and False Bay, South Africa to Vanuatu, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Arnoglossus arabicus Norman, 1939
‫لبد‬
‫وطية‬
Arabian flounder ‫المفلطح العربي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.5 cm TL (male/un- Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water
Order: Pleuronectiformes sexed). depth range 83–220m.
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden to southern Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
125
Arnoglossus aspilos (Bleeker, 1851)
‫وطية مبقعة‬
‫سمكة موسى‬
Spotless lefteye flounder ‫سمكة العين اليسرى الالمعة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 19.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 14°N–24°S,
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 7.5 cm TL (male). range 30–71 m. 95°E–134°E.
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to the coast of India; north to Taiwan through the South China Sea, south to Queensland.
Specimens from northern and Western Australia often treated as distinct subspecies. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Arnoglossus tapeinosoma (Bleeker, 1865)
‫لبد االعماق‬
Drab flounder ‫المفلس الرتيب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.7 cm TL (male); 10.26 Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical
Order: Pleuronectiformes cm SL (female). range 46–100 m.
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman to Sumatra (Indonesia) and China. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
126
Bothus pantherinus (Rüppell, 1830)
‫وطية‬
‫هيرزان‬
Leopard flounder ‫المفلطح النمري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 39.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 32°N–35°S,
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). depth range 3–150 m. 26°E–138°W.
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: throughout the Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf to Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Socie-
ty islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chascanopsetta lugubris Alcock, 1894
‫لبد االعماق‬
Pelican flounder ‫المفلطح البجع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL male; common Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water; 40°N–32°S.
Order: Pleuronectiformes length: 25.0 cm TL male. depth range 60–3210 m.
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Gulf of Guinea round the Cape to Natal, South Africa. Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and northern Gulf of
Mexico to Brazil. Indo-Pacific: off the eastern coast of Africa and off India and Sri Lanka to Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
127
Engyprosopon grandisquama (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
‫وطية الساحل‬
‫سمك موسى المفلطح‬
Largescale flounder ‫المفلطح واسع النطاق‬
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 10.0 cm TL (male). depth range 7–200 m.
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa and throughout the Indian Ocean to the Indo-Australian Archipelago and New Caledonia, north to
southern Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Grammatobothus polyophthalmus (Bleeker, 1865)
‫سمكة موسى المفلطحة‬

Threespot flounder ‫وطيه الثالث بقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 21.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 17.0 cm TL (male). range 0–90 m.
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: India and off Sri Lanka eastward to the Philippines and the northeastern coast of Australia. Range extends
to Okinawa Island, Japan. Also known from the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
128
Laeops macrophthalmus (Alcock, 1889)
‫الوطية الشفافة‬
‫لبد‬
‫سمكة موسى‬
Class: Actinopterygii Demersal; marine; depth upto 183 m. Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Pleuronectiformes range 18–37 m.
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean: Myanmar. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Laeops nigrescens Lloyd, 1907
‫وطية‬
‫نيجريسين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical
Family: Bothidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden to the Penghu Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
129
Bregmaceros arabicus D’Ancona & Cavinato, 1965
Arabian cod ‫الكود العربي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 5.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; marine. Tropical
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Bregmacerotidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: ranges to southern Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Bregmaceros mcclellandi Thompson, 1840
‫شعبان بو ريش‬
Unicorn cod ‫كود يونكورن‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 9.6 cm SL (male); common Pelagic–oceanic; oceano- Subtropical: 40°N–30°S.
Order: Gadiformes length: 7.0 cm SL (male). dromous; brackish; marine;
Family: Bregmacerotidae depth range 0–200 m.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean: Probably restricted to the area from West India to eastern Thailand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
130
Bregmaceros nectabanus Whitley, 1941
Smallscale codlet ‫كوليت الحراشف الصغيرة‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.6 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; non-migra- Tropical
Order: Gadiformes tory; marine; depth upto 350
Family: Bregmacerotidae m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to Namibia; reported from the Cape, South Africa. Western Atlantic: southeast Caribbean. Indian
Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Caesio lunaris Cuvier, 1830
‫نمة صفراء الذيل‬

Lunar fusilier ‫فوسلير القمري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 31°N–14°S,
Order: Perciformes tory; marine; depth range 32°E–167°E.
Family: Caesionidae 0–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
131
Caesio varilineata Carpenter, 1987
‫نمة الذيل الطويل‬

Variable-lined fusilier ‫فوسلير متعدد الخطوط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL male. Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 31°N–31°S,
Order: Perciformes tory; marine. 32°E–100°W.
Family: Caesionidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: East Africa, including the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, to western Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Dipterygonotus balteatus (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫نمة بنية‬
Mottled fusilier ‫فوسلر مرقط‬
Order: Perciformes depth range 37–91 m. 43°E–165°E.
Family: Caesionidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa, not including the Red Sea or Arabian Gulf, to the Solomon Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
132
Pterocaesio chrysozona (Cuvier, 1830)
‫نمة محجلة‬
Goldband fusilier ‫فوسلر ذهبي‬
Order: Perciformes tory; marine. 40°E–157°E.
Family: Caesionidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to eastern Australia.The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Callionymus carebares Alcock, 1890
‫دبية‬
Indian deepwater dragonet ‫تنين المياه العميقة الهندي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm TL (male). Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water
Family: Callionymidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden, Oman Sea, and Arabian Gulf to the coasts of India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
133
Callionymus erythraeus Ninni, 1934
‫دبية العصفور‬
Smallhead dragonet ‫تنين صغير الراس‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and southern India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Callionymus hindsii Richardson, 1844
‫دبية الهدهد‬
Hinds’ dragonet ‫تنين هيندز‬
Order: Perciformes range upto 40 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to China, Indonesia, Borneo, New Guinea, Philippines, and the southern part of southeast Asia.
134
Callionymus margaretae Regan, 1905
‫دبية السحلية‬
Margaret’s dragonet ‫تنين مارجريت‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: two subspecies recognized, one from the southern Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to Pakistan,
and the other from the western and southeastern coasts of India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Callionymus marleyi Regan, 1919
‫دبية الشراع‬
Sand dragonet ‫تنين الرمل‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 10.0 cm TL (male). range 1–20 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea to the Cape of Good Hope, the Arabian Gulf, and southwestern India. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
135
Callionymus muscatensis Regan, 1905
‫دبية الضفدع‬
Muscat dragonet ‫تنين مسقطي‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea to the Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Callionymus persicus Regan, 1905
‫دبيه الشراع البيضاء‬

Persian dragonet ‫التنين الفارسي‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden and Arabian Gulf to Maldives and Seychelles. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
136
Diplogrammus pygmaeus Fricke, 1981
‫دبية المقل‬
Pygmy dragonet ‫تنين االقزام‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: off southern Oman, Sea of Oman, Jana Island in the Arabian Gulf, and off Abu Dhabi. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Synchiropus stellatus Smith, 1963
‫دبية الحفر‬
Starry dragonet ‫تنين النجوم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.5 cm TL male. Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 24°C–26°C.
Order: Perciformes depth range usually 10–20 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: East Africa to Sumatra, Indonesia. Also around oceanic islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
137
Alectis ciliaris (Bloch, 1787)
‫خايط‬
‫خياط‬
African pompano ‫بومبانو أفريقي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 150 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical; 42°N–24°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 100.0 cm FL (male); maximum depth range 60–100 m.
Family: Carangidae published weight: 22.9 kg.
Distribution
Worldwide in tropical seas. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda to Santos, Brazil; throughout the Caribbean
Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Congo. Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Algoa Bay, South Africa and to Sri Lanka.
Eastern Pacific: Mexico to Peru. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Alectis indicus (Rüppell, 1830)
‫خايط‬
‫خياط‬
Indian threadfish ‫سمكة الخيط الهندية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 165 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 44°N–45°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 100.0 cm TL (male/unsexed); marine; depth range 20–100 25°E–130°W.
Family: Carangidae maximum published weight: 25.0 kg. m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to the Arafura Sea and Australia.
138
Alepes djedaba (Forsskål, 1775)
‫قصمة‬
‫جنيس‬
‫حمام‬
‫بكة صفرء الذيل‬
Shrimp scad ‫سكد الربيان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male/un- Reef-associated; amphidro- Subtropical: 46°N–37°S,
Order: Perciformes sexed); common length: 25.0 cm FL (male/ mous; marine. 19°E–138°W.
Family: Carangidae unsexed); maximum published weight: 124
g.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to Japan, south to Australia. Immigrant to the eastern
Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Alepes kleinii (Bloch, 1793)
‫قصمة مخططة‬
Razorbelly scad ‫سكود حالق البطن‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.0 cm FL (male/un- Reef-associated; marine. Tropical: 31°N–26°S,
Order: Perciformes sexed); common length: 14.0 cm FL (male). 54°E–154°E.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: coastal waters from Pakistan to Sri Lanka; east coast of India, Taiwan Island, Okinawa in Japan, the Philip-
pines, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Records from South Africa, as Caranx kalla, are based on misidentifications of Alepes djedaba. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
139
Alepes melanoptera (Swainson, 1839)
‫صال الذروة السوداء‬

‫جنيس‬
Blackfin scad ‫سكد الزعنفة السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male). Pelagic–neritic; brackish; Tropical: 41°N–10°S,
Order: Perciformes marine. 48°E–125°E.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833)
‫قصمة سوداء الذيل‬

‫بكة‬
‫جنيس‬
Herring scad ‫سكد الفسيخ‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 56.0 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; brackish; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm FL (male). marine.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: tropical waters. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
140
Atropus atropos (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫خياط‬
‫جاش‬
Cleftbelly trevally ‫ربيب البطن المشقوق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 26.5 cm TL (male). Pelagic–neritic; amphidro- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mous; marine.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: in the tropical waters, north to Mie Prefecture, Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Atule mate (Cuvier, 1833)
‫بكة‬
‫حمام‬
Yellowtail scad ‫سكد أصفر الذيل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 35°N–35°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 26.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 1–80 m.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the east coast of Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and Samoa, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea,
and northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
141
Carangoides armatus (Rüppell, 1830)
‫خياط الشعاع‬
Longfin trevally ‫ربيب طويل الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 57.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine.
Family: Carangidae published weight: 3500 g.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Sea of Oman and along the African coast (to East London in South Africa), and the west coast of
Madagascar to southern India and Sri Lanka. There are reliable reports from the Gulf of Thailand, Hong Kong, Okinawa, and Japan. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Carangoides bajad (Forsskål, 1775)
‫قيصانه‬
‫بطيخة‬
‫صال‬
‫حمام‬
Orangespotted trevally ‫ربيب اصفر البقع‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 42.0 cm TL (male). depth range 2–50 m.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf, and Sea of Oman to Indonesia, the Gulf of Thailand, the Philippines,
and Okinawa, Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
142
Carangoides chrysophrys (Cuvier, 1833)
‫الصال الكبير‬
‫حمام‬
Longnose trevally ‫ربيب طويل الخطم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 72.0 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 65.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 30–60
Family: Carangidae published weight: 4350 g. m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Fiji, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New Zealand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carangoides coeruleopinnatus (Rüppell, 1830)
‫صال عريض‬
‫حمام‬
Coastal trevally ‫ربيب الساحل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male).
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Samoa and Tonga, north to Japan, south to Australia, and New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
143
Carangoides equula (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
‫الصال األدهم‬
‫حمام‬
Whitefin trevally ‫ربيب ابيض الزعانف‬
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Sea of Oman, East Africa, southern Japan, Hawaii, the Arafura Sea, Australia, New Zealand, and Easter Island.
Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carangoides ferdau (Forsskål, 1775)
‫صال المرجان‬
‫حمام‬
Blue trevally ‫ربيب ازرق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical; 32°N–24°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 1–60 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (to Port Elizabeth, South Africa), to the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
144
Carangoides fulvoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫مسلبه‬
‫حمام‬
Yellowspotted trevally ‫ربيب اصفر البقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 36°N - 30°S, 32°E
Order: Perciformes mon length: 90.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth upto 100 m. -174°W
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the East Africa to Palau and New Caledonia, north to Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south
to Australia. Recently reported from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carangoides gymnostethus (Cuvier, 1833)
‫مسلبه‬
‫حمام‬
Bludger ‫ربيب بلدجر‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 90.0 cm TL (male); maximum
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Recently reported from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
145
Carangoides malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫صال صغير‬
‫حمام مليباري‬
Malabar trevally ‫ربيب مليباري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). mous; marine; depth range
Family: Carangidae 20–140 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: east coast of Africa (without verified records from the Red Sea) to Sri Lanka and farther eastward to the
Gulf of Thailand, north to Japan, and south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Carangoides praeustus Bennett, 1830
‫صال‬
‫حمام‬
Brownback trevally ‫ربيب بني الظهر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; oceanodromous; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 16.0 cm FL (male). marine.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
146
Carangoides talamparoides Bleeker, 1852
‫صال صغير‬
‫حمام‬
Imposter trevally ‫الربيب النصاب‬
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: tropical waters. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Caranx heberi (Bennett, 1830)
‫قشران اصفر‬
Blacktip trevally ‫ربيب اسود الذروة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 85.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum tory; brackish; marine.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and Madagascar to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to northern Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
147
Caranx ignobilis (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ابو رأس‬
‫قشران‬
‫مسوح‬
‫حمام كبير‬
Giant trevally ‫الربيب العمالق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 170 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 100.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 10–188 35°N–37°S.
Family: Carangidae published weight: 80.0 kg. m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and east coast of Africa to the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands, north to southern Japan and the
Ogasawara Islands, south to northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Caranx lugubris Poey, 1860
‫قشران أسود‬
Black jack ‫جاك اسود‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 30°N–30°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 70.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 180°W–180°E.
Family: Carangidae published weight: 17.9 kg. 12–354 m, usually 24–65 m.
Distribution
Circumtropical. Western Indian Ocean: off Natal and East London in South Africa; Reunion, Mauritius and Cargados Carajos;
Seychelles. Western Pacific: southern Japan to New Caledonia. Recently reported from Tonga. Western Atlantic: Bermuda and the northern Gulf
of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Azores, Madeira, St. Paul’s Rocks, Ascension Island, Cape Verde, and Gulf of Guinea. Eastern Central Pacific:
Mexico (including Revillagigedo Islands) to Costa Rica. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
148
Caranx melampygus Cuvier, 1833
‫مسلبة‬
‫حمام‬
Bluefin trevally ‫ربيب الزعنفة الزرقاء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 117 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 30°N–35°S.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Ducie Island, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia. Eastern Central
Pacific: Mexico to Panama. Hybrid with Caranx sexfasciatus found in Hawaii. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Caranx sexfasciatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
‫قشران أبيض‬
‫جاش‬
Bigeye trevally ‫ربيب كبير العين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 60.0 cm FL (male); maximum mous; freshwater; brackish; 30°N–36°S, 20°E–53°W.
Family: Carangidae published weight: 18.0 kg. marine; depth range 0–146
m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to Australia and
New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific: southwestern coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and the Gulf of California to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
149
Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier, 1833)
‫عقار‬
‫صيمة األعماق‬
Mackerel scad ‫ماكريل سكد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 46.0 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; marine; Subtropical: 45°N–35°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). depth range 20–400 m, usu- 180°W–180°E.
Family: Carangidae ally 40–200 m.
Distribution
Circumglobal. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada, and Bermuda to approximately Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Appears to be
absent from the Gulf of Mexico. Eastern Atlantic: St. Helena, Ascension, Cape Verde, and Gulf of Guinea; Azores and Madeira. Indian Ocean: Red
Sea, Gulf of Aden, Seychelles, Mascarenes, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and Revillagigedo Island to Ecuador.
Decapterus macrosoma Bleeker, 1851
‫عقار‬
Shortfin scad ‫سكد الذيل القصير‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). depth range 20–214 m, usu-
Family: Carangidae ally 30–70 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa (no verified records from the Red Sea) to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Arafura Sea. Eastern
Pacific: Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
150
Decapterus russelli (Rüppell, 1830)
‫بمبوه‬
‫عقار‬
Indian scad ‫سكد هندي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; marine; depth Tropical: 31°N–24°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum range 40–275 m. 39°E–131°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Japan, the Arafura Sea and Australia. A Lessepsian migrant. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Elagatis bipinnulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
‫غتمة‬
‫غزالة‬
‫غودة‬
‫مسلبه‬
Rainbow runner ‫سمك الطيف الوثاب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 180 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 42°N–41°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 90.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 0–150 m, usually 95°W–156°E.
Family: Carangidae published weight: 46.2 kg. 2–10 m.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA, and northern Gulf of Mexico to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: off Genoa, Italy
in the Mediterranean and from Côte d’Ivoire to Angola. Throughout the Indo-Pacific, but rare or absent in the Arabian Gulf. Eastern Pacific: mouth
of Gulf of California to Ecuador; including the Galapagos Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
151
Gnathanodon speciosus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫كفدار‬
‫دمكري‬
‫حمام‬
Golden trevally ‫الربيب الذهبي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 75.0 cm FL (male); maximum depth range 1–2 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific. Eastern Pacific: southwestern coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and Gulf of California to Ecuador. The Ara-
Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫قصمه‬
‫ديايوة المعقيب‬
Torpedo scad ‫سكد التربيد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 80.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 47°N–22°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 45.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 20–100 40°E–156°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Japan and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
152
Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫باعيلة‬
‫غلصة‬
Pilotfish ‫السمك الطيار‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 62°N–43°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male). depth range 0–30 m. 180°W–180°E.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Circumtropical in tropical seas. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada to Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: British Isles (rare
vagrant) and Bay of Biscay to Angola, including the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. Eastern Pacific: Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Can-
ada) to the Galapagos Islands. Common throughout the Indian Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Parastromateus niger (Bloch, 1795)
‫حلوايوه سوداء‬
Black pomfret ‫بمفرت اسود‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 75.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 42°N–41°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). mous; brackish; marine; 15°E–154°E.
Family: Carangidae depth range 15–105 m,
usually 15–40 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to southern Japan and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
153
Scomberoides commersonnianus Lacepède, 1801
‫بشكر‬
‫حبس‬
‫ضلعة‬
Talang queenfish ‫تاالنج ملكة االسماك‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 90.0 cm FL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: in tropical waters. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scomberoides lysan (Forsskål, 1775)
‫سمرة‬
‫سينة‬
‫حبسه‬
‫ضلعة‬
Doublespotted queenfish ‫ملكة األسماك مزدوجة البقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 110 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 60.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 0–100 30°N–30°S.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii, the Marquesas and the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to
New South Wales and Rapa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
154
Scomberoides tol (Cuvier, 1832)
‫سينة‬
‫سمرة‬
‫حبسة‬
‫ضلعة‬
Needlescaled queenfish ‫ملكة األسماك دقيقة اإلبر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 26°C–29°C.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: widespread throughout the Indian Ocean from Natal, South Africa northward and from Japan south to
Australia and east to Fiji. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810)
‫غزالة‬
‫ابو راس‬
‫جب‬
Greater amberjack ‫السريوال الكبرى‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 190 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Subtropical: 45°N–28°S,
Family: Carangidae published weight: 80.6 kg. 1–360 m, usually 18–72 m.
Distribution
Circumglobal. Indo-West Pacific: South Africa, Arabian Gulf, southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to New Cale-
donia; Mariana and Caroline islands in Micronesia. Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Nova Scotia, Canada to Brazil; also from the Gulf of Mexico and
the Caribbean Sea. Eastern Atlantic: British coast (vagrant) to Morocco and the Mediterranean. Distribution in eastern central Atlantic along the
African coast is not well established due to past confusion with Seriola carpenteri. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
155
Selaroides leptolepis (Cuvier, 1833)
‫صيمة صفراء‬
‫صينة‬
Yellowstripe scad ‫سكد اصفر النطاق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 22.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 26°N–24°S, 57°E
Order: Perciformes mon length: 15.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; –154°E.
Family: Carangidae published weight: 625 g. depth range 1–25 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to the Philippines, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea, and Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Seriolina nigrofasciata (Rüppell, 1829)
‫غزاله سوداء‬
‫دبسة‬
Blackbanded trevally ‫ربيب النطاقات السوداء‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia. Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa. The
156
Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch, 1793)
‫صيمة‬
‫بالج‬
Bigeye scad ‫سكد كبير العين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 47°N–24°S,
Order: Perciformes depth range 0–170 m, usually 140°W–154°E.
Family: Carangidae 2–10 m.
Distribution
Circumtropical. Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Rapa, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to New Caledo-
nia. Eastern Pacific: Mexico to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada, and Bermuda through the Gulf of
Mexico and the Caribbean to to São Paulo, Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Cape Verde to southern Angola. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Trachinotus africanus Smith, 1967
‫رحيسة‬
‫طالح‬
Southern pompano ‫البامبو الجنوبي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 92.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 14.1 kg. marine; depth range 20–50
Family: Carangidae m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden and Sea of Oman, Mozambique, and South Africa to western Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
157
Trachinotus baillonii (Lacepède, 1801)
‫ابو لويفه‬
Smallspotted dart ‫سمكة السهم صغير البقع‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Line and Mangaréva islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe, and Rapa. The Arabi-
Trachinotus blochii (Lacepède, 1801)
‫رحيسة صفراء‬
‫طالح‬
‫صلبوخ‬
Snubnose pompano ‫بامبو قصير الخطم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 110 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 32°N–32°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth upto 7 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marshall Islands and Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The
158
Trachinotus botla (Shaw, 1803)
‫ابو لويفه‬
Largespotted dart ‫سمكة السهم كبير البقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 75.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Somalia and Kenya to Algoa Bay, South Africa; also Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and western Australia. The Arabi-
Trachinotus mookalee Cuvier, 1832
‫رحيسة‬
‫الطالح الصغير‬
Indian pompano ‫البامبو الهندي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 90.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 8100 g.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
159
Ulua mentalis (Cuvier, 1833)
‫ديايوه‬
‫خياط‬
Longrakered trevally ‫الربيب طويل الجراف‬
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and Madagascar eastward to Taiwan and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Uraspis helvola (Forster, 1801)
‫ديايوه‬
‫صالة غزور‬
Whitemouth jack ‫جاك الفم االبيض‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 58.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 20°N–20°S.
Family: Carangidae
Distribution
Southeast Atlantic: St. Helena and Ascension islands. Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea, off Oman and Sri Lanka. East-
ern Pacific: Hawaiian and Revillagigedo islands. Reported from the Arafura Sea. Verified records from the Western Central Pacific are pending. The
160
Centriscus scutatus Linnaeus, 1758
‫الشاحوف‬
Grooved razor-fish ‫سمكة مشوكة الخد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 15.0 cm TL (male/un- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Order: Syngnathiformes sexed). marine; depth range 3–100
Family: Centriscidae m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia. The
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161
Psenopsis cyanea (Alcock, 1890)
‫عندق‬
Indian ruff ‫راف هندي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male); com- Bathydemersal; marine; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 16.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 179–300 m.
Family: Centrolophidae published weight: 170 g.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: irregularly distributed off the east and west coasts of India. Also known from off Socotra and the
mouth of the Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Acanthocepola abbreviata (Valenciennes, 1835)
‫بمبلي‬
‫سيف مندو‬
‫خردويل‬
Bandfish ‫السمكة الحزام‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male). Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical: 31°N–29°S,
Order: Perciformes 47°E–155°E.
Family: Cepolidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman to the Indo-Malayan region and Gulf of Carpentaria. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
162
Acanthocepola indica (Day, 1888)
Onion ‫بصل ابو نقطه‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm TL (male). Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical; 27°N–20°N,
Family: Cepolidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Natal in South Africa, India and Japan. Recently reported from Taiwan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chaetodon auriga Forsskål, 1775
‫مشط اصفر الذيل‬

Threadfin butterflyfish ‫سمكة فراشة الزعنفة الخيطية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 23.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 30°N–20°S.
Family: Chaetodontidae 1–35 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (extending to Mossel Bay, South Africa) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands,
north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
163
Chaetodon austriacus Rüppell, 1836
‫المشط األنيق‬
Blacktail butterflyfish ‫سمكة فراشة الذيل األسود‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 30°N–10°N.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chaetodon collare Bloch, 1787
‫مشط النطاقات البيضاء‬

Redtail butterflyfish ‫سمكة الفراشة حمراء الذيل‬
Family: Chaetodontidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and Maldives to Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
164
Chaetodon dialeucos Salm & Mee, 1989
‫مشط الزعانف السوداء‬

Oman butterflyfish ‫سمكة الفراشة العمانية‬
Distribution
Chaetodon gardineri Norman, 1939
‫المشط األصفر‬
Gardner’s butterflyfish ‫سمكة فراشة الحديقة‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden to the Sea of Oman eastward to Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
165
Chaetodon larvatus Cuvier, 1831
‫المشط المخطط‬
Hooded butterflyfish ‫سمكة الفراشة المقنعة‬
Distribution
Chaetodon leucopleura Playfair, 1867
‫المشط المكحل‬
Somali butterflyfish ‫سمكة الفراشة الصومالية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum size: 18.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Farsan Archipelago of the southern Red Sea and East Africa south to Zanzibar in Tanzania; including
the Aldabra Islands and Seychelles. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
166
Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802)
‫المشط المبرقع‬
Raccoon butterflyfish ‫سمكة فراشة الراكون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum size: 20.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–32°S.
Order: Perciformes mum reported age: 9 years. depth range 0–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and
Rapa islands. Southeast Atlantic: East London, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chaetodon melapterus Guichenot, 1863
‫المشط األصفر المبرقع‬

‫مشط العروس‬
Arabian butterflyfish ‫سمكة الفراشة العربية‬
Order: Perciformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman; off the Red Sea coast of Yemen and other islands to the south. Although
the type locality was stated to be Reunion and cited by several references as occurring there, it is probably erroneous; the species apparently does
not occur in the Mascarenes. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
167
Chaetodon nigropunctatus Sauvage, 1880
‫المشط األسود‬
Black-spotted butterflyfish ‫سمكة فراشة النقط السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum size: 14.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman, southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula south to tropical East Africa. The
Chaetodon semilarvatus Cuvier, 1831
‫المشط األصفر‬
Bluecheek butterflyfish ‫سمكة الفراشة زرقاء الخد‬
Distribution
168
Chaetodon trifascialis Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
‫مشط الخطوط السود‬

Chevron butterflyfish ‫سمكة فراشة شفرون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum size: 18.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758
‫مشط البرقع المخطط‬

Vagabond butterflyfish ‫سمكة الفراشة المتشردة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum size: 23.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 28°N–32°S.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Lord Howe, and
the Austral islands. Closely related to Chaetodon decussatus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
169
Hemitaurichthys zoster (Bennett, 1831)
‫مشط النور‬
Brown-and-white butterflyfish ‫سمكة الفراشة البنية البيضاء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: –28°S.
Order: Perciformes tory; marine; depth starting
Family: Chaetodontidae from 1 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: East Africa to Guam, north to India, south to Mauritius. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Heniochus acuminatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫مشط المرجان الشهير‬

Pennant coralfish ‫سمك بينانت المرجان‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 15.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 2–75 m,
Family: Chaetodontidae usually 15–75 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa and Arabian Gulf to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.
Throughout Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
170
Roa jayakari (Norman, 1939)
‫مشط البقع السود‬

Indian golden-barred butterflyfish ‫سمكة فراشة الهند الذهبية المخططة‬
Order: Perciformes depth starting from 33 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to the west coast of India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Champsodon omanensis Regan, 1908
‫النهاش ابو مقل‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.6 cm SL (male). Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water.
Family: Champsodontidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Dahlak Archipelago, Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, and has been collected in the central Red Sea. It is
not clear whether there are two separate populations, one of the deep water (360–380 m) and one of the deep sea (1085–1120 m) or whether vertical
migrations of 700 m or more take place. Gene flow occurs between the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aqaba. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
171
Chanos chanos (Forsskål, 1775)
‫عيفا‬
‫ابو خبيب‬
Milkfish ‫سمك الحليب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 180 cm SL (male/unsexed); Benthopelagic; amphidro- Tropical: 15°C–43°C;
Order: Gonorynchiformes 124 cm SL (female); common length: 100.0 mous; freshwater; brackish; 46°N–52°S, 19°E–77°W.
Family: Chanidae cm SL (male); maximum published weight: marine; depth range 1–30 m.
14.0 kg; maximum reported age: 15 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: along continental shelves and around islands, where temperatures are greater than 20°C. Red Sea and South Africa
to Hawaii and the Marquesas, north to Japan, south to Victoria, Australia. Eastern Pacific: San Pedro, California to the Galapagos. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Chirocentrus dorab (Forsskål, 1775)
‫صفلق‬
‫سيف البحر‬
Dorab wolf-herring ‫رنجة الذئب دوراب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm SL (male); 36.6 Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 35°N–20°S,
Order: Clupeiformes cm SL (female); common length: 60.0 cm TL mous; brackish; marine; 40°E–156°E.
Family: Chirocentridae (male). depth upto 120 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: probably throughout the warmer coastal waters, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north
to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Recently reported from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
172
Chirocentrus nudus Swainson, 1839
‫صفلق‬
‫سيف البحر‬
Whitefin wolf-herring ‫رنجة الذئب بيضاء الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm SL (male); maxi- Pelagic–neritic; marine; Tropical: 33°N–33°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mum published weight: 410 g. depth range 0–150 m. 29°E–152°E.
Family: Chirocentridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, south to Australia. Questionably occurring in the Mas-
carenes. Probably similar to that of Chirocentrus dorab, but not always distinguished from that species. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cirrhitichthys calliurus Regan, 1905
‫ابو حجل‬
‫سمان‬
Spottedtail hawkfish ‫سمك الصقر المترصد‬
Family: Cirrhitidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden to Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
173
Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1855)
‫الزعانف الريشية‬
Coral hawkfish ‫سمكة ذئب المرجان‬
Order: Perciformes depth range 1–40 m, usually 30°N–23°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Cirrhitidae 10–25 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to East London, South Africa and east to the Marquesan Islands, north to the Mariana Islands, south
to New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Colombia and the Galapagos Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cirrhitus pinnulatus (Forster, 1801)
‫هامور الصخور‬
‫السمان‬
Stocky hawkfish ‫سمكة الصقر البدينة‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan Islands and Mangaréva, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian
Islands, south to the Kermadec, and Rapa Islands. Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
174
Paracirrhites forsteri (Schneider, 1801)
Blackside hawkfish ‫سمكة الصقر جانبية السواد‬

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to
New Caledonia, and the Austral Islands. Unknown from the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Amblygaster sirm (Walbaum, 1792)
Spotted sardinella ‫العومة المنقطة‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 27.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 35°N–28°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male); maximum depth range 10–75 m. 31°E–178°W.
Family: Clupeidae reported age: 8 years.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Mozambique to the Philippines, north to Taiwan and Okinawa (Japan), south to New Guinea,
the Arafura Sea, northern Australia, and Fiji. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
175
Anodontostoma chacunda (Hamilton, 1822)
‫يوافة‬
‫شغي‬
Chacunda gizzard shad ‫تشكوندا جيزارد شاد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 22.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; anadromous; Tropical: 31°N–23°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 14.0 cm SL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine; 47°E–171°E.
Family: Clupeidae depth range 0–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to coasts of India and Andaman Sea, to Gulf of Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Philippines,
south to northern Australia, the Caroline Islands, and New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Dussumieria acuta Valenciennes, 1847
‫سموكه‬
Rainbow sardine ‫عومة الطيف العريضة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; marine; Subtropical: 31°N–7°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 15.0 cm TL (male). depth range 10–20 m. 49°E–126°E.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Arabian Gulf (and perhaps south to Somalia), along the coasts of Pakistan, India and Malaysia to Indonesia (Kali-
mantan) and the Philippines. Earlier records included Dussumieria elopsoides. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
176
Dussumieria elopsoides Bleeker, 1849
‫سموكه‬
Slender rainbow sardine ‫عومة الطيف النحيلة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; marine; Subtropical: 36°N–19°S,
Order: Clupeiformes depth range 0–200 m. 32°E–164°E.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Suez and western Indian Ocean (the Arabian Gulf to Mombasa; possibly to Madagascar) to China, the Arafura
Sea and to about Solomon Islands. Previous records of Dussumieria acuta from northeastern Indian Ocean would refer to this species. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Escualosa thoracata (Valenciennes, 1847)
‫ام لحيم‬
White sardine ‫العومة البيضاء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; amphidro- Tropical: 27°N–22°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 8.0 cm SL (male); maximum re- mous; freshwater; brackish; 64°E–151°E.
Family: Clupeidae ported age: 1 years. marine; depth range 0–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: northern Indian Ocean (Karachi eastward to Rangoon) to Thailand, Indonesia (Java Sea), the Philippines,
Papua New Guinea, and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
177
Herklotsichthys lossei Wongratana, 1983
‫سموكه العين الكبيرة‬

‫عومة‬
Gulf herring ‫رنجة الخليج‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.0 cm SL (male); common Pelagic–neritic; marine; Subtropical: 31°N–24°N,
Order: Clupeiformes length: 7.0 cm SL (male). depth range 0–50 m. 47°E–57°E.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf, possibly also the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus (Rüppell, 1837)
‫عومة عريضة‬
Bluestripe herring ‫رنجة الشريط األزرق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 39°N–33°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 10.0 cm SL (male). marine; depth range 1–13 m. 29°E–178°W.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: widespread, East Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius eastward to Japan, eastern Australia, Samoa. Introduced into
Hawaii—apparently by accident—where it is now abundant. (Most previous data published under the name Herklotsichthys punctatus). At least one
country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
178
Hilsa kelee Cuvier, 1829
‫يوافة‬
‫صبور‬
Kelee shad ‫كيلي شاد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; anadromous; Tropical: 25°N–18°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 16.5 cm SL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine; 43°E–155°E.
Family: Clupeidae depth range beyond 10 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: probably all coasts of Indian Ocean, from Sea of Oman and Gulf of Aden south to Transkei, South Africa
and Madagascar, across the Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Thailand, Java Sea and north to Hong Kong and east to Papua New Guinea, and possibly further.
Nematalosa arabica Regan, 1917
‫شغي‬
‫يوافة‬
Arabian gizzard shad ‫يوافة عربية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.5 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; marine. Tropical: 27°N–10°N,
Order: Clupeiformes 41°E–65°E.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden to Sea of Oman; no records from Red Sea or the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
179
Nematalosa nasus (Bloch, 1795)
‫يوافة‬
‫شغي‬
‫جراف‬
Bloch’s gizzard shad ‫يوافة الريشه‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 22.0 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; anadromous; Tropical: 38°N–1°N,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 15.0 cm SL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine; 47°E–136°E.
Family: Clupeidae depth range 0–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden north to the Arabian Gulf, then eastward to the Andaman Sea, South China Sea and the Phil-
ippines, and north to southern tip of Korea. Single record from South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Opisthopterus tardoore (Cuvier, 1829)
‫عومة عريضة‬
Tardoore ‫رنجة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; amphidro- Tropical: 29°N–8°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mous; brackish; marine. 55°E–118°E.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: in tropical waters, from the Sea of Oman to at least Madras, perhaps to the north and along the coasts of
Myanmar, certainly at Penang, to the Java Sea, and Gulf of Thailand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
180
Sardinella albella (Valenciennes, 1847)
‫سموكة البطن العريض‬

‫عوم‬
White sardinella ‫العومة البيضاء‬
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 10.0 cm SL (male). depth range 0–50 m. 32°E–155°E.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, East African coasts, Madagascar eastward to Indonesia, and the Arafura Sea, north
to Taiwan and south to Papua New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Spratelloides delicatulus (Bennett, 1832)
‫عومة الذيل الشفاف‬

Delicate round herring ‫الرنجة الدائرية الرقيقة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 40°N–29°S,
Order: Clupeiformes depth range 0–200 m. 29°E–143°W.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Society Islands (but not the Tuamoto and Marquesan islands), north to southern
Japan, south to northern Australia. Single specimen from eastern Mediterranean (Palestine). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
181
Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker, 1849)
‫سموكة زرقاء‬
‫عوم‬
Goldstripe sardinella ‫عومة الشريط الذهبي‬
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 15.0 cm SL (male); maximum depth range 10–70 m. 43°E–135°E.
Family: Clupeidae reported age: 7 years.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf, East Africa and Madagascar to Indonesia, north to Taiwan and Korea south to the Arafura
Sea, and northern Australia. Often confused with Sardinella fimbriata in Indian waters. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes, 1847
‫عيد‬
‫سردين‬
‫عومة‬
Indian oil sardine ‫العومة الهندية الزيتية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 23.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 25°N–7°N,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 57°E–81°E.
Family: Clupeidae published weight: 200 g; maximum reported 20–200 m.
age: 3 years.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: northern and western parts only, Gulf of Aden, Sea of Oman, but apparently not Red Sea or the Arabian Gulf,
eastward to southern part of India, on eastern coast to Andhra; possibly to the Andaman Islands. Thus, studies pertaining to this species from the
Philippines or Indonesia probably refer to Sardinella lemuru. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
182
Sardinella melanura (Cuvier, 1829)
‫عومة‬
Blacktip sardinella ‫عومة الظهر األسود‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 15.2 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; amphidro- Tropical: 26°N–23°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 10.0 cm SL (male). mous; marine; depth range 37°E–179°W.
Family: Clupeidae 0–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden south to Madagascar and Mauritius and east to the Arabian Sea and northwestern India (ap-
parently not found south of Bombay nor in northern Bay of Bengal); then from Indonesia (but not in South China Sea) to Samoa. Reported from
the Penghu Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sardinella sindensis (Day, 1878)
‫سردين‬
‫عيد‬
Sind sardinella ‫عومة السند‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 17.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; marine; Tropical: 30°N–10°N,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 14.0 cm SL (male). depth range 0–200 m. 42°E–74°E.
Family: Clupeidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea, from Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Gulf and Bombay. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
183
Spratelloides gracilis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Silver-stripe round herring ‫رنجة الشريط الفضي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.5 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; marine; Tropical: 40°N–28°S,
Order: Clupeiformes depth range approximately 31°E–134°W.
Family: Clupeidae to 40 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Zanzibar and east to the western Pacific (Japan south through the Philippines to southeastern and
western Australia, east to Samoa (excluding the Cook, Society and Marquesas islands), and the Tuamoto Islands. Occurs in Palau and the Marshall
Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Tenualosa toli (Valenciennes, 1847)
‫يوافة‬
‫صبور العراق‬
Toli shad ‫تولي شاد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 60.0 cm TL male; common Pelagic-neritic; anadromous; Tropical; 23°N - 7°S, 70°E -
Order: Clupeiformes length: 40.0 cm TL male; max. Reported age: freshwater; brackish; marine; 119°E.
Family: Clupeidae 2 years. depth range beyond 10 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: India to the Java Sea and the South China Sea. Newly recorded from Mauritius. May be found in Cambodian
Mekong near the Viet Nam border. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
184
Bathycongrus macrocercus Alcock, 1894
‫حوين‬
‫مزف‬
‫نمر البحر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Bathydemersal; marine. Deep-water.
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Congridae
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean: Andaman Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Bathymyrus echinorhynchus Alcock, 1889
‫حوين‬
‫نمر‬
Eel – moray ‫ثعبان البحر ـ موراي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Bathypelagic; marine. Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Order: Anguilliformes depth range 3–15 m.
Family: Congridae
Distribution
North-Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
185
Conger cinereus Rüppell, 1830
‫مزف‬
Longfin African conger ‫الثعبان االفريقي ذو الزعنفة الطويلة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 130 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 32°N - 47°S, 24°E
Order: Anguilliformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 1–80 m. - 140°W.
Family: Congridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan and Easter islands, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands,
south to northern Australia and Lord Howe Island. The Hawaiian population has been recognized as a separate subspecies, Conger cinereus mar-
ginatus. Whether the species is homogeneous over the rest of its range needs further study. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Xenomystax trucidans Alcock, 1894
‫حوين‬
‫مزف‬
‫نمر البحر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 64.5 cm TL (male). Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water.
Order: Anguilliformes depth range approximately to
Family: Congridae 1316 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Maldives and Laccadives. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
186
Coryphaena equiselis Linnaeus, 1758
‫عنفلوص‬
Pompano dolphinfish ‫سمك الدولفين الشراعي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 127 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 24°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine. 48°N–48°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Coryphaenidae reported age: 4 years.
Distribution
Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Frequently misidentified as juvenile or female of Coryphaena hippurus. Highly
migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758
‫عنفلوص‬
Common dolphinfish ‫سمك الدولفين الشهير‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 210 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 21°C–30°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 100.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 47°N–38°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Coryphaenidae published weight: 40.0 kg; maximum report- depth range 0–85 m, usually
ed age: 4 years. 5–10 m.
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
187
Cynoglossus acutirostris Norman, 1939
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
Sharpnose tonguesole ‫االنف الحاد و اللسان الوحيد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male); com- Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water.
Family: Cynoglossidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Cynoglossus acutirostris is very similar to Cynoglossus carpenteri. The
Cynoglossus arel (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
‫لسان‬
Largescale tonguesole ‫وحيد اللسان واسع النطاقات‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal: amphidromous; Tropical: 30°N–5°S.
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine;
Family: Cynoglossidae depth range 9–125m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Sri Lanka and Indonesia, north to southern Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
188
Cynoglossus bilineatus (Lacepède, 1802)
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
‫لسان‬
Fourlined tonguesole ‫اللسان رباعي الخطوط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 44.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical: 26°C–29°C.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf, off Pakistan, the west coast of India and Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, and the
north and east coasts of Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cynoglossus carpenteri Alcock, 1889
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
Hooked tonguesole ‫اللسان المعقوف‬
Order: Pleuronectiformes depth range 27–420 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: seas of India to Arabian Gulf. Cynoglossus carpenteri is closely related to Cynoglossus acutirostris. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
189
Cynoglossus dispar Day, 1877
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
Roundhead toungesole ‫اللسان دائري الرأس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 38.9 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine. Deep-water.
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male).
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Pakistan to Madras, India. Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cynoglossus dubius Day, 1873
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
Carrot tonguesole ‫اللسان الجزرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine. Deep-water.
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male).
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: west coast of India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
190
Cynoglossus kopsii (Bleeker, 1851)
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
‫لسان‬
Shortheaded tonguesole ‫اللسان قصير الرأس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 60.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Taiwan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cynoglossus lachneri Menon, 1977
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
Lachner’s tonguesole ‫اللسان الوحيد الش‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Sea of Oman, and East Africa from Kenya to Delagoa Bay, Mozambique; including Seychelles,
Mauritius, Madagascar, and the Comoro Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
191
Cynoglossus puncticeps (Richardson, 1846)
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
‫لسان‬
Speckled tonguesole ‫اللسان األرقط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; freshwater; brack- Tropical
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 9.0 cm TL (male). ish; marine; depth range
Family: Cynoglossidae 1–140 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: India eastward to the Malay Archipelago and the South China Sea, southward to the Philippines and north-
west Australia; eastward to New Guinea. A related species, Cynoglossus gilchristi Regan, 1920 is recorded from Madagascar, the holotype (BMNH
n°1903.9.29:2) being from Natal, off Umlanga River. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Paraplagusia blochii (Bleeker, 1851)
‫وطية داكنة‬
‫لبد‬
Bloch’s tonguesole ‫اللسان بلوخ‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 22.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical
Order: Pleuronectiformes depth range 7–80 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: southern Oman to Papua New Guinea, north to Taiwan and Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
192
Dactyloptena gilberti Snyder, 1909
‫جراد البحر‬
Flying gurnard ‫الميج الطيار‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes range 20–73 m.
Family: Dactylopteridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: southern Japan and the Gulf of Thailand to India and Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829)
Oriental flying gurnard ‫الميج الشرقي شائك الرأس‬

Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–100 m.
Family: Dactylopteridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan and the Oga-
sawara Islands, south to Australia and New Zealand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
193
Dinoperca petersi (Day, 1875)
Lampfish ‫سمكة القنديل‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 75.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 26°N–34°S.
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 5000 g. depth range approximately
Family: Dinopercidae to 50 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Pakistan, southern Oman, Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa. Presence in Somalia to be confirmed.
Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫بقم‬
‫فقل‬
Spotfin burrfish ‫سمكة القنفذ الخشن المنقط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 55.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). depth range 20–100 m.
Family: Diodontidae
Distribution
Worldwide in tropical seas but occurrence patchy. Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Namibia, including Madeira. Western Atlantic:
Bermuda, West Indies. Western Indian Ocean: Reunion and Mauritius. Eastern Indian Ocean: Indonesia and northwestern Australia. Eastern Pacif-
ic: Hawaii, then California, USA to Chile. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
194
Cyclichthys orbicularis (Bloch, 1785)
‫بقم‬
‫فقل‬
Birdbeak burrfish ‫سمكة القنفذ الخشن منقار الطائر‬
Family: Diodontidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to Australia, and New Caledonia.
Southeast Atlantic: south coast of South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cyclichthys spilostylus (Leis & Randall, 1982)
‫بقم‬
‫فقل‬
Spotbase burrfish ‫سمكة القنفذ الخشن منقط البطن‬
Family: Diodontidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and east to southern Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and New Caledonia. Eastern
Pacific: Galapagos Islands. Eastern Mediterranean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
195
Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758
‫بقم‬
‫فقل‬
Longspined porcupinefish ‫سمكة القنفذ القارض طويل االشواك‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 15.0 cm TL (male). depth range 2–200 m, usually 8°E–55°W.
Family: Diodontidae 2–35 m.
Distribution
Circumtropical in distribution. Western Atlantic: Canada, Florida, USA, and the Bahamas to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: 30°N to
23S; also South Africa. Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea to Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius. Pacific Ocean: southern Japan south to
Lord Howe Island and east to the Hawaiian and Easter islands. Also from southern California, USA to Colombia, and the Galapagos Islands. The
Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758
‫بقم‬
‫فقل‬
Spot-fin porcupinefish ‫سمكة القنفذ القارض منقط الزعانف‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 2–50 m, usually 111°E–37°E.
Family: Diodontidae published weight: 2800 g. 3–20 m.
Distribution
Circumtropical. Eastern Pacific: San Diego, California, USA to Chile, including the Galapagos Islands. Western Atlantic: Ber-
muda, Massachusetts (USA), and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: 30°N to 23‫ر‬S. Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Madagascar,
Reunion, and Mauritius. Mediterranean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
196
Diodon liturosus Shaw, 1804
‫بقم‬
‫فقل‬
Black-blotched porcupinefish ‫سمكة القنفذ القارض أسود النطاقات‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes depth range 1–90 m, usually
Family: Diodontidae 15–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales. Not present in Hawaii.
Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lophodiodon calori (Bianconi, 1854)
‫بقم‬
‫فقل‬
Four-bar porcupinefish ‫سمكة القنفذ القارض رباعي النطاقات‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm SL (male). Marine; demersal; depth Tropical
Order: Tetraodontiformes upto 100 m.
Family: Diodontidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
197
Drepane longimana (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫مشط ابيض‬
‫عماد‬
Concertina fish ‫السمك الشائك‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 23.0 cm TL (male). mous; brackish; marine;
Family: Drepaneidae depth upto 50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, New Guinea and Philippines, north to Taiwan and Japan, south to
northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758
‫لزاق‬
Live sharksucker ‫مصاصة القرش الحية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 110 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Subtropical: 45°N–45°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 66.0 cm SL (male); maximum marine; depth range 20–50 180°W–180°E.
Family: Echeneidae published weight: 2300 g. m.
Distribution
Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada, and Bermuda to Uruguay. Eastern Central Atlantic: Madeira Island.
The Arabian Sea coast Oman.
198
Phtheirichthys lineatus (Menzies, 1791)
‫لزاق‬
Slender suckerfish ‫سمكة المصاص النحيلة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 76.0 cm TL (male). Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical
Order: Perciformes mous; marine; depth range
Family: Echeneidae 0–1 m.
Distribution
Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. Western Atlantic: South Carolina, USA, and northern Gulf of Mexico to northern
South America. Western Central Pacific: Guam. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Remorina albescens (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850)
‫لزاق أبيض‬
White suckerfish ‫سمك المصاص االبيض‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 30.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical
Family: Echeneidae
Distribution
Worldwide in warm seas. Western Indian Ocean: including Reunion and Mauritius. Eastern Pacific: off San Francisco in Cali-
fornia, USA to Chile, but rare north of Baja California in Mexico. Western Atlantic: Florida in USA and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Central
Atlantic: St. Paul’s Rocks. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
199
Remora brachyptera (Lowe, 1839)
‫لزاق‬
Spearfish remora ‫سمك اللزاق رمحي الخطم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). mous; marine.
Family: Echeneidae
Distribution
Worldwide in warm seas. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada to Brazil. Eastern Central Atlantic: Madeira Island. The Ara-
Remora osteochir (Cuvier, 1829)
‫لزاق‬
Marlin sucker ‫سمك مصاص مارلين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical
Family: Echeneidae
Distribution
Warm and temperate seas of all oceans. Western Central Pacific: Guam. Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Peru.
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA, and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Central Atlantic: Madeira Island. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
200
Remora remora (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫لزاق‬
Shark sucker ‫مصاص القرش‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 0–100 m. 180°W–180°E.
Family: Echeneidae published weight: 1070 g.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan in warm waters. Western Pacific: Japan to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Eastern Pacific: San Francisco in
California, USA to Chile. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada to Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: North Sea to the Canary Islands, including the
western Mediterranean. Recorded from Iceland and between Sweden and Denmark. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ophiocara porocephala (Valenciennes, 1837)
‫صليحوة رمادية‬
Northern mud gudgeon ‫سمكة الطين الشمالية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 34.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical: 20°C–30°C.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine.
Family: Eleotridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the Philippines, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia, and New Caledonia. The
201
Elops machnata (Forsskål, 1775)
‫عيفا‬
‫بو خبيب‬
Tenpounder ‫مدق الهاون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 118 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 38°N–37°S,
Order: Elopiformes mon length: 50.0 cm SL (male); maximum mous; freshwater; brackish; 22°E–153°W.
Family: Elopidae published weight: 10.8 kg. marine.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Mossel Bay, South Africa, and east to India and western Pacific. Africa: Inland waters. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Erythrocles schlegelii (Richardson, 1846)
‫حمراء نقلية‬
Japanese rubyfish ‫سمك روبي الياباني‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 72.0 cm TL male. Demersal; marine, usually Deep water
Order: Perciformes 215 - 300 m.
Family: Emmelichthyidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: known only from Japan (type locality), Korea, Natal (South Africa), Kenya and Oman Sea Reported from
the central South China Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
202
Encrasicholina devisi (Whitley, 1940)
‫برية‬
Devis’ anchovy ‫األنشوجة دفيس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.0 cm SL (male); common Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 32°N–28°S,
Order: Clupeiformes length: 7.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 10–13 43°E–173°W.
Family: Engraulidae m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: widespread in the northern part of the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Aden, but apparently not the Red Sea nor Kenya,
the Arabian Gulf, India, Andaman Islands), and Western Central Pacific (Indonesia, Thailand, north to at least Taiwan Island, south to northern
Australia; also eastward to Fiji and Tonga). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Encrasicholina heteroloba (Rüppell, 1837)
‫برية كلبوه‬
Shorthead anchovy ‫أنشوجة الرأس القصير‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Tropical: 32°N–25°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 7.5 cm. mous; marine; depth range 30°E–177°W.
Family: Engraulidae 20–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to northern Madagascar and the Bay of Bengal; southern Japan and northern coast of
Australia to the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
203
Encrasicholina punctifer Fowler, 1938
‫البرية الكبيرة‬
Buccaneer anchovy ‫أنشوجة القرصان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; oceanodro- Tropical: 42°N–35°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mous; marine. 30°E–140°E.
Family: Engraulidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf south to perhaps Durban in South Africa, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and probably
Burma. Also from southern Japan to China, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia south to Brisbane, Australia, Japan eastward to Hawaii, the Solomon
Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tahiti. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Stolephorus commersonnii Lacepède, 1803
‫برية بيضاء‬
Commerson’s anchovy ‫أنشوجة كوميرسون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; anadromous; Tropical: 27°N–24°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 8.5 cm SL (male). brackish; marine; depth 38°E–155°E.
Family: Engraulidae range 0–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, from Gulf of Aden to Zanzibar, northern Madagascar and Mauritius (but not from Red Sea or
Arabian Gulf) eastward to Hong Kong, and Papua New Guinea. Apparently replaced by Stolephorus apiensis in Fiji and Samoa. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
204
Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823)
Indian anchovy ‫برية الهند‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 15.5 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 30°N–37°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 12.0 cm SL (male). mous; brackish; marine; 23°E–144°W.
Family: Engraulidae depth range 20–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa, including the Arabian Gulf, Madagascar and Mauritius eastward to Hong Kong, the
Arafura Sea, northern and eastern coasts of Australia and further east to Samoa, and Tahiti. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Thryssa baelama (Forsskål, 1775)
‫برية بحر العرب‬

Baelama anchovy ‫انشوجة باالما‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 31°N–25°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 10.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 0–50 m. 30°E–172°W.
Family: Engraulidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, east to Samoa, north to the Philippine, Caroline and Mariana
islands. The Ogasawara (Bonin) record seems reliable. No Indian specimens. Probably occurs in the Arabian Gulf. Occurrence in Thailand needs to
be confirmed. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
205
Thryssa hamiltonii Gray, 1835
‫بشعه‬
‫برية ام لحيم‬
Hamilton’s thryssa ‫ثريسا هاملتون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 27.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; amphidro- Tropical: 31°N - 25°S, 52°E
Order: Clupeiformes mous; brackish; marine; - 152°E.
Family: Engraulidae depth range 10–13 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Arabian Gulf eastward to Myanmar, Andamans and Penang; Taiwan south to Arafura Sea, the northern coasts of
Australia and Papua New Guinea; Sarawak; a record from the Bonin Islands; presumably the Philippines; perhaps not eastward to the Hebrides, etc.
Thryssa setirostris (Broussonet, 1782)
‫بشعه‬
‫برية صفراء‬
Longjaw thryssa ‫ثريسا الفك الطويل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; brackish; ma- Tropical: 28°N–40°S,
Order: Clupeiformes mon length: 15.0 cm SL (male). rine; depth range 1–20 m. 21°E–170°E.
Family: Engraulidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Sea of Oman south to Port Alfred, no records from the Red Sea and Madagascar; coasts of Pakistan, India, prob-
ably Burma; Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines to Taiwan; also the Arafura Sea, northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and New
Hebrides. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
206
Thryssa vitrirostris (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908)
‫برية الزعانف الصفراء‬

Orangemouth anchovy ‫برية الفم البرتقالي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male). Pelagic–neritic; brackish; ma- Tropical: 31°N–40°S,
Order: Clupeiformes rine; depth range 0–50 m. 20°W–88°E.
Family: Engraulidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Madagascar, coasts of Africa from Port Alfred northward to the Arabian Gulf but not in the Red Sea, coasts of
Pakistan and India, perhaps to Calcutta and off Myanmar, but no records. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ephippus orbis (Bloch, 1787)
‫مشط‬
‫ثور‬
‫عماد‬
Orbfish ‫السمك الدائري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mous; marine; depth range
Family: Ephippidae 10–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Natal, South Africa, eastward to India and Lesser Sunda Island, Indonesia, north to Japan
and Taiwan, south to northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
207
Platax orbicularis (Forsskål, 1775)
‫يفيوف النطاقات‬
‫عماد‬
‫ثور‬
Orbicular batfish ‫سمك الخفاش الدائري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 22°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 60.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 5–30 m. 32°N–23°S.
Family: Ephippidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia and New
Caledonia. Recorded off the coast of Florida in the Western Central Atlantic. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Platax teira (Forsskål, 1775)
‫يفيوف الفتات‬
Tiera batfish ‫سمكة الخفاش تيرا‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 30°N–24°S.
Order: Perciformes mous; marine; depth upto
Family: Ephippidae 20 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
208
Cheilopogon abei Parin, 1996
‫جرادة‬
Abe’s flyingfish ‫السمك الطائر ابيس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 22.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 20°N -
Order: Beloniformes mous; marine; depth range
Family: Exocoetidae 0–200 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Solomon Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cypselurus oligolepis (Bleeker, 1865)
‫جرادة‬
Largescale flyingfish ‫السمك الطائر ذو القشور الكبيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 27.7 cm TL (male). Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 25°N–25°S.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: tropical waters from East Africa to southern China, Solomon Islands and Queensland, Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
209
Hirundichthys coromandelensis (Hornell, 1923)
‫جرادة‬
Coromandel flyingfish ‫السمك الطائر كرومانديل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 19.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Tropical
Order: Beloniformes mous; marine.
Family: Exocoetidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea but absent from the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Also occurs in the Bay of Bengal. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Hirundichthys oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1852)
‫جرادة‬
Bony flyingfish ‫السمك الطائر العظمي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 30°N–34°S.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Sea to southern Japan, New Guinea and New South Wales, Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
210
Parexocoetus mento (Valenciennes, 1847)
‫جراد البحر الصغير‬

‫جرادة‬
African sailfin flyingfish ‫السمكك الطائر الشراعي األفريقي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical; 30°N–23°S,
Order: Beloniformes mous; marine; depth range 20°E–178°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: widespread from East Africa, including the Red Sea and the Gulf, to southern Japan, Marshall Islands, Fiji, the
Arafura Sea and Queensland, Australia. Migrated to eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. Presence in Somalia to be confirmed. Records
from the Atlantic (as Parexocoetus mento atlanticus) are in error. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Prognichthys brevipinnis (Valenciennes, 1847)
‫جراده‬
Shortfin flyingfish ‫السمك الطائر قصير الزعنفة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 19.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Okinawa, Palau, and Fiji. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
211
Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1838
‫ابو شلم‬
Bluespotted cornetfish ‫سمك البوق ازرق النقاط‬
Order: Syngnathiformes mon length: 100.0 cm TL (male). depth range 0–132 m.
Family: Fistulariidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Rapa and Easter Island, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and New Zealand.
Eastern Central Pacific: Mexico to Panama, including offshore islands. First record in the Mediterranean was reported. Often misidentified as Fistu-
laria petimba, a reddish or brownish-orange deep-water species with bony plates along dorsal midline. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Fistularia petimba Lacepède, 1803
‫ابو شلم‬
‫اوبيري‬
Red cornetfish ‫سمك البوق األحمر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 200 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 44°N–39°S.
Order: Syngnathiformes mon length: 180 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 10–200
Family: Fistulariidae published weight: 4650 g. m, usually 18–57 m.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: southeastern Florida, USA to Central America, Massachusetts to southern Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Galicia,
Spain, Cape Blanc, and Cape Verde to Angola. Reported from Walvis Bay, Namibia. Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and
Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to Victoria, Australia. This name has often wrongly been used for the
more common Fistularia commersonii. Mediterranean: Cadiz, Spain (southern Iberian Peninsula). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
212
Nealotus tripes Johnson, 1865
Black snake mackerel ‫ماكريل الثعبان االسود‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm SL (male); com- Bathypelagic; oceanodro- Deep-water; 47°N–35°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 15.0 cm SL (male). mous; marine; depth range 180°W–180°E.
Family: Gempylidae 914–1646 m.
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in tropical and temperate waters. The southernmost Indian Ocean occurrence (28°08°S, 49°06°E)
was based on an unpublished record (R/V VITYAZ-II, station 2781). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Neoepinnula orientalis (Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924)
‫الكنعد الشفاف‬
Sackfish ‫سمكة الكيس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm SL (male). Benthopelagic; marine; depth Deep-water: 37°N–31°S,
Order: Perciformes range 200–570 m. 32°E–140°E.
Family: Gempylidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: off East Africa (Kenya to Natal, South Africa), Saya de Malha Bank, Arabian Sea; eastern North Indian
Ocean, Flores, Banda, Arafura Sea, Sulawesi and Sulu seas, off Ryukyu Islands and southern Japan. Reported from Fiji and Tuvalu.
213
Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1833
Oilfish ‫السمك الزيتي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 300 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 55°N–43°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 150 cm SL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 180°W–180°E.
Family: Gempylidae published weight: 63.5 kg. 100–800 m, usually 200–400
m.
Distribution
Widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas of the world. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gerres infasciatus Iwatsuki & Kimura, 1998
‫خانب البقع الصفراء‬

‫بدح الرياش‬
Nonbanded whipfin mojarra ‫خانب الزعنفة السوطية‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gerreidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: India and northern Gulf of Thailand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
214
Gerres longirostris (Lacepède, 1801)
‫خانب الزعانف الصفراء‬

Longtail silverbiddy ‫الدجاجة الفضية طويلة الذيل‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). mous; freshwater; brackish;
Family: Gerreidae marine.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to the Marquesas Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Gerres oyena (Forsskål, 1775)
‫خانب‬
Common silver-biddy ‫الدجاجة الفضية الشهيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 32°N–24°S, 32°E -
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male). marine; depth upto 20 m. 174°W.
Family: Gerreidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and East Africa, possibly including Seychelles, to the southeastern coasts of India and
around Sri Lanka; elsewhere, extending to the western Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
215
Pentaprion longimanus (Cantor, 1849)
‫خانب ابو لحيم‬

Longfin mojarra ‫موجارا الزعانف الطويلة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 15.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical: –24°S.
Family: Gerreidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: western and southern coasts of India and off Sri Lanka to Indonesia, the Philippines and Ryukyu Islands, and
south to the northern part of Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Briggsia hastingsi Craig & Randall, 2009
‫سمكة المنقار الحمراء‬

Clingfish ‫السماك المتشبث‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 2.2 cm SL (male). Pelagic; marine; reef-associ- Tropical: 16°N–17°N,
Order: Gobiesociformes ated. 54°E–55°E.
Family: Gobiesocidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Oman, southeastern coast, Rahah Bay. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
216
Lepadichthys lineatus (Briggs, 1966)
‫ليصد احمر‬
‫سمكة النمس الحمراء‬
Doubleline clingfish ‫سمكة الخطين الالصقة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 4.5 cm TL (male). Marine; reef-associated. Tropical
Order: Gobiesociformes
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: widespread in tropical waters. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Acentrogobius dayi Koumans, 1941
‫النطاط شفاف الزعانف الظهرية‬

Day’s goby ‫القوبيون العصري‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
217
Amblyeleotris diagonalis Polunin & Lubbock, 1979
‫نطاط الصخور ذو النطاقات‬

Diagonal shrimp goby ‫قوبيون الربيان القطري‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Kenya, Madagascar, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Sri Lanka, Born Island, Andaman Sea; Guadalcanal, Solomons; Flores,
Indonesia; south to the Great Barrier Reef. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Amblyeleotris downingi Randall, 1994
Downing’s shrimpgoby ‫قوبيون الربيان داونينج‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the Arabian Gulf from Kuwait to Musandam. Reported from Mentawai Islands, east-
ern Indian Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
218
Amblyeleotris periophthalma (Bleeker, 1853)
‫نطاط الصخور الزاهي‬

Periophthalma prawn-goby ‫قوبيون الربيان بريوثاالما‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 22°C–28°C; 35°N -
Order: Perciformes depth range 5–35 m, usually 23°S, 32°E - 174°W .
Family: Gobiidae 10–20 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Tonga, north to Japan and south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Amblyeleotris sungami (Klausewitz, 1969)
‫نطاط النطاقات البنية‬

Magnus’ prawn-goby ‫قوبيون الربيان ماجنوس‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Seychelles; probably more widespread in the Indo-West Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
219
Amblyeleotris triguttata Randall, 1994
Triplespot shrimpgoby ‫قوبيون الربيان ثالثي البقع‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the Red Sea, Sea of Oman, and Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Amblygobius albimaculatus (Rüppell, 1830)
Butterfly goby ‫قوبيون الفراشة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 22°C–30°C.
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa south to Durban (South Africa), including most islands in the western Indian Ocean
islands; Indonesia, Australia, and South Pacific islands. Also known from Japan and Philippines. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
220
Amblygobius nocturnus (Herre, 1945)
‫نطاط النطاقات الطولية‬

Nocturn goby ‫القوبيون المتحول‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 10.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 35°N - 28°S, 32°E
Order: Perciformes depth range 3–30 m. - 143°W
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Maldives; Red Sea, and Arabian Gulf. Pacific Ocean: Philippines to the Tuamoto Islands, north to
Yaeyama Islands, south to Rowley Shoals, southern Great Barrier Reef and Rapa; Guam and Kapingamarangi in Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Asterropteryx semipunctata Rüppell, 1830
Starry goby ‫قوبيون النجوم‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Hawaiian, Line, and Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa. The
221
Bathygobius meggitti (Hora & Mukerji, 1936)
‫نطاط الصخور النجمي‬

Meggitt’s goby ‫قوبيون الميج‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 6.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; brackish; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Boleophthalmus dussumieri Valenciennes, 1837
‫نطاط الصخور األدهم‬

Eshlambo ‫إشالمبو‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.7 cm TL (male). Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical
Order: Perciformes freshwater; brackish; marine.
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Iraq, Pakistan, and India. Probably occurs in Bangladesh. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
222
Bryaninops tigris Larson, 1985
Black coral goby ‫قوبيون الشعاب المرجانية السوداء‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Maldives and Chagos Archipelago to the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Callogobius amikami Goren, Miroz & Baranes, 1991
‫النطاط األسود‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the Gulf of Aqaba and Muscat, Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
223
Callogobius bifasciatus (Smith, 1958)
Doublebar goby ‫قوبيون ثنائي النطاقات‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Mozambique to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Coryogalops adamsoni (Goren, 1985)
Adamson’s goby ‫قوبيون ادامسون‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
224
Coryogalops anomolus Smith, 1958
Anomolous goby ‫قوبيون أنومولوس‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Zanzibar, Tanzania. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Coryogalops bulejiensis (Hoda, 1983)
‫نطاط الصخور الشراعي‬

Thinbarred goby ‫قوبيون النطاقات الضيقة‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Pakistan to the central coast of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
225
Coryogalops monospilus Randall, 1994
Onespot goby ‫قوبيون أحادي البقعة‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Kuwait and Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Coryogalops tessellatus Randall, 1994
‫قوبيون القشور البيضاء‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia and central coast of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
226
Cryptocentroides arabicus (Gmelin, 1789)
‫نطاط الصخور األزرق‬

Arabian goby ‫القوبيون العربي‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Cryptocentrus lutheri Klausewitz, 1960
‫نطاط الصخور ذو النطاقات البنية‬

Luther’s prawn-goby ‫قوبيون الربيان لوثر‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Arabian Gulf. Reported from Tanzania. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
227
Cryptocentrus strigilliceps (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
‫نطاط البقع األربع‬

Target shrimp goby ‫قوبيون الربيان الهادف‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Samoa, north to Yaeyama Islands, south to the northern Great Barrier Reef. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Diademichthys lineatus (Sauvage, 1883)
‫ابو شلم الهاللي‬

Urchin clingfish ‫سمك القنفذ الالصق‬
Order: Gobiesociformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Oman and Mauritius. Western Pacific: Indonesia to Fiji and Tonga, north to southern Japan, south to
northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
228
Ego zebra Randall, 1994
‫صليحوة النطاقات السوداء‬

‫سمك الحمار الوحشي‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Eviota guttata Lachner & Karnella, 1978
‫نطاط الصخور احمر البقع‬

Spotted pygmy goby ‫القوبيون القزم المبقع‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Ethiopia, Sea of Oman. Also known from Maldives, Seychelles, and the Arabian
Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
229
Eviota pardalota Lachner & Karnella, 1978
‫نطاط الصخور الحساس‬

Leopard dwarfgoby ‫القوبيون القزم لوبارد‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Eviota prasina (Klunzinger, 1871)
‫نطاط شقائق النعمان‬

Green bubble goby ‫قوبيون الفقاعات الخضر‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Recently recorded from Tonga. The
230
Eviota sebreei Jordan & Seale, 1906
‫النطاط االحمر الشفاف‬

Sebree’s pygmy goby ‫القوبيون القزم سيبري‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the northern Great Barrier Reef. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Fusigobius inframaculatus (Randall, 1994)
‫النطاط ابو شوكه‬

Innerspotted sandgoby ‫قوبيون الرمل المبقع‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Mauritius, and Kenya; Japan and Indonesia. Recently reported from Tonga. The Ara-
231
Fusigobius maximus (Randall, 2001)
‫نطاط االبقعة السوداء‬

Large Sandgoby ‫قوبيون الرمال الكبير‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.5 cm SL (male); 6.88 cm Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Perciformes SL (female). range 3–21 m.
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, and the Coral Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Fusigobius neophytus (Günther, 1877)
‫نطاط الزعنفة الصفراء‬

Common fusegoby ‫قوقبيون الفتيل الشهير‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.5 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 21°C–30°C; 35°N -
Order: Perciformes depth range 0–25 m. 33°S, 32°E - 143°W.
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
232
Gnatholepis anjerensis (Bleeker, 1851)
‫النطاط ازرق العين‬

Eye-bar goby ‫قوبيون العيون المخططه‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maxìmum length: 8.4 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Society islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gobiodon citrinus (Rüppell, 1838)
‫المهرج األصفر‬
‫سمك شقائق النعمان األصفر‬
Poison goby ‫قوبيون السم الكركمي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 6.6 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine, Tropical: 22°C–27°C;
Order: Perciformes usually 2–20 m. 30°N–30°S.
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Delagoa Bay, Mozambique and east to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to the Great
Barrier Reef. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
233
Gobiodon reticulatus Playfair, 1867
‫المهرج األشهل الصغير‬

‫سمك شقائق النعمان األحمر‬
Reticulate goby ‫القوبيون الشبكي‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Aden, Yemen to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gobiopsis canalis Lachner & McKinney, 1978
‫نطاط النطاقات الظهرية‬

Checkered goby ‫القوبيون المثقب‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf, Oman, and southwest India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
234
Hetereleotris vulgaris (Klunzinger, 1871)
‫النطاط الجاحظ‬
Common goby ‫القوبيون الشهير‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Djibouti, Mozambique, southern Oman, and Pakistan. One specimen from the eastern Medi-
terranean Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Hetereleotris zonata (Fowler, 1934)
‫نطاط الصخور رأس الثعبان‬

Goggles ‫سمك النظارة الواقية‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, South Africa, and Mauritius. Likely to occur in Seychelles. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
235
Istigobius decoratus (Herre, 1927)
‫النطاط المزركش‬
Decorated goby ‫القوبيون المزين‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to Taiwan, south to Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Istigobius ornatus (Rüppell, 1830)
‫النطاط الجاحظ المزخرف‬

Ornate goby ‫القوبيون المزخرف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 21°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes marine; depth range 0–2 m. 30°N–25°S.
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to northern Mozambique and east to Fiji, north to southern Taiwan, south to New Caledonia. Re-
cently recorded from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
236
Lobulogobius omanensis Koumans, 1944
‫نطاط الصخور العماني‬

Oman goby ‫القوبيون العماني‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: known only from the Gulf of Aden, Sea of Oman, Australia, and Vietnam. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Oxyurichthys papuensis (Valenciennes, 1837)
‫نطاط الضفدع األحمر‬

Frogface goby ‫قوبيون وجه الضفدع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east to the tropical west Pacific. Mediterranean Sea: Israel, Turkey,
and Syria. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
237
Palutrus meteori (Klausewitz & Zander, 1967)
Meteor goby ‫القوبيون النيزك‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, southern Oman, and the Ryukyu Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Papillogobius melanobranchus (Fowler, 1934)
‫نطاط القمم الصفراء‬

Blackthroat goby ‫قوبيون الحلق االسود‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific and the Mediterranean Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
238
Parachaeturichthys polynema (Bleeker, 1853)
‫النطاط الشفاف ذو البقع السوداء‬

Taileyed goby ‫قوبيون ذيل العين‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: south to Natal, South Africa; India and Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pleurosicya micheli Fourmanoir, 1971
‫النطاط الدموي‬
Michel’s ghost goby ‫القوبيون الشبح ميشيل‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Seychelles to Fiji and the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
239
Priolepis cinctus (Regan, 1908)
‫النطاط ذهبي النطاقات‬

Girdled goby ‫القوبيون المحزم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.0 cm FL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 32°N–24°S.
Order: Perciformes tory; brackish; marine; depth
Family: Gobiidae range 1–70 m, usually 1–30
m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Tonga, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Priolepis randalli Winterbottom & Burridge, 1992
‫نطاط الحزم البيضاء‬

Randall’s goby ‫القوبيون الراندالي‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aqaba, southern Oman, and Jana Island, Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
240
Scartelaos tenuis (Day, 1876)
‫نطاط الطين‬
Indian Ocean slender mudskipper ‫قائد الطين النحيل بالمحيط الهندي‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Tomiyamichthys latruncularius (Klausewitz, 1974)
‫نطاط بو الريش‬
Fan shrimp-goby ‫قوبيون الربيان المروحي‬
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the Maldives. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
241
Trimma omanensis Winterbottom, 2000
‫نطاط العيون السود‬

‫قوبون المقل السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Valenciennea helsdingenii (Bleeker, 1858)
‫نطاط بو خطين‬
Twostripe goby ‫قوبيون الخطين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL male; common Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 22°C–27°C.
Order: Perciformes length: 18.0 cm TL male. depth range 1–45 m, usually
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: southern Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef. The
242
Valenciennea persica Hoese & Larson, 1994
‫نطاط الصخور ذو النجوم الزرقاء‬

Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to Masirah Island, central Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Valenciennea puellaris (Tomiyama, 1956)
‫نطاط الصخور أالرقط‬

Maiden goby ‫قوبيون ميدين‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef, and New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
243
Valenciennea sexguttata (Valenciennes, 1837)
‫نطاط الصخور سداسي النجوم‬

Sixspot goby ‫قوبيون النقط الست‬
Order: Perciformes depth range 1–10 m. 30°N–15°S.
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and East Africa to Samoa; north to Yaeyama Islands, Ryukyu Islands, south to Queensland,
Vanderhorstia mertensi Klausewitz, 1974
‫نطاط الصخور األنبوبي‬

Mertens’ prawn-goby ‫قوبيون الربيان ميرتن‬
Order: Perciformes depth range 2–10 m, usually
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Japan. Reported from Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
244
Yongeichthys nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫نطاط الظالم‬
Shadow goby ‫قوبيون الظل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mous; freshwater; brackish;
Family: Gobiidae marine.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa through Indonesia to Micronesia, north to China and the Ryukyu Islands, south to northern
Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus (Cuvier, 1830)
‫خشام اصفر‬
‫خشيم‬
Lemon sweetlip ‫حلو الشفاة الليموني‬
Order: Perciformes depth starting from 4 m.
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Transkei, South Africa and east to Papua New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to
Western Australia and New South Wales. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
245
Plectorhinchus gaterinus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫خشام اصفر‬
‫خشام الحمار الوحش‬
‫زينة‬
Blackspotted rubberlip ‫اسود الشفاة المطاط األرقط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine. Tropical. 30°N - 35°S, 32°E
Order: Perciformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male). - 85°E.
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Comoro Islands. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Plectorhinchus gibbosus (Lacepède, 1802)
‫خشام ابيض الشفاة‬

Harry hotlips ‫ساخن الشفاة هاري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 75.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; freshwater; Tropical: 30°N–24°S.
Order: Perciformes brackish; marine; depth
Family: Haemulidae range 8–25 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Natal, South Africa (including Madagascar and the Comoro and Reunion islands); Gulf of Aden
and the Arabian Gulf eastward to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia; Caroline and Mariana islands in Micronesia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
246
Plectorhinchus pictus (Tortonese, 1936)
‫خشام ابيض‬
‫الحمار الوحشي أألبيض‬
‫فرش‬
Trout sweetlips ‫أرقط الشفاة الحلوة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 83.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 6900 g. depth range 20–200 m.
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Sri Lanka. Elsewhere, eastward extending to China. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Plectorhinchus playfairi (Pellegrin, 1914)
‫الخشام االسود ذو الخطوط البيضاء‬

Whitebarred rubberlip ‫مطاطية الشفاة ذو الخطوط البيضاء‬
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and southern Oman to South Africa and Madagascar. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
247
Plectorhinchus schotaf (Forsskål, 1775)
‫خشام اسود ذو الخيشوم األحمر‬

Minstrel sweetlips ‫حلو الشفاة المنشد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 80.0 cm TL male; common Environment Tropical; 30°N - 32°S, 29°E
Order: Perciformes length: 60.0 cm TL male. Marine; brackish; reef-associ- - 160°E.
Family: Haemulidae ated; depth range 0 - 80 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: eastern Africa south to Port St. Johns, South Africa and east to the western Pacific. The Arabian Sea coasts
of Oman.
Plectorhinchus sordidus (Klunzinger, 1870)
‫خشام الساحل األسود‬

‫جنم‬
Sordid rubberlip ‫مطاط الشفاة البائس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical. 30°N - 36°S, 19°E
Order: Perciformes depth range 2–25 m. - 62°E.
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Transkei in South Africa, Seychelles, and Mauritius. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
248
Pomadasys aheneus McKay & Randall, 1995
‫بادح ادهم‬
‫نجرور‬
Yellowback grunt ‫نجرور اصفر الظهر‬
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Pomadasys argenteus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫نجرور النقط السود‬

‫قوحان‬
Silver grunt ‫نجرور فضي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL male; common Demersal; freshwater; brack- Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes length: 25.0 cm TL (male). ish; marine; depth range 34°N–22°S.
Family: Haemulidae 15–115 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to the Philippines, north to southern Japan, and south to northern Australia. Also reported from
New Caledonia. Recently recorded from Oman and Kuwait. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
249
Pomadasys commersonnii (Lacepède, 1801)
‫نجرور عربي‬
‫قوحان كبير‬
Smallspotted grunter ‫نجرور البقع الصغيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 80.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; oceanodro- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mous; brackish; marine.
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: northwest coast of India to southern Oman, south to South Africa, Seychelles, and Madagascar. The
Pomadasys kaakan (Cuvier, 1830)
‫النجرور الجاحظ‬
‫قوحان بو مقل‬
Javelin grunter ‫النجرور الرماح‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth upto 75 m.
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and east coast of Africa to Southeast Asia, north to Taiwan, south to Queensland, Australia. The
250
Pomadasys maculatus (Bloch, 1793)
‫بادح البقع السوداء‬

Saddle grunt ‫نجرور السرج‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine;
Family: Haemulidae published weight: 3200 g. depth range 20–110 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: throughout the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific, north to China, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Pomadasys multimaculatum (Playfair, 1867)
‫نجرور مبقع‬
‫قوحان‬
Cock grunter ‫النجرور الديك‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 76.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: east coast of Africa to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
251
Pomadasys olivaceus (Day, 1875)
‫بادح البقعة السوداء‬

Olive grunt ‫النجرور الزيتوني‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 55.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Southeast Atlantic: north of Swakopmund, Namibia. Indian Ocean: east coast of Africa and Madagascar to Arabia, India, and
the Malay Peninsula. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pomadasys punctulatus (Rüppell, 1838)
‫بادح الزعانف السوداء‬

Lined grunt ‫النجرور المخطط‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
252
Pomadasys stridens (Forsskål, 1775)
‫برعم‬
‫جمجام‬
‫ايميام‬
Striped piggy ‫األكول الشريطي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical. 31°N - 32°S, 29°E
Order: Perciformes depth range 65–68 m. - 77°E.
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea (including the eastern Mediterranean Sea), off South Africa, and off western India. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Pomadasys taeniatus McKay & Randall, 1995
‫بادح النطاقات البنية‬

Bronzestriped grunt ‫نجرور الخطوط البرونزية‬
Family: Haemulidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
253
Euleptorhamphus viridis (van Hasselt, 1823)
‫بو مران‬
Ribbon halfbeak ‫سيف نصف المنقار‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 53.0 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical
Order: Beloniformes mon length: 30.0 cm SL (male). mous; marine; depth range
Family: Hemiramphidae 0–1 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and Tonga, north to southern Japan, south to Australia, New Zealand, and
Kermadec Islands. Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775)
‫بو مران الفضي‬

Blackbarred halfbeak ‫نصف المنقار أسود الظهر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Subtropical: 35°N–25°S.
Order: Beloniformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). tory; freshwater; brackish;
Family: Hemiramphidae marine.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to northern Australia and New Cale-
donia. Migrated to the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
254
Hemiramphus marginatus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫بو مران اصفر الظهر‬

‫سلس‬
Yellowtip halfbeak ‫نصف منقار الظهر األصفر‬
Order: Beloniformes
Family: Hemiramphidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: restricted to the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. May occur in the Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Hyporhamphus sindensis (Regan, 1905)
‫بو مران الشفاف‬

Sind halfbeak ‫نصفر المنقار السند‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male). Pelagic–neritic; marine. Subtropical
Order: Beloniformes
Distribution
255
Oxyporhamphus convexus (Weber & de Beaufort 1922)
‫جراد البحر نصف منقار‬

Halfbeak ‫نصف منقار‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 17.6 cm SL (female). Pelagic–neritic; marine. Tropical
Order: Beloniformes
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: widespread in warmer waters from East Africa to Caroline Islands, New Guinea, New Britain, and New
Ireland. Replaced in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and coastal waters in between by Oxyporhamphus convexus bruuni. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Myripristis murdjan (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ديك البحر المشوك‬

Pinecone soldierfish ‫سمك الجندي كوز الصنوبر‬
Order: Beryciformes mon length: 18.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–50 m.
Family: Holocentridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea (including Sea of Oman) and East Africa to Oceania. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
256
Neoniphon sammara (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ديك البحر الزاهي‬

Sammara squirrelfish ‫سمك السنجاب سمارا‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, the Ogasawara and Hawai-
ian islands, south to northern Australia, and Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ostichthys acanthorhinus Randall, Shimizu & Yamakawa, 1982
‫ديك البحر الصغير‬

Spinesnout squirrelfish ‫سمك خطم السنجاب‬
Order: Beryciformes depth range 272–291 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Sea of Oman to Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
257
Sargocentron caudimaculatum (Rüppell, 1838)
‫ديك البحر الرشيق‬

Silverspot squirrelfish ‫سمك سنجاب البقعه الفضية‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (south to the latitude of the Xora River, South Africa) to the Marshall Islands and French
Polynesia, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sargocentron diadema (Lacepède, 1802)
‫ديك البحر المشوك ذو الخطوط البيضاء‬

Crown squirrelfish ‫سمك سنجاب التاج‬
Order: Beryciformes depth range 1–60 m, usually
Family: Holocentridae 2–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Pitcairn islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south
to northern Australia and Lord Howe Island. Throughout Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
258
Sargocentron rubrum (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ديك البحر األحمر المشوك‬

Redcoat ‫الكوت األحمر‬
Order: Beryciformes mon length: 27.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–84 m. 32°E–173°W.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to the western Pacific where it ranges from southern Japan to New Caledonia and New South Wales,
Australia. Not yet recorded from any oceanic island in the western Indian Ocean. Invaded eastern Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Sargocentron seychellense (Smith & Smith, 1963)
‫ديك البحر المشوك ذو القمم الصفراء‬

Yellow-tipped squirrelfish ‫سمك سنجاب القمم الصفراء‬
Order: Beryciformes depth range 2–6 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Oman, Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, Comoros, Madagascar, Chagos Archipelago, and St. Brandon
Shoals. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
259
Sargocentron spiniferum (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ديك الرأس الزاهي‬

Sabre squirrelfish ‫سمك السنجاب سيبر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 51.0 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 35°N–38°S.
Order: Beryciformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 1–122 m.
Family: Holocentridae published weight: 2550 g.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia; through-
out Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)
‫ميخ الشراع‬
‫فرس‬
‫السلسول الشراعي‬
Indo-Pacific sailfish ‫سمك المحيط الهادي الشراعي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 348 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 50°N–43°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 270 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 16°E–71°W.
Family: Istiophoridae published weight: 100.2 kg; maximum report- 0–200 m, usually 30–150m.
ed age: 13 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: tropical and temperate waters approximately 45°–50°N and 40°–35°S in the western Pacific, 35°N and 35°S in the
eastern Pacific; 45°S in western Indian Ocean and 35°S in eastern Indian Ocean. Entered Mediterranean Sea from Red sea via Suez Canal. Highly
migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Some authors recognize a single worldwide species, Istiophorus platypter-
us (Shaw & Nodder 1792) but we follow Nakamura 1990 retaining the usage of Istiophorus platypterus for the Indo-Pacific sailfish and Istiophorus
albicans for the Atlantic sailfish in recognition of the differences between them. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
260
Makaira indica (Cuvier, 1832)
‫ميخ مارلين الهندي‬

‫جارح‬
Black marlin ‫المارلين األسود‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 465 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 15°C–30°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 380 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 44°N–47°S, 18°E–69°W.
Family: Istiophoridae published weight: 750.0 kg. 0–915 m, usually 0–200 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: tropical and subtropical waters, occasionally entering temperate waters. Stray individuals migrate into the Atlantic
Ocean by way of the Cape of Good Hope, but the existence of Atlantic breeding stocks is unlikely. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982
Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Makaira mazara (Jordan & Snyder, 1901)
‫الميخ العمالق األجرب‬

Indo-Pacific blue marlin ‫مارلين المحيط الهندي األزرق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 500 cm TL (male); common Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 21°C;
Order: Perciformes length: 350 cm TL (male); maximum published mous; marine; depth range 44°N–40°S, 30°E–74°W.
Family: Istiophoridae weight: 170.0 kg; maximum published weight: 0–200 m, approximately
906 kg; maximum reported age: 28 years. 100m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: in tropical, subtropical, and sometimes temperate waters. It is the most tropical billfish species and is common
in equatorial waters. However, many scientists do not view Makaira mazara and Makaira nigricans as distinct species, and that the latter species
has been considered a single pantropical occurring in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
261
Makaira nigricans Lacepède, 1802
‫ميخ أبيض الخد‬

Blue marlin ‫مارلين المحيط األطلسي األزرق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 500 cm TL (male); 500 Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 22°C–31°C;
Order: Perciformes cm TL (female); common length: 290 cm TL mous; marine; depth range 45°N–40°S, 97°W–17°E.
Family: Istiophoridae (male); maximum published weight: 636.0 kg; 0–200 m.
maximum published weight: 820 kg.
Distribution
Atlantic Ocean: in tropical and temperate waters. Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Tetrapturus angustirostris Tanaka, 1915
‫ميخ الشراع الطويل‬

‫سلسول الشراع‬
Shortbill spearfish ‫سمك الرمح قصير المنقار‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 230 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 43°N - 56°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 190 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 11°E - 68°W.
Family: Istiophoridae published weight: 52.0 kg. 0–1830 m.
Distribution
Indian and Pacific: tropical and temperate waters. Although some stray individuals are found in the Atlantic Ocean, this species
is believed to have its spawning grounds and principal populations only in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the
1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
262
Tetrapturus audax (Philippi, 1887)
‫ميخ الزعانف الزرقاء‬

‫سلسول ازرق الزعانف‬
Striped marlin ‫المارلين المخطط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 420 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 20°C–25°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 290 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 46°N–47°S, 19°E–69°W.
Family: Istiophoridae published weight: 440.0 kg. 0–200 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters. Highly migratory species, the distribution in the Pacific Ocean is
unique among billfishes and tunas in that it forms a horseshoe-shaped pattern from the northwest Pacific through the eastern Pacific to the south-
west Pacific. In the Indian Ocean, fish are more densely distributed in equatorial regions with higher concentrations off eastern Africa, in the western
Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and off northwestern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Kuhlia mugil (Forster, 1801)
‫برعم بدحي‬
Barred flagtail ‫سمك ذيل العلم المخطط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 32°N–32°S.
Family: Kuhliidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the eastern Pacific, north to southern Japan, south to New South
Wales, and Lord Howe Island. Absent from Easter Island, Pitcairn, Marquesas, Hawaiian Islands, and Johnston Island. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
263
Kyphosus bigibbus Lacepède, 1801
‫أم الشبا الدهماء‬

Grey sea chub ‫شوب البحر الرمادي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 75.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Tropical: 35°N–28°S.
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 1850 g. mous; marine.
Family: Kyphosidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Anti-tropical; Red Sea, South Africa, western and eastern Australia, Lord Howe and Rapa islands, southern Japan,
and Ryukyu Islands. Records for countries in the tropical zone need further confirmation. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Kyphosus cinerascens (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ام الشبا النجمية‬

Blue seachub ‫شوب البحر األزرق‬
Family: Kyphosidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
264
Kyphosus vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
‫ام الشبا العمانية‬

Brassy chub ‫الشوب النحاسي‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). mous; marine; depth range
Family: Kyphosidae 1–24 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa south to Algoa Bay, South Africa and east to the Hawaiian, Tuamoto, and Rapa islands.
Anampses caeruleopunctatus Rüppell, 1829
‫برق النجوم الزرقاء‬

‫ببغاء النجوم‬
Bluespotted wrasse ‫اوراس النقط الزرق‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to Easter Island, north to Japan, south to Australia. Not found in the Hawaiian Islands,
but replaced by the closely related Anampses cuvier. Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
265
Anampses lineatus Randall, 1972
‫ببغاء الحجل االبيض‬

Lined wrasse ‫اوراس مخطط‬
Family: Labridae 20–42 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east to Bali, Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Anampses meleagrides Valenciennes, 1840
‫ببغاء الذيل األصفر‬

Spotted wrasse ‫اوراس أرقط‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa and the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
266
Bodianus axillaris (Bennett, 1832)
Axilspot hogfish ‫سمك الخنزير الملطخ‬

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa, east to the Marshall, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to Japan. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Bodianus diana (Lacepède, 1801)
‫سمك الثعلب‬
Diana’s hogfish ‫سمك خنزير ديانا‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to the Marshall Islands and Samoa, north to Japan. Replaced by the longer snouted
Bodianus prognathus in the Line Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
267
Bodianus macrognathos (Morris, 1974)
‫ببغاء احمر‬
Giant hogfish ‫سمك الخنزير العمالق‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia and Kenya to the Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cheilinus lunulatus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫مسن اخضر‬
‫برق النقطة الصفراء‬
Broomtail wrasse ‫نبروس ذيل المكنسة‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
268
Choerodon robustus (Günther, 1862)
‫البرق االحمر الصغير‬

‫ببغاء الزعانف الصفراء‬
Robust tuskfish ‫سمك األنياب القوية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum size: 35.0 cm TL (male); 25.0 cm Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Order: Perciformes TL (female). depth range 40–70 m.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf south to Mozambique and Mauritius; also Indonesia and southern Japan. The
Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis Springer & Randall, 1974
Social wrasse ‫االوراس اإلجتماعي‬

Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: northern Red Sea; Oman and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
269
Coris formosa (Bennett, 1830)
‫ببغاء ملكة كوريز‬

Queen coris ‫الملكة كوريز‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine, Tropical: 24°C–27°C.
Order: Perciformes usually 2–50 m.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea to Natal, South Africa, and east to Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Coris aygula Lacepède, 1801
‫مهرج شقائق النعمان الزاهي‬

Clown coris ‫الكوريز المهرج‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 24°C–28°C;
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe, and Rapa
islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
270
Coris caudimacula (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834)
‫المهرج المزركش الناعم‬

Spottail coris ‫كوريز الذيل المنقط‬
Distribution
Indian Ocean: northern Red Sea south to East London, South Africa and east to the northwest coast of Australia, extending to
Shark Bay; including Green Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Coris cuvieri (Bennett, 1831)
‫مهرج المرجان‬
African coris ‫الكوريز االفريقي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 38.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine. Tropical: preferred 30°S.
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea and along the southern Arabian Peninsula south to Zanzibar and South Africa (30°S) and east to the
Laccadive Archipelago, Chagos Archipelago, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Similan Islands, eastern Andaman Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
271
Gomphosus caeruleus Lacepède, 1801
‫النقار‬
Green birdmouth wrasse ‫طائر النبروس بالمنقار االخضر‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa, and east to the Andaman Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Halichoeres hortulanus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫ببغاء الطيف‬
‫برق‬
Checkerboard wrasse ‫نبروس الشطرنج‬
Order: Perciformes depth range 1–30 m, usually 32°N–28°S, 34°E–134°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and east to the Line, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to
southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
272
Halichoeres iridis Randall & Smith, 1982
‫برق الثعلب‬
Rainbow wrasse ‫نبروس الطيف‬
Family: Labridae 20m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: East African coast south to Natal, South Africa; also from Madagascar, Seychelles, and Chagos Archi-
pelago. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Halichoeres lapillus Smith, 1947
‫برق مزركش‬
‫ببغاء النجوم‬
Jewelled wrasse ‫نبروس المجوهرات‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: southern Mozambique and Natal, South Africa; also Reunion, Mauritius, and Madagascar. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
273
Halichoeres leptotaenia Randall & Earle, 1994
‫برق صغير‬
Thinstripe Wrasse ‫نبروس الشريط الرقيق‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Halichoeres marginatus Rüppell, 1835
‫الببغاء الخفي‬
Dusky wrasse ‫النبروس الداكن‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 18.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 31°N–30°N.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Inhaca Island, Mozambique and east to the Hawaiian and Tuamoto islands, north to southern
Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef, and Austral Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
274
Halichoeres melas Randall & Earle, 1994
‫برق اسود‬
‫ببغاء الميالس األدهم‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Halichoeres nebulosus (Valenciennes, 1839)
‫برق مزركش‬
‫ببغاء النجوم األكحل‬
Nebulous wrasse ‫النبروس الغامض‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 30°N–30°S.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: throughout the tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean including the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
275
Halichoeres nigrescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫البرق الطويل‬
‫ببغاء الذروة السوداء‬
Bubblefin wrasse ‫نبروس زعنفة الفقاعة‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: south to Durban, South Africa; southeast India to Philippines, north to Hong Kong, south to northwest
Halichoeres scapularis (Bennett, 1832)
‫برق النطاق االسود‬

‫الببغاء األبيض‬
Zigzag wrasse ‫النبروس المتعرج‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
276
Halichoeres signifer Randall & Earle, 1994
‫النبروس األملس‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Halichoeres stigmaticus Randall & Smith, 1982
‫برق الذروة الزرقاء‬

‫ببغاء البصمة‬
U-spot wrasse ‫نبروس البقعة السوداء‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
277
Hemigymnus fasciatus (Bloch, 1792)
‫برق النطاقات‬
Barred thicklip ‫ببغاء الشفاة السميكة‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Inhaca Island, Mozambique, and east to Tahiti. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Hologymnosus doliatus (Lacepède, 1801)
Pastel ringwrasse ‫نبروس حلقة الباستيل‬

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to southern Natal, South Africa, and east to Samoa and the Line Islands. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
278
Labroides bicolor Fowler & Bean, 1928
Bicolor cleaner wrasse ‫نبروس النطاق األصفر‬

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Line, Marquesan and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. The
Labroides dimidiatus (Valenciennes, 1839)
Bluestreak cleaner wrasse ‫النبروس االزرق ذو النطاقات‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 24°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mum reported age: 4 years. tory; marine; depth range 30°N–30°S.
Family: Labridae 1–40 m, usually 1–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe,
and Rapa islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
279
Leptojulis cyanopleura (Bleeker, 1853)
Shoulder-spot wrasse ‫نبروس البقع الكتفية‬

Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Sea of Oman to the Philippines and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Macropharyngodon bipartitus bipartitus Smith, 1957
‫البرق المزركز‬
Vermiculate wrasse ‫نبروس فيرميكوليت‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Subtropical
Family: Labridae approximately 30m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: ranging south to Natal, South Africa; excluding the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
280
Novaculichthys taeniourus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫مسن العيون الصفر‬

Rockmover wrasse ‫نبروس محرك الصخور‬
Family: Labridae approximately 14 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and the Tuamoto Islands, north to Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to Lord Howe
Island. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Panama and the Galapagos Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Oxycheilinus bimaculatus (Valenciennes, 1840)
‫الببغاء االغبر‬
Two-spot wrasse ‫نبروس البقعتين‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands, north to southern Japan, south to Vanuatu. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
281
Oxycheilinus digramma (Lacepède, 1801)
‫برق الرأس الكبير‬

Cheeklined wrasse ‫نبروس الخد المخطط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 30°N–23°S.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marshall Islands and Samoa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Paracheilinus mccoskeri Randall & Harmelin-Vivien, 1977
‫فراشة عرف الديك‬

McCosker’s flasher ‫الكوسكر المتعري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine, Tropical: 25°C–28°C.
Order: Perciformes usually 5–40 m.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: western Indian Ocean to Fiji. Questionable record from Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
282
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia (Bleeker, 1857)
Sixline wrasse ‫النبروس سداسي الخطوط‬

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord
Howe, and the Austral islands. Distribution includes St. Brandon’s Shoals and Gulf of Tadjoura. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pteragogus flagellifer (Valenciennes, 1839)
Cocktail wrasse ‫نبروس الكوكتيل‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male); 15 cm Reef-associated; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes TL (female).
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and Papua New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
283
Stethojulis albovittata (Bonnaterre, 1788)
Bluelined wrasse ‫نبروس النطاق األزرق‬

Order: Perciformes tory; marine; depth upto 10
Family: Labridae m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Natal, South Africa, and east to Maldives and Chagos Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Stethojulis interrupta (Bleeker, 1851)
Cutribbon wrasse ‫نبروس الكوتريبون‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine. Tropical, 35°N - 33°S, 32°E
Order: Perciformes - 168°E.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the Philippines, south to Lord Howe Island. Unknown from Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
284
Suezichthys caudavittatus (Steindachner, 1898)
Spottail wrasse ‫النبروس مبقع الذنب‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 30°N–10°N.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Suez, Hurghada (Ghardaqa) in northern Red Sea, off the coast of Somalia, and Arabian Gulf.
Thalassoma loxum Randall & Mee, 1994
‫برق الساحل‬
‫ببغاء بحر العرب‬
Slant-band wrasse ‫نبروس الموجات المائلة‬
Family: Labridae
Distribution
285
Thalassoma lunare (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫مسن اخضر‬
‫نباط‬
‫ميالج‬
Moon wrasse ‫نبروس القمر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 24°C–28°C;
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island, and northern
New Zealand. Reported to have formed a hybrid with Thalassoma rueppellii. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Thalassoma lutescens (Lay & Bennett, 1839)
‫ببغاء الزعانف الصفراء‬

‫نباط‬
Yellow-brown wrasse ‫النبروس األصفر البني‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 24°C–28°C;
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to Ducie Island, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to southeastern Australia,
Lord Howe Island, the Kermadec Islands, and Rapa. Replaced by Thalassoma grammaticum in the tropical eastern Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
286
Xyrichtys bimaculatus Rüppell, 1829
‫الببغاء الحدباء البنية‬

Two-spot razorfish ‫السمك الحالق ذو البقعتين‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Gulf, and the coasts of India; and eastern Papua New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lactarius lactarius (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫الصال الكاذب‬
False trevally ‫الربيب الكاذب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; brackish; ma- Tropical: 23°N–27°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). rine; depth range 15–100 m.
Family: Lactariidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Southeast Asia, north to Japan, south to Queensland, Australia. Reported from Fiji. The Ara-
287
Equulites elongatus (Günther, 1874)
Slender ponyfish ‫سمكة المهر المرهف‬

Order: Perciformes mon length: 8.0 cm TL (male). range 20–100 m.
Family: Leiognathidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: east coast of Africa and off southwest India; eastwards to the Philippines; north to Japan; south to Australia.
Gazza minuta (Bloch, 1795)
‫لقيحة‬
‫بلعيلة‬
Toothpony ‫المهر ذو االسنان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 21.0 cm FL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical: 26°C–29°C.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the east African coast (30 to about 50S) to Australia and Tahiti, north to the Ryukyu Islands. The
288
Leiognathus daura (Cuvier, 1829)
‫لقيحة القمة السوداء‬

‫بلعيلة‬
Goldstripe ponyfish ‫سمكة مهر النطاق الذهبي‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 9.0 cm TL (male). range approximately 40m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden, along the coasts of India and Sri Lanka; including Pakistan, eastwards to the Philippines;
probably not reaching Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Leiognathus equulus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫لقيحة السنام‬
‫بلعيلة‬
‫رياشة عريضة‬
Common ponyfish ‫سمكة المهر الشهيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 28.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine; 30°N–23°S.
Family: Leiognathidae depth range 10–110 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and East Africa (including Reunion, Comoros, Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius)
to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
289
Leiognathus fasciatus (Lacepède, 1803)
‫لقيحة النطاقات‬
‫بلعيلة‬
Striped ponyfish ‫سمكة مهر النطاقات‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 21.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical: 26°C–29°C.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa and Fiji, north to Japan, south to northeastern Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Leiognathus oblongus (Valenciennes, 1835)
‫لقيحة الزعانف الصفراء‬

‫بلعيلة‬
Oblong ponyfish ‫سمكة المهر الطويلة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm TL (male). Pelagic–neritic; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Zanzibar and the Indo-Malayan region. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
290
Photopectoralis bindus (Valenciennes, 1835)
‫لقيحة عريضة البطن‬

‫بلعيلة‬
‫تراشي‬
Orangefin ponyfish ‫سمكة مهر الزعانف البرتغالية‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 8.0 cm TL (male). brackish; marine; depth
Family: Leiognathidae range 10–160 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Port Sudan in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf to Japan, the Arafura Sea, and Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Gymnocranius griseus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)
‫شعري نقيموه‬
Grey large-eye bream ‫الشعري الرمادي كبير العين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm TL; common Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 35°N–9°S.
Order: Perciformes length: 25.0 cm TL. tory; marine; depth range
Family: Lethrinidae 20–80 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Southern Japan to the Indo-Malaysian region, probably eastward to India. Has often been confused with
the young of Gymnocranius grandoculis, hence its distributional limits are somewhat obscure. Records of Gymnocranius griseus from the Western
Indian Ocean probably pertain to Gymnocranius grandoculis. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
291
Lethrinus borbonicus Valenciennes, 1830
‫شعري نقيموه صغيرة‬

‫جمة‬
Snubnose emperor ‫االمبراطور افطس األنف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 30°N–20°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). tory; marine; depth upto 40
Family: Lethrinidae m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: including the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf to Réunion. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lethrinus harak (Forsskål, 1775)
‫شعري بصمة اإلبهام‬

Thumbprint emperor ‫امبراطور بصمة اإلبهام‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum tory; brackish; marine; depth
Family: Lethrinidae reported age: 15 years. range approximately 20m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to northeastern Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
292
Lethrinus lentjan (Lacepède, 1802)
‫شعري خشانه‬
‫باخشينة‬
Pink ear emperor ‫إمبراطور األذن الوردية‬
Family: Lethrinidae reported age: 19 years. range 20–90 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: widespread, from the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and East Africa to the Ryukyus and Tonga. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Lethrinus mahsena (Forsskål, 1775)
‫شعري النطاقات السماوية‬

‫كهل‬
Sky emperor ‫اإلمبراطور السماوي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 65.0 cm TL (male); common Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 28°N–25°S.
Order: Perciformes length: 40.0 cm TL (male); maximum report- tory; marine; depth range
Family: Lethrinidae ed age: 27 years. 2–100 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Sri Lanka. References to this species from the Central Pacific probably refer
to Lethrinus atkinsoni. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
293
Lethrinus microdon Valenciennes, 1830
‫شعري خطام‬
‫سولي‬
Smalltooth emperor ‫إمبراطور األسنان الصغيرة‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male); maximum tory; marine; depth range
Family: Lethrinidae published weight: 4850 g. approximately 80 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: widespread, including the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, East Africa to Sri Lanka, to the Ryukyu Islands and Papua
New Guinea. Also recorded from Micronesia and French Polynesia but these are probably misidentifications of Lethrinus olivaceus. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫شعري خوذير‬
‫شعري‬
Spangled emperor ‫اإلمبراطور اللماع‬
Family: Lethrinidae published weight: 8400; maximum reported range 10–75 m.
age: 27 years.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and East Africa to southern Japan and Samoa. According to a genetic study, Lethri-
nus nebulosus and Lethrinus choerorynchus are two distinct species in Western Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
294
Lethrinus obsoletus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫شعري نقيموة الخط البرتغالي‬

Orange-striped emperor ‫إمبراطو الخط البرتغالي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 60.0 cm TL (male); common Reef-associated; non-mi- Tropical: 28°N–23°S.
Order: Perciformes length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum report- gratory; marine; depth upto
Family: Lethrinidae ed age: 14 years. 30 m
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Ryukyu Islands, Tonga, and Samoa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Monotaxis grandoculis (Forsskål, 1775)
Humpnose big-eye bream ‫دنيس كبير العين‬

Family: Lethrinidae published weight: 5890 g. 1–100 m, usually 5–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and southeastern Oceania, north to Japan, south to Australia. The
295
Lophiodes insidiator (Regan, 1921)
Natal angler ‫الناتال الصياد‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male). Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water: 12°S–30°S.
Order: Lophiiformes depth range 200–600 m.
Family: Lophiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Natal in South Africa to northern Madagascar. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lophiodes mutilus (Alcock, 1894)
Smooth angler ‫الصياد األمرد‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm TL (male); com- Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water.
Order: Lophiiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). depth range 234–760 m.
Family: Lophiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna, north to the Philippines, south to northern Australia. The
296
Lophiomus setigerus (Vahl, 1797)
Blackmouth angler ‫صياد الفم األسود‬

Order: Lophiiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). range 30–800 m.
Family: Lophiidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: throughout the area. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Aphareus rutilans Cuvier, 1830
‫عندق‬
‫حمام‬
Rusty smalltooth jobfish ‫عندق األسنان الصغيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 110 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 35°N–28°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 79.0 cm SL (male); maximum depth range 100–330 m. 38°E–150°W.
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 11.3 kg.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south to Australia. Southeast
Atlantic: Port Alfred, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
297
Etelis carbunculus Cuvier, 1828
‫العندق االحمرالطويل‬
Ruby snapper ‫روبي النهاش‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 127 cm FL (male/unsexed); Benthopelagic; marine; depth Tropical: 34°N–25°S,
Order: Perciformes common length: 65.0 cm TL (male/unsexed). range 90–400 m, usually 35°E–150°W.
Family: Lutjanidae 200–350 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. This name has been wrongly used
for Etelis coruscans by some previous authors. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Etelis coruscans Valenciennes, 1862
‫العندق الناري‬
‫حمام‬
Flame snapper ‫نهاش اللهيب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Deep-water: 35°N–27°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm SL (male). depth range 90–400 m. 36°E–142°W.
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa up to the Bashee River 32°S, eastward to the Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south to
Australia (Queensland and New South Wales), and Lord Howe Island. The name Etelis carbunculus has been misapplied to this species by some
previous authors. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
298
Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫حمراء‬
‫شقرة‬
Mangrove red snapper ‫نهاش القرم األحمر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 150 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Subtropical: 16°C–30°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 80.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; freshwater; brackish; 32°N–24°S, 40°E–180°E.
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 8700 g; maximum reported marine; depth range 10–120
age: 31 years. m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Samoa and the Line Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. Has dispersed
into the eastern Mediterranean (off Lebanon) via the Suez Canal but not well established there. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lutjanus bengalensis (Bloch, 1790)
‫شويقية‬
‫طريطرة‬
Bengal snapper ‫نهاش البنغال‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). depth range 10–30 m. 32°E–132°E.
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Sumatra. Occasionally found in Indonesia as far east as Ambon. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
299
Lutjanus bohar (Forsskål, 1775)
‫حمراء الدمعة‬
Two-spot red snapper ‫النهاش األحمر ذو البقعتين‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 76.0 cm SL (male); maximum depth range 4–180 m, usually 32°E–134°W.
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 12.5 kg; maximum report- 10–70 m.
ed age: 13 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marquesas and Line islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. More common
around oceanic islands than in continental areas. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lutjanus coeruleolineatus (Rüppell, 1838)
‫عشاق‬
‫شويقية مخططة‬
‫نيسر اصفر‬
Blueline snapper ‫نهاش الخطوط الزرقاء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 29°N–10°N,
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: seas surrounding the Arabian Peninsula except the northern Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.
300
Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters, 1869)
‫قلوة‬
‫نيسر ابو نقطة‬
‫نيسرة‬
Blackspot snapper ‫نهاش ابو نقطة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; freshwater; Tropical: 30°N–18°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). brackish; marine; depth 31°E–165°E.
Family: Lutjanidae range 5–20 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon and Mariana islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lutjanus erythropterus Bloch, 1790
‫حمراء العيون‬
‫نيسر‬
Crimson snapper ‫النهاش القرمزي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 81.6 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 35°N–22°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 45.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 5–100 m. 55°E–156°E.
Family: Lutjanidae reported age: 8 years.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Sea of Oman to Southeast Asia, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. This species has been
referred to as Lutjanus malabaricus (non Schneider) or Lutjanus altifrontalis by many recent authors. Occurrence in the Red Sea needs confirmation.
301
Lutjanus fulviflamma (Forsskål, 1775)
‫قلوة‬
‫قالية‬
‫نيسر‬
Dory snapper ‫النهاش الدوري‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 3–35 m. 31°E–169°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Lutjanus fulvus (Forster, 1801)
‫قلوة القمم السوداء‬

Blacktail snapper ‫نيسر الذيل االسود‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; freshwater; Tropical: 20°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). brackish; marine; depth 34°N–33°S, 33°E–134°W.
Family: Lutjanidae range 1–75 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marquesas and Line islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
302
Lutjanus gibbus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫حمراء الذيل الكبير‬

‫نيسر احمر‬
Humpback red snapper ‫النهاش األحمر األحدب‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 45.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 1–150 m. 31°E–134°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Lutjanus johnii (Bloch, 1792)
‫قلوة‬
‫قالية‬
‫نيسرة‬
John’s snapper ‫نيسر جون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 97.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceano- Tropical: 31°N–23°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine; 37°E–174°W.
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 10.5 kg. depth upto 80 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
303
Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål, 1775)
‫عشاق‬
‫نيسر اصفر‬
Common bluestripe snapper ‫نهاش األشرطة الزرقاء الشهير‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). depth range 3–265 m, usually 35°N–35°S, 31°E–134°W.
Family: Lutjanidae 30–150 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesas and Line islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Southeast
Atlantic: East London, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lutjanus lunulatus (Park, 1797)
‫حمراء‬
‫نيسر الذيل الملون‬
Lunartail snapper ‫نهاش الذيل القمري‬
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Northeastern Arabian Sea to Philippines and Vanuatu. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
304
Lutjanus lutjanus Bloch, 1790
‫نيسر اصفر الزعانف‬

‫نيسرة‬
Bigeye snapper ‫نهاش العين الكبيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 32°N–26°S,
Order: Perciformes mum reported age: 11 years. depth range 0–96 m. 31°E–165°E.
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Recently recorded from
Tonga. Usually referred to as Lutjanus lineolatus by previous authors. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lutjanus malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫حمراء‬
‫نيسر‬
‫حمرة‬
Malabar blood snapper ‫النهاش الدموي الملباري‬
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 7910 g; maximum reported
age: 31 years.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. This species has been fre-
quently misidentified as Lutjanus sanguineus. There are unsubstantiated reports of this species from off East Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
305
Lutjanus monostigma (Cuvier, 1828)
‫قلوة‬
‫شويقية‬
‫نيسر‬
Onespot snapper ‫نهاش النقطة الواحيدة‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–60 m. 31°E–136°W.
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marquesas and Line islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Lutjanus quinquelineatus (Bloch, 1790)
‫عشاق كحيل العين‬

‫نيسر بو نقطة‬
‫نيسرة‬
Five-lined snapper ‫النهاش خماسي الخطوط‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea to Fiji, north to southern Japan. This species has been referred to as Lutjanus
spilurus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
306
Lutjanus rivulatus (Cuvier, 1828)
‫حمراء بنية‬
‫نيسر النجوم الزرقاء‬
Blubberlip snapper ‫نهاش البقع الزرقاء‬
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 11.0 kg.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Tahiti, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lutjanus russellii (Bleeker, 1849)
‫نيسر ابيض مخطط‬

‫نيسرة‬
Russell’s snapper ‫النهاش رسل‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 10–80 31°E–178°W.
Family: Lutjanidae m, usually 20–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
307
Lutjanus sanguineus (Cuvier, 1828)
‫حمراء ام سنام‬
‫حمرة‬
Humphead snapper ‫نيسر ابو سنام‬
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 23.0 kg; maximum report-
ed age: 13 years.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea east to the Arabian Sea and south to Natal, South Africa. Records of this species from the
eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific are probably misidentifications of Lutjanus malabaricus. Has been misidentified as Lutjanus
coccineus by recent authors. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lutjanus sebae (Cuvier, 1816)
‫حمراء الغزال‬
Emperor red snapper ‫اإلمبراطور األحمر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 116 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 34°N–36°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 60.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 5–180 34°E–159°E.
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 32.7 kg; maximum report- m.
ed age: 35 years.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: southern Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Ara-
308
Paracaesio sordida Abe & Shinohara, 1962
‫نيسر‬
‫عندق‬
Dirty ordure snapper ‫النيسر الكحيل‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 27.5 cm SL (male). depth range 5–200 m. 68°E–165°W.
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Gulf of Aqaba and East Africa to the Marquesas and Pitcairn, north to the Ryukyu Islands. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Pinjalo pinjalo (Bleeker, 1850)
‫الحمراء الصغيرة‬
‫نعيمي‬
Pinjalo ‫حمراء البنغال‬
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Papua (Papua New Guinea), north to Taiwan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
309
Pristipomoides filamentosus (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫عندق‬
Crimson jobfish ‫العندق القرمزي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; marine; depth Deep-water: 35°N–26°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm SL (male); maximum range 40–400 m, usually 31°E–144°W.
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 8154 g; maximum reported 180–270 m.
age: 18 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii and Tahiti, north to southern Japan, south to eastern Australia, and Lord Howe Island. The
Pristipomoides multidens (Day, 1871)
‫عندق‬
Goldbanded jobfish ‫عندق النطاقات‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 70.0 cm TL (male); maximum range 40–245 m, usually 31°E–168°W.
Family: Lutjanidae reported age: 30 years. 125–275 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
310
Pristipomoides sieboldii (Bleeker, 1854)
‫عندق قرنفلي‬
Lavender jobfish ‫عندق الخزاما‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male); maximum range 100–360 m. 30°E–143°W.
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 8400 g.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii, and northward to southern Japan. A single specimen, apparently of this species, obtained
from Vema Seamount in the southeast Atlantic. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pristipomoides zonatus (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫حمراء النطاقات الصفر‬

Oblique-banded snapper ‫نيسر النطاقات المائلة‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male); maximum range 70–300 m, usually 34°E–146°W.
Family: Lutjanidae published weight: 1812 g. 125–275 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii and Tahiti, north to southern Japan, south to Australia, and Lord Howe Island. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
311
Bathygadus furvescens Alcock, 1894
‫سمكة ذيل االفار‬

Blackfin rattail ‫ذيل الفار ذو الزعانف السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 36.0 cm TL (male). Bathypelagic; marine; depth Deep-water.
Order: Gadiformes range 797–1295 m.
Family: Macrouridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden and Maldives. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Coelorinchus flabellispinnis (Alcock, 1894)
Rattail fish ‫سمكة ذيل الفأر‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 47.5 cm TL (male). Benthopelagic; marine. Deep-water.
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Macrouridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Specimens from South Africa differ somewhat from those off India; they may represent a different species. No
comparative material from Indian waters was examined. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
312
Coryphaenoides macrolophus (Alcock, 1889)
Rattail fish ‫سمكة ذيل الفأر الوطواطي‬

Order: Gadiformes range 522–1080 m.
Family: Macrouridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Malacocephalus laevis (Lowe, 1843)
‫سمكة ذيل الفأر الناعمة‬

Softhead grenadier ‫رامي القنابل ذو الرأس اللينة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male); com- Bathydemersal; non-migra- Deep-water: 62°N–43°S,
Order: Gadiformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male). tory; marine; depth range 97°W–124°E.
Family: Macrouridae 200–1000 m, usually 300–750
m.
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: Western Atlantic: Strait of Florida to Brazil, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Eastern Atlantic:
Iceland and Faroes to South Africa. Indian Ocean: Bay of Bengal, off Maldives, and off East African coast. Western Pacific: Indonesian area and
Australia. Eastern Central Pacific. Malacocephalus hawaiiensis, Malacocephalus luzonensis, and Malacocephalus nipponensis are closely related to
Malacocephalus laevis and may eventually prove to represent populations of this species, if a comprehensive comparison of material from the At-
lantic, Indian and Pacific oceans is done. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
313
Nezumia investigatoris (Alcock, 1889)
‫سمكة ذيل الفأر الجنيني‬

Class: Actinopterygii Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water.
Order: Gadiformes depth range 353–897 m.
Family: Macrouridae
Distribution
Northeast Indian Ocean: Andaman Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Malacanthus latovittatus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫سكل‬
Blue blanquillo ‫سكل ازرق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 22°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 35.0 cm SL (male). depth range usually 20–65 m. 35°N–25°S.
Family: Malacanthidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Kenya, Mozambique, the Aldabra and Inhaca islands, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, hyposaline waters
of Goldie River in New Guinea, Melanesia, south to only New Caledonia; Okinawa, Philippines and Micronesian waters, Palau, east to Hawaiian
Islands, Fanning Islands and Samoa. Apparently not found off New Zealand. Reported from Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
314
Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet, 1782)
‫عومة جوافة‬
Indo-Pacific tarpon ‫تاربون المحيط الهندي والهادي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 150 cm TL (male); common Benthopelagic; amphidro- Tropical: 22°C–24°C;
Order: Elopiformes length: 30.0 cm SL (male); common length: 45.5 mous; freshwater; brackish; 34°N–28°S, 16°E–130°W.
Family: Megalopidae cm SL (female); maximum published weight: marine; depth range approxi-
18.0 kg; maximum reported age: 44 years. mately 50m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Natal, South Africa to the Society Islands, north to southern Korea, south to the Arafura Sea, and
New South Wales. Restricted to high islands (Palau, Caroline and Mariana islands) in Micronesia. Reported as far inland as the lower Shire in Ma-
lawi and the Save-Runde junction in Zimbabwe. Widespread in the Lower Zambezi River channels up to Marromeu and in the Micelo River up to
Malingapanzi. South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and East China Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Mene maculata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫لقيحة قمرية‬
Moonfish ‫سمة القمر المبتهلة‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 50–200
Family: Menidae m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to southern Japan and northeastern Australia. Recorded from the South China Sea and the Arafura
Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
315
Aluterus Monoceros (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫ابو جماالت‬
‫قرقوب‬
‫بقومي‬
Unicorn leatherjacket ‫سترة جليدية اليونيكورن‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 76.2 cm TL (male/un- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 43°N–35°S.
Order: Tetraodontiformes sexed); common length: 40.0 cm TL (male/ depth range 1–50 m.
Family: Monacanthidae unsexed); maximum published weight: 2710
g.
Distribution
Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: west coast of tropical Africa. Eastern Pa-
cific: Guatemala to Chile; probably in Mexico. Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique and South Africa. Recently recorded from Reunion. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Aluterus scriptus (Osbeck, 1765)
‫ابو جماالت ذيل الطاؤوس‬

‫ابو كوت‬
Scrawled filefish ‫سمكة الملف المخربش‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 110 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 46°N–24°S.
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 55.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 3–120 m, usually
Family: Monacanthidae published weight: 2500 g. 3–20 m.
Distribution
Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: St. Paul’s
Rocks, Cape Verde, and scension Island; São Tomé Island; South Africa. Pacific Ocean: southern Japan to the southern Great Barrier Reef, New
Caledonia, and Easter Island. In the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Colombia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
316
Cantherhines pardalis (Rüppell, 1837)
‫قرقوب البقع‬
‫بقومي‬
Honeycomb filefish ‫سمكة ملف مشط العسل‬
Family: Monacanthidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to South Africa and east to southern Japan and southeastern Oceania. Eastern Atlantic: Gulf of
Guinea, Annobon Islands, south coast of Africa. Replaced by Cantherhines sandwichiensis in the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Paraluteres prionurus (Bleeker, 1851)
‫قرقوب البقرة‬
Blacksaddle filefish ‫سمكة ملف السرج األسود‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes tory; marine; depth range
Family: Monacanthidae 1–25 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Aliwal Shoal, South Africa and east to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to the southern
Great Barrier Reef, and New Caledonia. Recently recorded from Tonga. Replaced by Paraluteres arquat in the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
317
Stephanolepis diaspros Fraser-Brunner, 1940
‫قرقوب بني‬
‫حمارة‬
Reticulated leatherjacket ‫السترة الجليدية الشبكية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical, 30°N - 2°S, 32°E -
Order: Tetraodontiformes range 20–50 m. 62°E.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea and immigrated via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Thamnaconus melanoproctes (Boulenger, 1889)
‫قرقوب‬
‫حمارة‬
Blackvent filefish ‫سمكة الملف االسود المنافس‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes range 30–200 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden, Oman, and Sea of Oman. Western Central Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
318
Monocentris japonica (Houttuyn, 1782)
‫سمكة األنناس‬
Pineconefish ‫سمكة كوز الصنوبر‬
Order: Beryciformes mon length: 12.0 cm SL (male). depth range 10–200 m.
Family: Monocentridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Sea of Oman and South Africa and Mauritius to southern Japan, southwest Sumatra to Bali Strait,
Timor Sea in Indonesia, the Arafura Sea, Darwin to Northwest Cape, Australia and from New Zealand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Monodactylus argenteus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫فترة‬
Silver moony ‫هاللي الفضة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 27.0 cm SL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; freshwater; Tropical: 24°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 12.0 cm TL (male). brackish; marine. 31°N–42°S, 19°E–169°W.
Family: Monodactylidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Yaeyamas, south to New Caledonia, and Australia. Known
from the freshwater tidal zone of the Mekong delta. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
319
Crenimugil crenilabis (Forsskål, 1775)
‫البياح العربي‬
Fringelip mullet ‫بوري الشفاة‬
Order: Mugiliformes mon length: 26.0 cm SL (male). tory; brackish; marine; depth
Family: Mugilidae range 0–20 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.
Liza klunzingeri (Day, 1888)
‫البياح الصغير‬
‫جدرفه‬
‫ميد‬
Klunzinger’s mullet ‫بوري الكلونزينجر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine. Subtropical
Order: Mugiliformes
Family: Mugilidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
320
Liza macrolepis (Smith, 1846)
‫بياح‬
Largescale mullet ‫بوري القشور الكبيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; catadromous; Tropical: 32°N–28°S.
Order: Mugiliformes mon length: 26.0 cm SL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine;
Family: Mugilidae depth starting from 10 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: east coast of Africa, including Madagascar, Seychelles, Rodriguez; north to Sri Lanka and India (except Red Sea,
Arabian Gulf, and Bengal), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, east to Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Japan, Marshall and Tuamoto islands, Melane-
sia, and Polynesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Liza persicus (Senou, Randall & Okiyama, 1995)
‫جدرفة‬
‫بياح‬
Persian mullet ‫البوري الفارسي‬
Order: Mugiliformes
Family: Mugilidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from Bahrain and Qatar. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
321
Liza subviridis (Valenciennes, 1836)
‫جدرفة‬
‫بياح‬
Greenback mullet ‫البوري الدوالر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; catadromous; Tropical: 30°N–28°S.
Order: Mugiliformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine.
Family: Mugilidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to Japan. Collected at Natal, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Moolgarda pedaraki (Valenciennes, 1836)
‫بياح‬
Longfin mullet ‫بوري طويل الزعانف‬
Order: Mugiliformes
Family: Mugilidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa south to Knysna, South Africa and east to the western Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
322
Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758
‫البياح العربي الرمادي‬

‫بياح‬
Flathead mullet ‫بوري الراس المفلطح‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm SL (male); com- Benthopelagic; catadromous; Subtropical: 8°C–24°C;
Order: Mugiliformes mon length: 50.0 cm SL (male); maximum freshwater; brackish; marine; 62°N–57°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Mugilidae reported age: 16 years. depth range 0–120 m, usually
0–10 m.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan in coastal waters of the tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones of all seas. Eastern Pacific: California, USA to
Chile. Western Pacific: Japan to Australia. Western Indian Ocean: from India to South Africa. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada to Brazil; Cape
Cod to southern Gulf of Mexico; absent in the Bahamas and most of West Indies and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to South Africa,
including the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. Reported in Sea of Okhotsk. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Oedalechilus labiosus (Valenciennes, 1836)
‫جدرفة‬
Hornlip mullet ‫بوري شفة القرن‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 32°N–24°S.
Order: Mugiliformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male). depth starting from 1 m.
Family: Mugilidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Marshall Islands, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef, and New
Caledonia; throughout Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
323
Valamugil seheli (Forsskål, 1775)
‫البياح العربي‬
‫بياح‬
Bluespot mullet ‫بوري النقطة الزرقاء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; catadro- Tropical: 32°N–23°S.
Order: Mugiliformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; freshwater; brackish;
Family: Mugilidae published weight: 8000 g. marine.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Transkei, South Africa and east the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands, north to southern Japan,
south to New Caledonia and Norfolk Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Mulloidichthys flavolineatus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫حدى الخط األصفر‬

‫سلطان ابراهيم‬
Yellowstripe goatfish ‫سمك الماعز صفراء الزعانف‬
Family: Mullidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to the Ryukyu and Bonin Islands,
south to Lord Howe, and Rapa Islands. Common throughout most of its range. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
324
Mulloidichthys vanicolensis (Valenciennes, 1831)
‫حدى اصفر الزعانف‬

Yellowfin goatfish ‫سمك ماعز اصفر الزعانف‬
Family: Mullidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.
Parupeneus barberinus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫الحدى الزاهي‬
Dash-and-dot goatfish ‫سمك الماعز السريع المنقط‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). depth range approximately to
Family: Mullidae 100 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Gulf of Aden and Oman, south on the east coast of Africa to Mossel Bay, South Africa, east to the islands of Mi-
cronesia, Line Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Tuamotu Archipelago; and from southern Japan to Australia and New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
325
Parupeneus cyclostomus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫حدى ذهبي‬
Goldsaddle goatfish ‫سمك الماعز سرج الذهب‬
Family: Mullidae published weight: 2265 g. 8–100 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa (and east to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north
to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia and Rapa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Parupeneus heptacanthus (Lacepède, 1802)
‫حدى احمر‬
‫حمر‬
Cinnabar goatfish ‫سمك الماعز االحمر الزاهي‬
Family: Mullidae m, approximately 60 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and east coast of Africa to the Caroline Islands and Fiji. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
326
Parupeneus indicus (Shaw, 1803)
‫حدى أخضر أبو نقطة‬

Indian goatfish ‫سمك الماعز الهندي‬
Family: Mullidae m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Yemen coast of the Gulf of Aden and southern Oman, along the east coast of Africa to Port Alfred, South Africa
(33°S), east to the Caroline and Somoan islands; southern Japan to southern Queensland. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Parupeneus macronemus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫حدى الحناء‬
Longbarbel goatfish ‫سمك ماعز الشارب الطويل‬
Family: Mullidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf south to Natal, South Africa extending east to Indonesia and the Philippines.
Record from Hawaiii is an error. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
327
Parupeneus margaritatus Randall & Guézé, 1984
‫حدى البقعة الحليبية‬

Pearly goatfish ‫سمك الماعز اللؤلوئي‬
Family: Mullidae
Distribution
Parupeneus pleurostigma (Bennett, 1831)
‫حدى البقعة‬
Sidespot goatfish ‫سمكة ماعز البقعة الجانبية‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 1–75 m.
Family: Mullidae published weight: 906 g.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii and the Line, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord
Howe and Rapa islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
328
Parupeneus trifasciatus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫حدى الشفاة‬
Doublebar goatfish ‫سمك ماعز النطاقين‬
Family: Mullidae
Distribution
Included in the Parupeneus trifasciatus complex are: Parupeneus trifasciatus from the Indian Ocean; Parupeneus crassilabris
which ranges from the Ryukyu Islands and Western Australia to Tonga; eastern Indian Ocean to Fiji, Tonga, and the Caroline Islands; and Parupe-
neus insularis from the more eastern islands of Oceania. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Parupeneus rubescens (Lacepède, 1801)
‫حدى الراس الدموي‬

Rosy goatfish ‫سمك الماعز الوردي‬
Family: Mullidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf south to South Africa and east to the western Pacific. Southeast Atlantic: South
Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
329
Upeneus doriae (Günther, 1869)
‫حدى األعماق ذو القمم الصفراء‬

Gilded goatfish ‫سمك الماعز المذهب‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Mullidae
Distribution
Upeneus pori Ben-Tuvia & Golani, 1989
‫حدى الزعانف الرقطاء‬

Por’s goatfish ‫سمك الماعز البرتغالي‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Mullidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to southern Oman. Entered the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
330
Upeneus tragula Richardson, 1846
‫حدى الساحل‬
‫ميراج‬
‫راعي‬
Freckled goatfish ‫سمك الماعز المنمش‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceano- Tropical: 30°N–25°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). dromous; brackish; marine;
Family: Mullidae. depth range 10–40 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gavialiceps taeniola Alcock, 1889
‫حوين شفاف‬
‫مزف‬
Watakuzu-hamo ‫واتاكوسي هومو‬
Family: Muraenesocidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea, Oman, and Bay of Bengal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
331
Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫حوين‬
‫مزف‬
‫ناشوج‬
Daggertooth pike conger ‫اسنان الخنجر بايكنجر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 220 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; oceanodromous; Subtropical: 47°N–4°S,
Order: Anguilliformes mon length: 80.0 cm TL (male); maximum freshwater; brackish; marine; 30°E–143°E.
Family: Muraenesocidae reported age: 15 years. depth upto 740 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, west coast of India, and Sri Lanka to Fiji and Tuvalu, north to Japan and Korea, south
to the Arafura Sea and northern Australia. Migrated to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Echidna nebulosa (Ahl, 1789)
‫حوين‬
‫مزف الثعبان‬
‫ناشوج‬
Snowflake moray ‫موراي الثلوج المقشر‬
Order: Anguilliformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–48 m.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to Lord
Howe Island; throughout Micronesia. Eastern Central Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico and from Costa Rica to northern Colombia. The
332
Enchelycore pardalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
‫حوين الدوربين‬
‫مزف اشقر‬
‫نمر‬
Leopard moray eel ‫موراي البحر النمري‬
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Reunion to the Hawaiian, Line and Society islands, north to southern Japan and southern Korea, south to New
Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gymnomuraena zebra (Shaw, 1797)
‫حوين بني‬
‫مزف الوحش‬
‫ناشوج‬
Zebra moray ‫موراي الحمار الوحشي‬
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to the Great
Barrier Reef. Eastern Central Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico and from Guatemala to northern Colombia, including the Galapagos. The
333
Gymnothorax chilospilus Bleeker, 1864
‫حوين النمر‬
‫مزف‬
‫نمر‬
Lipspot moray ‫موراي الشفة المنقطة‬
Order: Anguilliformes depth range 1–45 m, usually
Family: Muraenidae upto 5 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: South Africa and Oman to the Hawaiian and Society islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south
to northern Australia and the Loyalty Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gymnothorax favagineus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
‫الحوين النمري العمالق‬

‫ناجوت‬
‫مزف المرجان الشهير‬
Laced moray ‫الموراي المهاجم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 300 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Order: Anguilliformes marine; depth range 1–45 m.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
334
Gymnothorax flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1830)
‫حوين النمر االصفر‬

‫مزف‬
Yellow-edged moray ‫موراي الذوائب الصفر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 240 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–24°S.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa eastward to the Tuamoto and Austral islands, north to the Ryukyu and
Hawaiian islands, south to New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific: Costa Rica, Panama and the Galapagos. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gymnothorax flavoculus (Böhlke & Randall, 1996)
‫حوين ادهم‬
‫نمر‬
‫مزف‬
Palenose moray ‫موراي األنف الشاحب‬
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Sea of Oman to southern Oman. Reported from Socotra Archipelago. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
335
Gymnothorax griseus (Lacepède, 1803)
‫مزف‬
Geometric moray ‫الموراي الهندسي‬
Order: Anguilliformes depth upto 40 m.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: throughout the area, including the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker, 1859)
‫حوين النمر العمالق‬

‫مزف بو نقطة‬
Giant moray ‫الموراي الضخم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 300 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–25°S.
Order: Anguilliformes mum published weight: 30.0 kg. depth range 0–50 m.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesas and Oeno Atoll (Pitcairn Group), north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian
islands, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
336
Gymnothorax johnsoni (Smith, 1962)
‫حوين النمر االرقط‬

‫مزف النجوم‬
Whitespotted moray ‫موراي البقع البيضاء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 130 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical
Order: Anguilliformes range 20–70 m.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Algoa Bay, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gymnothorax megaspilus Böhlke & Randall, 1995
‫مزف البقعة‬
Oman moray ‫موراي عماني‬
Order: Anguilliformes range usually upto 21 m.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from Juzor al Hallaniyat (Kuria Muria Islands), Oman, and from Somalia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
337
Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw, 1795)
‫حوين النمر االسود‬

‫مزف نجمي‬
Turkey moray ‫موراي تركي‬
Order: Anguilliformes mon length: 80.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 1–51 m.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Marquesas and Mangaréva, north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to Lord
Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gymnothorax nudivomer (Günther, 1867)
‫حوين النمر األمرد‬

‫مزف ارقط الذيل‬
Starry moray ‫موراي النجوم‬
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Transkei, South Africa to the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to
New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
338
Gymnothorax pictus (Ahl, 1789)
‫حوين نمر المكعبات األسود‬

‫مزف اسود‬
Peppered moray ‫الموراي الفلفلي‬
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: East Africa to the Galapagos, Cocos, and Clipperton islands, north to the Hawaiian and
Ryukyu islands, south to Australia and the Kermadec Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus (Bleeker, 1852)
‫حوين نمر المكعبات البني‬

‫مزف‬
Highfin moray ‫موراي الزعانف المرتفعة‬
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Oman and India to the western Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
339
Gymnothorax undulatus (Lacepède, 1803)
‫حوين نمري اسود‬

‫مزف‬
‫ناجوت‬
‫ناشوج‬
Undulated moray ‫الموراي المتموج‬
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa, including Walters Shoal to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian
Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. Eastern Central Pacific: Costa Rica and Panama. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scuticaria tigrina (Lesson, 1828)
‫ثعبان البحر‬
‫مزف نمري‬
Tiger reef-eel ‫ثعبان البحر النمري المرجاني‬
Order: Anguilliformes depth upto 3 m.
Family: Muraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society Islands, north to the Philippines, Taiwan, and the Hawaiian Islands. Eastern Central
Pacific: Mexico (including the Revillagigedo Islands), Costa Rica, and Panama. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
340
Benthosema fibulatum (Gilbert & Cramer, 1897)
‫سمك الفنار‬
‫ام لحيم‬
Spinycheek lanternfish ‫األسماك الفانوسية شوكية الخد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm TL (male). Bathypelagic; oceanodro- Deep-water: 33°N–42°S,
Order: Myctophiformes mous; marine; depth range 19°E–153°W.
Family: Myctophidae 0–2000 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: 18°N–20°S, to 42°S in the Agulhas Current.
Pacific Ocean: 21°N–10°S. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Benthosema pterotum (Alcock, 1890)
‫برية الفنار‬
‫ام لحيم‬
Skinnycheek lanternfish ‫االسماك الفانوسية نحيفة الخد‬
Order: Myctophiformes range 10–300 m.
Family: Myctophidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Sea to about 25S off Mozambique and to the western Pacific region. Occurrence in the northwest
Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans need confirmation. Southeast Atlantic: Larvae were present in cruise collections off the eastern coast of South
Africa, however, adults have not been reported in this area. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
341
Benthosema suborbitale (Gilbert, 1913)
‫سمكة الفنار‬
‫ام لحيم‬
Smallfin lanternfish ‫األسماك الفانوسية صغيرة الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 3.9 cm SL (male); maxi- Bathypelagic; oceanodro- Deep-water: 50°N–50°S,
Order: Myctophiformes mum reported age: 1 years. mous; marine; depth range 180°W–180°E.
Family: Myctophidae 50–2500 m, usually 500–600
m.
Distribution
Circumglobal in tropical and temperate waters, but with a distinct equatorial gap in the Pacific. Western Atlantic: Canada to
Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to Mauritania and from Liberia to Namibia (absent in Mauritanian Upwelling Region). Indian and Pacific: con-
fined to southern equatorial water masses, extending to 50°N and 50°S in western boundary currents. South China Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Gonichthys cocco (Cocco, 1829)
‫سمك الفنار‬
Cocco’s lantern fish ‫سمك الفانوس كوكو‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 6.0 cm SL (male). Bathypelagic; oceanodro- Deep-water: 60°N–55°S.
Order: Myctophiformes mous; marine; depth range
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: southwest of Ireland and Bay of Biscay to Mauritania and from Gabon to Namibia including some records in
the Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: USA to the Antilles and Argentina, but absent between 17°–3°N east of 30°W. Indian Ocean: 2°N–25°S, east
of 75°E. Western Pacific: between Japan and Australia; also New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: Nazca ridge, Peru. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
342
Symbolophorus evermanni (Gilbert, 1905)
‫برية الفنار‬
‫ام لحيم‬
Evermann’s lantern fish ‫سمكة فانوس افيرمان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.0 cm SL (male). Bathypelagic; oceanodro- Deep-water
Order: Myctophiformes mous; marine; depth range
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters to southern Hawaii near Marquesas. Eastern Pacific: coast of Peru approximate-
ly in front of Isla Huaura and from Chile. South China Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Nemipterus bipunctatus (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫غزوان مخطط‬
‫باسج‬
Delagoa threadfin bream ‫برايم زعنفة الدالجوا‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical: 31°N–30°S, 31°E
Order: Perciformes marine; depth range 18–100 –103°E.
Family: Nemipteridae m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, east Africa south to Delagoa Bay in Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar,
Arabian Sea, Sri Lanka, Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Strait of Malacca. This species has generally been reported under the name Nemipteus
delagoae or Nemipterus bleekeri. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
343
Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791)
‫غزوان اصفر‬
‫باسج‬
Japanese threadfin bream ‫برايم الزعنفة الياباني‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 32.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical: 34°N–11°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 5–80 m. 31°E–133°E.
Family: Nemipteridae published weight: 596 g; maximum reported
age: 8 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific. A report on Nemipterus japonicus as a Red Sea immigrant into the Mediterranean is unconfirmed, however it has
recently (2005) been reported from Haifa Bay. Likewise, a record of this species from northwestern Australia is unfounded. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Nemipterus peronii (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫غزوان حمر عين‬

‫باسج‬
Notchedfin threadfin bream ‫برايم زعنفة الثلم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 29.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical: 34°N–27°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 17.0 cm SL (male). brackish; marine; depth 31°E–172°E.
Family: Nemipteridae range 17–100 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Taiwan and northern Australia. This species name has been misapplied to Nemipterus furcosus.
344
Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986
‫غزوان الخيط‬
Randall’s threadfin bream ‫برايم راندل‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 15.0 cm SL (male). marine; depth range 22–225 31°E–83°E.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: including the east and west coast of India, Pakistan, Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, east African
coast, Seychelles, and Madagascar. This species has been previously misidentified as Nemipterus mesoprion. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Parascolopsis aspinosa (Rao & Rao, 1981)
‫غزوان البقعة‬
Smooth dwarf monocle bream ‫برايم القزم األحادي البقعة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 21.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical: 31°N–1°N,
Distribution
Indian Ocean: including the Arabian Gulf; Sea of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Andaman Sea. The
345
Parascolopsis eriomma (Jordan & Richardson, 1909)
‫غزوان امرد‬
Rosy dwarf monocle ‫القزم احادي البقعة الوردية‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 25–264 31°E–136°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines and Indonesia, north to southern Japan. This species has been
erroneously recorded from northwestern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Parascolopsis townsendi Boulenger, 1901
‫بادح‬
Scaly dwarf monocle bream ‫برايم القزم األحادي المقشر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical: 29°N–7°N,
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: including the Sea of Oman, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
346
Scolopsis bimaculatus Rüppell, 1828
‫برايم البقعة السوداء‬

‫ابزيمي‬
Thumbprint monocle bream ‫برايم أحادي بصمة اإلبهام‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 13.0 cm SL (male). depth upto 60 m. 32°E–85°E.
Family: Nemipteridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and from Muscat, Oman to Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Also from Madagascar, Sri Lanka
and the Bay of Bengal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scolopsis ghanam (Forsskål, 1775)
‫برايم الساحل‬
‫زراع‬
Arabian monocle bream ‫برايم األحادي العربي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 30.0 cm TL (male); common Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 31°N–29°S,
Order: Perciformes length: 12.0 cm SL (male). depth range 1–20 m. 31°E–97°E.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman and East Africa (up to Delagoa Bay) to Madagascar and the Andaman
347
Scolopsis taeniatus (Cuvier, 1830)
‫البرايم الزاهي‬
‫ابزيمي‬
Black-streaked monocle bream ‫البرايم االحادي االكحل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 36.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 31°N–5°N,
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Sea of Oman, Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Sri Lanka (Gulf of Mannar). This
species has been misidentified as Scolopsides rupellii (=Scolopsis vosmeri) or as Scolopsis phaeops (= Scolopsis frenatus) by some authors. The
Scolopsis vosmeri (Bloch, 1792)
‫البرايم الخشن‬
‫حاسية‬
Whitecheek monocle bream ‫البرايم األحادي ابيض الخد‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 15.0 cm SL (male). depth range 2–25 m. 29°E–141°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Ryukyu Islands and northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
348
Saurenchelys cancrivora Peters, 1864
Slender sorcerer ‫الساحر النحيل‬
Family: Nettastomatidae
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: off River Congo. Occurrence in the Mediterranean Indian Ocean: northern region. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Cubiceps baxteri McCulloch, 1923
Black fathead ‫السمك األحمق األدهم‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm TL (male). Pelagic–oceanic; marine; Subtropical. 32°N–47°S.
Family: Nomeidae
Distribution
Atlantic and Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. A single record to date from the Indian Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
349
Cubiceps nanus Agafonova, 1988
Dwarf cigarfish ‫سمكة قزم السيجار‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.1 cm TL (male). Pelagic–oceanic; marine; Tropical
Family: Nomeidae
Distribution
Cubiceps pauciradiatus Günther, 1872
‫الفنار الطائر‬
Bigeye cigarfish ‫سمك السيجار الجاحظ‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male/un- Bathypelagic; marine; depth Tropical: 40°N–40°S.
Order: Perciformes sexed); maximum reported age: 4 years. range 58–1000 m.
Family: Nomeidae
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: circumtropical. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
350
Nomeus gronovii (Gmelin, 1789)
‫بيعيلة رقطاء‬
Man-of-war fish ‫سمكة الرجل المحارب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 39.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical: 52°N–45°S.
Family: Nomeidae
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Newfoundland, Canada, and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: north-west Africa and the
Canary Islands; also São Tomé Island. Not recorded from the Mediterranean and most of the eastern Atlantic. Indian and Pacific: widely distributed.
Brachysomophis cirrocheilos (Bleeker, 1857)
Stargazer snake eel ‫ثعبان البحر مراقب النجوم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 159 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 39°N–20°S,
Order: Anguilliformes marine; depth range 1–38 m. 35°E–148°E.
Family: Ophichthidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan, Taiwan, New Guinea, Indonesia, and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
351
Brachysomophis crocodilinus (Bennett, 1833)
‫حوين النمر الجارح‬

‫مزف الدم‬
Crocodile snake eel ‫ثعبان البحر التمساح‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Order: Anguilliformes depth range 0–30 m, usually
Family: Ophichthidae 0–2 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society Islands (but not the Hawaiian Archipelago), north to Japan, south to northern Australia.
Ichthyapus omanensis (Norman, 1939)
Oman snake eel ‫ثعبان البحر العماني‬

Order: Anguilliformes range usually upto 73 m.
Distribution
352
Lamnostoma orientalis (McClelland, 1844)
‫ثعبان البحر الدودي‬

Oriental worm-eel ‫ثعبان الدودة النفيس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 36.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; freshwater; Tropical
Order: Anguilliformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). brackish; marine.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Somalia and southern Africa to India and probably most other parts of the Indian Ocean. Found in New
Guinea and Tahiti. Could not be verified; probably erroneous. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Muraenichthys gymnopterus (Bleeker, 1853)
Waka-unagi ‫تعبان واكايناجي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Order: Anguilliformes marine.
Distribution
Western Pacific: China to Indonesia. Reported from India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
353
Muraenichthys schultzei Bleeker, 1857
‫ثعبان الدودة‬
‫مزف‬
Maimed snake eel ‫ثعبان البحر المشوه‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands; Caroline and Marshall islands in Micronesia.
Myrichthys colubrinus (Boddaert, 1781)
‫الثعبان الوحشي‬
Harlequin snake eel ‫ثعبان البحر المهرج‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 97.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine. Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Delagoa Bay, Mozambique, and east to the Society Islands, French Polynesia. Often confused
with Laticuda colubrina. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
354
Myrichthys maculosus (Cuvier, 1816)
‫ثعبان النمر األبيض‬

Tiger snake eel ‫ثعبان البحر النمري‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific, not including Hawaii and the Leeward Islands. Replaced by Myrich-
thys magnificus in the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Neenchelys cheni (Chen & Weng 1967)
Gaper snake eel ‫ثعبان البحر المنبهر‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm SL. Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Distribution
355
Ophisurus serpens (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫ثعبان البحر الدودي‬

‫مزف منقار البطة‬
Serpent eel ‫الثعبان األفعى‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 250 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Subtropical: 40°N–35°S.
Order: Anguilliformes mon length: 100.0 cm TL (male). depth range usually upto
Family: Ophichthidae 300 m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: northern coast of Iberian Peninsula to South Africa, also Madeira and western Mediterranean. Western Indian
Ocean: southern Mozambique to South Africa. Western Pacific: Japan and Australasia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pisodonophis hoeveni (Bleeker, 1853)
‫الثعبان المتربص‬
‫مزف‬
Hoeven’s snake eel ‫ثعبان الهوفن‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: known only from the 21.7 cm holotype from Sulawesi (Indonesia) and from the two reported in 1944 by
Blegvad from the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
356
Scolecenchelys gymnota (Bleeker, 1857)
‫ثعبان الدودة األصفر‬

Indo-Pacific slender worm-eel ‫ثعبان المحيط الهادي الدودي االسطواني‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Society islands, north to southern Japan and Johnston Island, south to
Rapa and the southern Great Barrier Reef; Marshall and the Caroline islands in Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Xyrias multiserialis (Norman, 1939)
No Image available
Speckled snake eel ‫ثعبان البحر االرقط‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 62.5 cm TL (male); 75.2 Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Anguilliformes cm TL (female). range 11–322 m.
Distribution
357
Spottobrotula mahodadi Cohen & Nielsen, 1978
‫نطاط الصخور االرقط‬

Class: Actinopterygii Benthopelagic; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Ophidiiformes range 40–75 m.
Family: Ophidiidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea and the Andaman Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Brotula multibarbata Temminck & Schlegel, 1846
‫ثعبان الخبز البني‬

Goatsbeard brotula ‫ثعبان ماعز البروتوال‬
Order: Ophidiiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). depth range 1–650 m, usually 17°E–155°W.
Family: Ophidiidae 180–220 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Pitcairn, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
358
Dicrolene nigricaudis (Alcock, 1891)
‫الثعبان الشريطي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water
Order: Ophidiiformes depth range 344–730 m.
Family: Ophidiidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Glyptophidium macropus Alcock, 1894
‫سمكة الحفار‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 21.0 cm SL (male). Benthopelagic; marine; depth Deep-water
Family: Ophidiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden to off Lombok, Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
359
Hypopleuron caninum Smith & Radcliffe, 1913
Whiptail cusk ‫سمكة الذيل السوطي‬

Family: Ophidiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Sea, Andaman Sea and the Philippines. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Neobythites steatiticus Alcock, 1894
‫الثعبان المفلطح ابو نقطة‬

Class: Actinopterygii Benthopelagic; marine; depth Deep-water
Family: Ophidiidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf the Bay of Bengal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
360
Neobythites stefanovi Nielsen & Uiblein, 1993
Dark fin cusk eel ‫ثعبان البحر داكن الزعنفة كوسك‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.3 cm TL. Bathydemersal; marine; Deep-water
Family: Ophidiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to the Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Opistognathus muscatensis Boulenger, 1888
‫نطاط الصخور المسقطي‬

‫ابو سدس‬
Robust jawfish ‫سمكة الفك القوي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 18°C–24°C.
Family: Opistognathidae 30–50 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Durban, South Africa to the Arabian Gulf, including Mahé Island, Seychelles. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
361
Opistognathus nigromarginatus Rüppell, 1830
‫ابو سدس‬
Birdled jawfish ‫سمك الفك الطائر‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Opistognathidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and eastern Africa to the South China Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Stalix omanensis Norman, 1939
‫ابو سدس‬
Oman jawfish ‫السمك العماني القوي‬
Family: Opistognathidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Known from one specimen taken in the northern of Oman Sea. Closely related to Stalix flavida from
northwestern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
362
Lactoria cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫بقرة اليتامى النجمية‬

‫السمك الصندوقي‬
Longhorn cowfish ‫سمكة بقرة القرون الطويلة‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male). tory; brackish; marine; depth
Family: Ostraciidae range 18–100 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe
Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus, 1758
‫بقرة اليتامى الصفراء‬

‫صندوق البحر‬
Yellow boxfish ‫السمكة الصندوقية الصفراء‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes depth range 1–280 m, usually
Family: Ostraciidae 1–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Tuamoto islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe
Island. The Red Sea population differs slightly in coloration and has been known as Ostracion argus; closely related to Ostracion immaculatus from
southern Japan. Southeast Atlantic: south coast of South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
363
Ostracion cyanurus Rüppell, 1828
‫بقرة اليتامي الداكنة‬

‫صندوق البحر‬
Bluetail trunkfish ‫سمكة الجذع زرقاء الذيل‬
Family: Ostraciidae
Distribution
Tetrosomus gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫بقرة اليتامى البنية‬

‫سمك يونس‬
Humpback turretfish ‫سمكة البرج الحدباء‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). depth range 37 - –110 m.
Family: Ostraciidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Immigrated
into the southeastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
364
Cephalopsetta ventrocellatus Dutt & Rao, 1965
‫وطية‬
‫مداس‬
‫خبز البحر‬
‫خوفة‬
Spottail coris ‫السمك المفلطح‬
Class: Actinopterygii Demersal; marine. Tropical
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Family: Paralichthyidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Gulf of Oman to the Andaman Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pseudorhombus annulatus Norman, 1927
‫وطية‬
‫مداس‬
‫خوفة‬
Ringed flounder ‫المفلطح المطوق‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: off Muscat, Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
365
Pseudorhombus arsius (Hamilton, 1822)
‫وطية بنية‬
‫مداس‬
‫خوفة‬
Largetooth flounder ‫المفلطح كبير األسنان‬
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 30.0 cm SL (male). brackish; marine; depth
Family: Paralichthyidae range 0 - –200 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and east coast of Africa (south to Algoa Bay and perhaps to Knysna, South Africa) to Fiji, north
to southern Japan, south to the northern coast of Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pseudorhombus elevatus Ogilby, 1912
‫وطية الزعانف البيضاء‬

‫مداس‬
Deep flounder ‫المفلطح العميق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 30°N–33°S.
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 15.0 cm SL (male). range 7–200 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: throughout the region including the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf; south to Algoa Bay in South Africa. Western
Pacific: Taiwan southward to New Guinea and extending to the northeastern coast of Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
366
Pseudorhombus malayanus Bleeker, 1865
‫وطية مبقعة‬
‫مداس‬
Malayan flounder ‫المفلطح الماليزي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male). range 20 - –27 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf east to India; throughout the Malay Peninsula to the Philippines and Indonesia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Pseudorhombus triocellatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫وطية البقع الثالث‬

‫مداس‬
Three spotted flounder ‫السمك المفلطح ثالثي البقع‬
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 10.0 cm SL (male). range usually upto 17 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: India and Sri Lanka to western Thailand, Sumatra and the southern islands of Indonesia, and northwestern
367
Cyttopsis rosea (Lowe, 1843)
Rosy dory ‫الدوري الوردي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 31.0 cm TL (male); com- Bathypelagic; marine; depth Deep-water
Order: Zeiformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). range 150–730 m, usually
Family: Parazenidae 330–690 m.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Canada to southeastern USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to western Caribbean; northern coast of South
America. Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay round the South African coast to Natal. Indian Ocean: Somalia and off the south-west coast of India. West-
ern Pacific: off Japan, eastern Australia and New Zealand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pegasus volitans Linnaeus, 1758
‫ابو منقار‬
Longtail seamoth ‫فراشة البحر طويلة الذيل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 18.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical: 36°N–37°S.
Order: Gasterosteiformes depth range 1–73 m, usually
Family: Pegasidae 9–27 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Delagoa Bay, Mozambique to Saudi Arabia (Arabian Gulf) and throughout Gulf of Manaar to Bay of Bengal;
along the east coast of Myanmar; north to Japan, south to tropical Australia and Papua New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
368
Parapriacanthus ransonneti Steindachner, 1870
‫صليحوة الزعانف الشفافة‬

Pigmy sweeper ‫القزم الكاسح‬
Order: Perciformes depth range usually upto
Family: Pempheridae 550 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Transkei, South Africa and east to the Marshall Islands, north to southern Japan, south to
Pempheris vanicolensis Cuvier, 1831
‫صليحوة ابو جناح‬

‫شراب سمن‬
Vanikoro sweeper ‫كاسحة الفانيكور‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pempheridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to the Philippines. Recently invaded the eastern Mediterranean waters. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
369
Histiopterus typus Temminck & Schlegel, 1844
‫اليفيوف المدرع‬
Sailfin armourhead ‫بحار الزعانف المدرعة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 42.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Deep-water
Family: Pentacerotidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa, Oman, Arabian Sea, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Reported from Ma-
laysia and Indonesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Bembrops caudimacula Steindachner, 1876
‫حاسوم منقط الذيل‬

Opal Fish ‫سمك أوبال‬
Family: Percophidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Japan and Korea, south to Borneo and northeastern Australia, west to the Andaman Sea and Indian Ocean,
and in the Gulf of Aden. Eastern Atlantic: only in the Gulf of Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
370
Bembrops platyrhynchus (Alcock, 1894)
‫سمك المزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
Natal duckbill ‫منقار البطة الوالدة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male). Deep-water Deep-water
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percophidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: including the Bay of Bengal, the South China Sea, the Philippine Sea, the Tasman Sea, and off the coast of
Somalia and South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Satyrichthys adeni (Lloyd, 1907)
‫الدبية الحمراء‬
‫ساتريك العدني‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Deep-water
Family: Peristediidae
Distribution
Southeast Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific: Mossel Bay in South Africa to Delagoa Bay in Mozambique, also from northern
Indian Ocean and Taiwan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
371
Parapercis alboguttata (Günther, 1872)
‫مزمار الحاسون‬
Whitespot sandsmelt ‫رمال البقعة البيضاء‬
Family: Pinguipedidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to the continental shelf of Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and northwestern Australia. The
Parapercis hexophtalma (Cuvier, 1829)
‫المزمار االرقط‬
Speckled sandperch ‫فرخ الرمال األرقط‬
Distribution
372
Parapercis maculata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫مزمار النطاقات السبعة‬

Harlequin sandperch ‫فرخ الرمال المهرج‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 20.0 cm TL male. Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Distribution
Parapercis nebulosa (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
‫مزمار النطاقات الحمر‬

Barred sandperch ‫فرخ الرمال البري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical. 11°S–35°S,
Order: Perciformes range usually upto 30 m. 112°E–154°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: known only from Australian waters. Records from the western Indian Ocean are misidentifications of Para-
percis robinsoni. The Ara bian Sea coast of Oman.
373
Parapercis robinsoni Fowler, 1929
‫مزمار النطاقات الثمان‬

Smallscale grubfish ‫سمك الحفار صغير القشور‬
Order: Perciformes range 6 - –55 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to South Africa and Pakistan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cociella crocodilus (Tilesius, 1812)
‫شصة‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
Crocodile flathead ‫تمساح الرأس المسطح‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 50.0 cm TL male; common Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical
Order: Scorpaeniformes length: 40.0 cm TL male.Maximum length: marine; depth upto 100 m.
Family: Platycephalidae 50.0 cm TL (male); common length: 40.0 cm
TL (male).
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.Indo-West
Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
374
Cociella punctata (Cuvier, 1829)
‫شصة‬
‫ابولبن‬
‫تنين‬
Spotted flathead ‫مسطح الرأس األرقط‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). tory; marine; depth range
Family: Platycephalidae 10–300 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: widespread, from the New Hebrides to Papua New Guinea, north to Taiwan, through Indonesia to Thailand,
Pakistan, the Red Sea, and South Africa. Replaced by Cociella crocodilus from southern China to Japan and by Cociella hutchinsi in northern Aus-
tralia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cociella somaliensis Knapp, 1996
‫مزمار‬
‫مسطح الرأس الصومالي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Platycephalidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
375
Grammoplites scaber (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
Rough flathead ‫مسطح الرأس الخشن‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). brackish; marine; depth upto
Family: Platycephalidae 55 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: southern Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal through Malaysia, Indonesia to Bali and Celebes, Gulf of Thailand,
Viet Nam, Hong Kong and southern Philippines. Also reported from the Arafura Sea. Records from the northern Arabian Sea, Arabian Gulf, and
east coast of Africa probably refer to other species. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Grammoplites suppositus (Troschel, 1840)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
‫وحرة‬
Spotfin flathead ‫مسطح الرأس منقوط الزعنفة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). range 30–94 m, usually
Distribution
376
Kumococius rodericensis (Cuvier, 1829)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫بو مالوك‬
Spiny flathead ‫مسطح الرأس المشوك‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Tropical; 21°S.
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 17.0 cm TL (male). range 6 - –75 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and the Mascarenes to the Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia.
Papilloculiceps longiceps (Cuvier, 1829)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
Tentacled flathead ‫مسطح الرأس ذو المجسات‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, including the Gulf of Aqaba to South Africa and Madagascar. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
377
Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫وحرة‬
Bartail flathead ‫مسطح الراس مخطط الذنب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceano- Subtropical: 32°N–28°S.
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 60.0 cm TL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine;
Family: Platycephalidae published weight: 3500 g. depth range 20–200 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines, north to southern Japan and Korea, south to northern Australia.
Introduced into the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rogadius melanopterus (Knapp&Wongratana, 1987)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
Obscure flathead ‫مسطح الرأس الغامض‬
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Sea of Oman to the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
378
Rogadius pristiger (Cuvier, 1829)
‫مزمار احمر‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
Thorny flathead ‫مسطح الرأس المشوك‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 15.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 15–95
Family: Platycephalidae m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Madagascar, and Sea of Oman; northern Indian Ocean; Indonesia, Gulf of Thailand, Philippines,
Papua New Guinea, the Arafura Sea, northwest shelf of Australia, and New Caledonia. Recently reported from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Sorsogona Nigripinnis (Regan, 1905)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
Blackfin flathead ‫مسطح الرأس ذو الزعنفة السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 20.0 cm TL male. Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Scorpaeniformes range 27 - 80 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: off Muscat, Oman and off Somalia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
379
Sorsogona prionota (Sauvage, 1873)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
‫وحرة‬
Blackblotch flathead ‫مسطح الرأس ذو البقع السود‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes range 1 - –100 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Pakistan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sorsogona tuberculata (Cuvier, 1829)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
‫وحرة‬
Tuberculated flathead ‫مسطح الرأس ذو الدرن‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; amphidromous; Deep-water
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 12.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 9–80 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and the northern Indian Ocean to the Philippines and Queensland, Australia. Absent from
the Red Sea and eastern coast of Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
380
Thysanophrys celebica (Bleeker, 1854)
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
Celebes flathead ‫مسطح الرأس سليبس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 10.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 20–43
Family: Platycephalidae m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: South Africa to Arabian Gulf, Sri Lanka, southern India, Gulf of Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines,
Celebes, Irian Barat, Arafura Sea, northern Queensland, and the Solomons. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Thysanophrys chiltonae Schultz, 1966
‫مزمار‬
‫ابو لبن‬
‫تنين‬
Longsnout flathead ‫مسطح الرأس طويل الخطم‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to northern Australia. The
381
Acanthoplesiops indicus (Day, 1888)
‫نمس النطاق األبيض‬

Scottie ‫سكوتي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 5.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical
Order: Perciformes marine; depth range usually
Family: Acanthoclininae upto 7 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Kenya to Natal, South Africa and from Seychelles, Masirah Island off central Oman, and India. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Plesiops mystaxus Mooi, 1995
Moustache longfin ‫ابو شنب طويل الزعنفة‬

Family: Plesiopidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Comoros, Madagascar, and southern Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
382
Plesiops nigricans (Rüppell, 1828)
Whitespotted longfin ‫سمان الزعنفة الطويلة ابيض البقع‬

Family: Plesiopidae 5–30 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: apparently restricted to the waters of Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Plotosus limbatus Valenciennes, 1840
‫خن بني‬
‫ليصد‬
Darkfin eel catfish ‫السنور ثعبان البحر داكن الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 41.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; amphidromous Tropical
Order: Siluriformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). (Ref. 51243); freshwater;
Family: Plotosidae brackish; marine.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: ranging from the Madras and Malabar coasts of India to the east coast of Africa. Reaches as far south
as Knysna, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
383
Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787)
‫خن فضي الخطوظ‬

‫ليصد‬
‫خن فارسي‬
‫عي‬
Striped eel catfish ‫ثعبان البحر المخطط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 32.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 38°N–32°S.
Order: Siluriformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine;
Family: Plotosidae reported age: 7 years. depth range 1–60 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, southern Korea, and the Ogasawara Islands, south
to Australia, and Lord Howe Island. Palau and Yap in Micronesia. Sometimes enters freshwaters of East Africa (Lake Malawi) and Madagascar. The
Polymixia fusca Kotthaus, 1970
Clown coris ‫حمراء الحصى‬

Order: Polymixiiformes depth range 19–435 m.
Family: Polymixiidae
Distribution
384
Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw, 1804)
‫تر القشور الصغيرة‬

‫شيم‬
Fourfinger threadfin ‫سمك األصابع األربعة خيطي الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 200 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; amphidro- Tropical: 32°N–26°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; freshwater; brackish; 47°E–154°E.
Family: Labridae published weight: 145.0 kg. marine; depth range 0–23 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. Replaced by Eleutheronema tetradactylum in
East Asia (Japan, China, and Vietnam). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Polydactylus plebeius (Broussonet, 1782)
‫غزال‬
‫تر خماسي الخيوط‬
Striped threadfin ‫السمك المخطط خيطي الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical: 37°N–35°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range usually upto 22°E–148°W.
Family: Polynemidae published weight: 1650 g. 122 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to French Polynesia, north to Japan, south to Australia. Has not been collected from the Red Sea or
Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
385
Polydactylus sextarius (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫غزال‬
‫تر اصفر ذو البقعة السوداء‬
Blackspot threadfin ‫السمك الخيطي ذو البقعة السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical; 32°N - –11°S, 75°E
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). brackish; marine; depth - –149°E.
Family: Polynemidae range 16 - –73 m.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: southwestern India to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan. May rarely occur in the
Philippines, eastern Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Apolemichthys xanthotis (Fraser-Brunner, 1950)
‫مشط اصفر الذيل‬

Yellow-ear angelfish ‫سمك عصفور األذن الصفراء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical
Family: Pomacanthidae 10–35 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
386
Centropyge acanthops (Norman, 1922)
Orangeback angelfish ‫سمكة العصفور برتقالي الظهر‬

Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia to East London, South Africa. Also around oceanic islands. Common off East Africa. The
Centropyge multispinis (Playfair, 1867)
‫مشط البصمة‬
Dusky angelfish ‫سمك العصفور الداكن‬
Order: Perciformes tory; marine.
Family: Pomacanthidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to western Thailand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
387
Pomacanthus asfur (Forsskål, 1775)
‫عنفوز‬
Arabian angelfish ‫سمك العصفور العربي‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, south to Zanzibar. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pomacanthus imperator (Bloch, 1787)
‫المشط اإلمبراطور‬
‫عنفوز‬
Emperor angelfish ‫سمك العصفور اإلمبراطور‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 31°N–28°S,
Order: Perciformes mum reported age: 14 years. tory; marine; depth range 32°E–144°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara
Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, and the Austral Islands. Not found in Easter Island, Rapa and the Marquesan Islands. The
388
Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫مسن ابو ناب‬

‫عنفوز‬
Yellowbar angelfish ‫سمكة مالك الشريط األصفر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical; 13°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). tory; marine; depth range
Family: Pomacanthidae 4 - –50 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman Sea to at least 13°S. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pomacanthus semicirculatus (Cuvier, 1831)
‫عنفوز‬
‫مشط الطيف النصف دائري‬
Semicircle angelfish ‫سمك العصفور النصف دائري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Western Australia and New South
Wales, including Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
389
Abudefduf notatus (Day, 1870)
‫سعادوة الذيل األصفر‬

Yellowtail sergeant ‫شاويش الذنب األصفر‬
Family: Pomacentridae 1–12 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Transkei, South Africa and to New Britain, north to southern Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Abudefduf septemfasciatus (Cuvier, 1830)
‫سعادوة القمم السوداء‬

Banded sergeant ‫شاويش النطاقات‬
Order: Perciformes tory; marine; depth range 26°E–135°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to southern Great Barrier Reef. The
390
Abudefduf sexfasciatus (Lacepède, 1801)
‫العجيمي‬
‫سعادوة زرقاء النطاقات‬
Scissortail sergeant ‫شاويش الذيل المقص‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Pinda, Mozambique and the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa
islands. Not recorded from the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Abudefduf sordidus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫سعادوة النطاقات البنية‬

Blackspot sergeant ‫شاويش النقطة السوداء‬
Order: Perciformes tory; brackish; marine; depth 49°W–126°W.
Family: Pomacentridae range 0–3 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Pitcairn islands, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
391
Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825)
‫سعادوة الساحل‬
‫العجيمي‬
Indo-Pacific sergeant ‫شاويش المحيط الهندي الهادي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 20.0 cm TL maleMaximum Reef-associated; oceanodro- Tropical: 36°N–39°S,
Order: Perciformes length: 20.0 cm TL (male). mous; marine; depth range 18°E–138°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and eastern Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Often
confused with the closely related Atlantic species Abudefduf saxatilis. Replaced by Abudefduf abdominalis in the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Amphiprion clarkii (Bennett, 1830)
Yellowtail clownfish ‫المهرج اصفر الذيل‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 15.0 cm SL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 30°N–30°S,
Order: Perciformes mum reported age: 11 years. tory; marine; depth range 47°E–172°W.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Western Australia, throughout the Indo-Australian Archipelago and in the western Pacific
at the islands of Melanesia and Micronesia, north to Taiwan, southern Japan and the Ryukyu Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
392
Amphiprion omanensis Allen & Mee, 1991
‫مهرج الخط األبيض‬

Oman anemonefish ‫سمكة شقائق النعمان العمانية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 25°N–16°N,
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Amphiprion sebae Bleeker, 1853
‫المهرج ابيض النطاقات‬

Sebae anemonefish ‫سمكة شقائق النعمان سيبا‬
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Arabian Peninsula, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Andaman Islands, and Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. The Ara-
393
Chromis dimidiata (Klunzinger, 1871)
‫سعادوة شفافة الزعانف‬

Chocolatedip chromis ‫كروميس الشوكالته‬
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Mauritius, Réunion, Chagos Archipelago, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Anda-
man Sea, Thailand, and Christmas Island. Western Central Pacific: Guam. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chromis flavaxilla Randall, 1994
‫سعادوة الظهر األسود‬

Arabian chromis ‫الكروميس العربي‬
Family: Pomacentridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Peninsula from the northern Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
394
Chromis pembae Smith, 1960
‫سعادوة القمم الصفراء‬

Pemba chromis ‫كروميس البيمبا‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa south to Tanzania. Also around oceanic islands. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Chromis weberi Fowler & Bean, 1928
‫سعادوة رصاصية‬
Weber’s chromis ‫كروميس ويبر‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
395
Chromis xanthopterygia Randall & McCarthy, 1988
‫سعادوة متينة‬
Yellowfin chromis ‫كروميس اصفر الزعانف‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chrysiptera annulata (Peters, 1855)
‫سعادوة البطينة‬
Footballer demoiselle ‫ديمويسل اللعوب‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Durban, South Africa; also Aldabra, Madagascar, Reunion, and Mauritius. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
396
Chrysiptera sheila Randall, 1994
‫سعادوة الشبا‬
Sheila’s damselfish ‫سمكة الفتاة شيال‬
Order: Perciformes range 0–3 m, usually 0–3 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: the Arabian Sea coast of Oman to Oman Sea (around Muscat, Oman).
Chrysiptera unimaculata (Cuvier, 1830)
‫سعادوة المهرجة‬
Onespot demoiselle ‫فتاة وحيدة البقعة‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Fiji, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. Recently
reported from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
397
Dascyllus trimaculatus (Rüppell, 1829)
‫سعادوة حدباء‬
Threespot dascyllus ‫داسيلوس ثالثي النقط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.0 cm SL male. Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 30°N–30°S.
Family: Pomacentridae 1-55 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Pitcairn islands, north to southern Japan, south to Sydney, Australia. Not
found in the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Neopomacentrus cyanomos (Bleeker, 1856)
‫سعادوة زرقاء‬
Regal demoiselle ‫فتاة الملوك‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia and Mel-
anesia (except Fiji). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
398
Neopomacentrus miryae Dor & Allen, 1977
‫سعادوة ميري‬
Miry’s demoiselle ‫فتاة ميري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.0 cm TL (male).Size/ Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical
Order: Perciformes Weight/Age: Max length: 11.0 cm TL male. tory; marine; depth range
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Arabian Sea coast of Oman.Distribution: Western Indian Ocean:
Red Sea north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Neopomacentrus sindensis (Day, 1873)
‫سعادوة عربية‬
Arabian demoiselle ‫فتاة عربية‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
399
Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus Fowler & Ball, 1924
‫سعادوة جزيرة جونستون‬

Johnston Island damsel ‫فتاة جزيرة جونستون‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Pitcairn islands, north to the Ryukyu and Bonin islands, south to
Lord Howe Island and Rapa. Unknown from the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Plectroglyphidodon leucozonus (Bleeker, 1859)
‫سعادوة الخط االبيض‬

Singlebar devil ‫شيطان وحيد الخط‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marshall and Pitcairn Island groups, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Ara-
400
Pomacentrus aquilus Allen & Randall, 1980
‫سعادوة البرقع‬
Dark damsel ‫الفتاة الدهماء‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, south to Madagascar and the east African coast at least as far south as
Kenya. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pomacentrus arabicus Allen, 1991
‫سعادوة المروحة‬
Arabian damsel ‫فتاة العرب‬
Distribution
401
Pomacentrus caeruleus Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
‫سعادوة كارولين‬
Caerulean damsel ‫فتاة كارولين‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: East Africa (south to Durban) to Maldives. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pomacentrus leptus Allen & Randall, 1980
‫سعادوة النحيلة‬
Slender damsel ‫الفتاة النحيلة‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Sea of Oman. Range reported to extend south to East Africa.
402
Pomacentrus trichourus Günther, 1867
‫سعادوة الذيل الفاقع‬

Paletail damsel ‫فتاة الذيل الباهت‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the east African coast south to Natal, South Africa. Reported as likely to occur at Seychelles
in Smith & Smith 1963 but not listed as such in Allen 1991. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pomacentrus trilineatus Cuvier, 1830
‫سعادوة القمم الزرقاء‬

Threeline damsel ‫فتاة الخطوط الثالثة‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the east African coast south to Mozambique, and Madagascar. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
403
Pristotis obtusirostris (Günther, 1862)
‫سعادوة الخليج‬
Gulf damselfish ‫سمكة فتاة الخليج‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Indonesia, New Guinea, and northern Australia.
Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766)
‫طكوة‬
‫تكواية‬
Bluefish ‫السمك الشره‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 130 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceano- Subtropical: 45°N–44°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 60.0 cm TL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine; 180°W–180°E.
Family: Pomatomidae published weight: 14.4 kg; maximum report- depth range 0–200 m.
ed age: 9 years.
Distribution
Circumglobal: In tropical to subtropical waters; except the eastern Pacific. Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to South Africa, including
the Mediterranean and Black Sea, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. Western Atlantic: Canada and Bermuda to Argentina. Indian Ocean: along the
coast of East Africa, Madagascar, southern Oman, southwest India, the Malay Peninsula, and Western Australia. Southwest Pacific: Australia except
the Northern Territory, and New Zealand. Absent from eastern Pacific and northwest Pacific. Barely entering the Western Central Pacific region.
404
Cookeolus japonicus (Cuvier, 1829)
‫ديك البحر األملس‬

Longfinned bullseye ‫بولس طويل الزعانف‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth range 40–400 m, usu-
Family: Priacanthidae published weight: 2080 g; maximum reported ally 165–200 m.
age: 9 years.
Distribution
Circumglobal in tropical and tropically influenced seas. Indo-Pacific: South Africa to the central Pacific islands, north to Japan
and Korea, south to southeastern Australia. Eastern Pacific: Baja California to Peru. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada and New Jersey, USA to
probably Argentina. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Priacanthus blochii Bleeker, 1853
‫ديك البحر الطويل‬

Paeony bulleye ‫بوني بولي‬
Family: Priacanthidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Gulf of Aden to Samoa, north to the Philippines, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. Often confused with the
wide-ranging Priacanthus hamrur. Reports from Taiwan are misidentifications of Priacanthus sagittarius (in Lee, 1980) and Heteropriacanthus cru-
entatus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
405
Priacanthus hamrur (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ديك البحر حمرور‬

‫حمره‬
‫ديك عربي‬
Moontail bullseye ‫بولس الذيل القمري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical; 32°N - –24°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male). depth range 8 - –250 m.
Family: Priacanthidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and southern Africa to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Reported from
Easter Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pellona ditchela Valenciennes, 1847
Indian pellona ‫عومة بيلونا الهندية‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.0 cm SL (male). Pelagic–neritic; anadromous; Tropical: 25°N–25°S,
Order: Clupeiformes freshwater; brackish; marine; 43°E–155°E.
Family: Pristigasteridae depth range 10–55 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Madagascar, and from Durban, South Africa to the Sea of Oman and the coasts of India. From the Andaman
Sea to Indonesia and the Philippines, southeast to the Arafura Sea, northern and western Australia and Papua New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
406
Psettodes erumei (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫كلب البحر‬
Indian spiny turbot ‫الترس الشائك الهندي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 64.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Tropical; 26°N - –21°S, 43°E
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). range 1 - –100 m, usually 20 - –156°E.
Family: Psettodidae - –50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chlidichthys cacatuoides Gill & Randall, 1994
‫برق الصخور‬
Cockatoo dottyback ‫ببغاء منقطة الظهر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 3.7 cm SL (male); 3.76 cm Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Order: Perciformes SL (female). depth range usually upto 21
Family: Pseudochromidae m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: southern Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
407
Halidesmus coccus Winterbottom & Randall, 1994
Rooster snakelet ‫ثعبان عرف الديك‬

Family: Pseudochromidae
Distribution
Haliophis diademus Winterbottom & Randall, 1994
Stars-and-stripes snakelet ‫ثعبان النجوم الشريطي‬

Distribution
408
Haliophis guttatus (Forsskål, 1775)
African eel blenny ‫ثعبان البحر األفريقي بليني‬

Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to the northern Gulf of Aden, southern Oman, and the east coast of Africa between Kenya and
Mozambique, and the west coast of Madagascar. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pseudochromis aldabraensis Bauchot-Boutin, 1958
‫المهرج ازرق الظهر‬

Orange dottyback ‫البرتقالي مرقط الظهر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine, usually Tropical: 24°C–28°C.
Order: Perciformes 1–20 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Aldabra, Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
409
Pseudochromis caudalis Boulenger, 1898
‫المهرج بو نقطة‬
Stripe-tailed dottyback ‫منقط الظهر شريطي الذيل‬
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka and southern India to Sea of Oman and Strait of Hormuz. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pseudochromis leucorhynchus Lubbock, 1977
‫المهرج احور العين‬

White-nosed dottyback ‫ابيض الخطم منقط الظهر‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Kenya and Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
410
Pseudochromis linda Randall & Stanaland, 1989
‫المهرج األدهم اصفر الذيل‬

Yellowtail dottyback ‫اصفر الذيل منقط الظهر‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden and southeastern Arabian Peninsula, and from the Arabian Gulf east to Pakistan. The
Pseudochromis nigrovittatus Boulenger, 1897
‫مهرج النجوم السوداء‬

Blackstripe dottyback ‫اسود الشريط منقط الظهر‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: eastern part of Arabian Gulf and Straits of Hormuz, Sea of Oman southern part of it, Djibouti. Species
occur in two main color forms (with and without the broad, dark brown to dark grey stripe on the side of the body). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
411
Pseudochromis omanensis Gill & Mee, 1993
‫المهرج العماني المرح‬

Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: central and southern Oman, and Socotra Archipelago. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pseudochromis persicus Murray, 1887
‫مهرج النجوم الزرقاء‬

Bluespotted dottyback ‫ازرق البقع منقط الظهر‬
Family: Pseudochromidae 1–25 m.
Distribution
412
Pseudochromis punctatus Kotthaus, 1970
‫المهرج مزرق الظهر‬

Blackback dottyback ‫اسود الظهر ذو الزعانف الكحلية‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia and Juzor al Hallaniyat (Kuria Muria Islands). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rusichthys explicitus Winterbottom, 1996
‫الحفار ذيل الشعر‬

Order: Perciformes upto 27 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
413
Parioglossus raoi Herre, 1939
Rao’s hover goby ‫القوبيون الحفار راو‬

Family: Ptereleotridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Indonesia. Recently recorded
from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ptereleotris arabica Randall & Hoese, 1985
Arabian dartfish ‫الحفار العربي ذو الذيل الشعري‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.2 cm SL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical: 32°N–25°N.
Family: Ptereleotridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, and the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
414
Ptereleotris heteroptera (Bleeker, 1855)
Blacktail goby ‫قوبيون الذيل األسود‬

Family: Ptereleotridae 5–15 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan, and Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south
to Lord Howe Island; Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands in Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Ptereleotris microlepis (Bleeker, 1856)
Blue gudgeon ‫السمكة الزرقاء‬

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef.
415
Ptereleotris monoptera Randall & Hoese, 1985
Lyre-tail dart-goby ‫القوبيون الوثاب ذيل القيثارة‬

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Seychelles and Chagos Islands to the western Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766)
‫سكل‬
‫سكن‬
Cobia ‫كوبيا‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 200 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceano- Subtropical: 47°N–37°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 110 cm TL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine; 98°W–166°E.
Family: Rachycentridae published weight: 68.0 kg; maximum report- depth range 0–1200 m.
ed age: 15 years.
Distribution
Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, but absent in the eastern Pacific and the Pacific Plate, except marginally. Western
Atlantic: Canada to Bermuda and Massachusetts, USA to Argentina, including the Gulf of Mexico, and entire Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Morocco
to South Africa. Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and Hokkaido, Japan to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
416
Calotomus carolinus (Valenciennes, 1840)
‫برق صغير‬
‫قين‬
Carolines parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء كارولين‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: widest ranging member of the genus, from East Africa to the Revillagigedo and Galapagos
islands. Replaced by Calotomus viridescens in the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chlorurus sordidus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫برق‬
‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Daisy parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء دايزي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; oceano- Tropical: 30°N–33°S,
Order: Perciformes dromous; brackish; marine; 30°E–130°W.
Family: Scaridae depth range 0–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east to the Hawaiian, Line, and Ducie islands, north to the Ryukyu
Islands, south to Perth, New South Wales, Lord Howe Island, and Rapa Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
417
Chlorurus strongylocephalus (Bleeker, 1854)
‫برق بني أحدب‬

‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Indian Ocean steephead parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء المحيط الهندي حادة الراس‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: East Africa to southwest Indonesia, north to the Andaman Sea. The species complex comprise of Chlorurus
gibbus in the Red Sea, Chlorurus strongylocephalus in the Indian Ocean, and Chlorurus microrhinos in the west-central Pacific. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Leptoscarus vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
‫برق رخامي‬
Marbled parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء الرخام‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: northern Red Sea and South Africa to Easter Island, north to southern Japan, south to Poor Knight’s Island in
New Zealand and Rottnest Island in Australia. Southeast Atlantic: False Bay, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
418
Scarus arabicus (Steindachner, 1902)
‫برق قراض‬
‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Arabian parrotfish ‫سمك الببغاء العربي‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea; Gulf of Aden to Pakistan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scarus falcipinnis (Playfair, 1868)
‫برق النجوم‬
‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Sicklefin parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء الزعنفة المنجلية‬
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 3000 g. depth starting from 6 m.
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Oman, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Mauritius. Also reported from Madagascar and Reunion. Presence
in Somalia to be confirmed. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
419
Scarus ferrugineus Forsskål, 1775
‫برق اصفر الذيل‬

‫جن‬
‫قين مصدي‬
Rusty parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء الصدأ‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scarus frenatus Lacepède, 1802
‫برق المرجان‬
‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Bridled parrotfish ‫سمك الببغاء المقيد‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Line and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia, and Lord
Howe and Rapa islands. Absent from the Hawaiian Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
420
Scarus fuscopurpureus (Klunzinger, 1871)
‫برق‬
‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Purple-brown parrotfish ‫الببغاء األرجواني البني‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Somalia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scarus ghobban Forsskål, 1775
‫برق القمم الزرقاء‬

‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Blue-barred parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء الخطوط الزرقاء‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 3–36 m.
Family: Scaridae reported age: 13 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Algoa Bay, South Africa to Rapa and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Perth, New
South Wales. Likely at Seychelles. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Ecuador. Eastern Mediterranean: off the coast of Shiqmona, first Lessepsian
immigrant of Family Scaridae. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
421
Scarus niger Forsskål, 1775
‫برق الدخان‬
‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Dusky parrotfish ‫سمكة الببغاء المعتمة‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and east to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to
Shark Bay, Western Australia, and the southern Great Barrier Reef. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scarus persicus Randall & Bruce, 1983
‫برق الخط العمودي‬

‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Gulf parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء الخليج‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 1500 g.
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only the Arabian Gulf to the southern coast of Oman, but not common in the south. The Ara-
422
Scarus psittacus Forsskål, 1775
‫برق البرقع‬
‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Common parrotfish ‫سمكة الببغاء الشهيرة‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa (and east to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north
to southern Japan, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia, and Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scarus rubroviolaceus Bleeker, 1847
‫برق عين البقرة‬

‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Ember parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء الجمرة‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Durban, South Africa and east to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian
islands, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and the southern Great Barrier Reef. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to the Galapagos Islands. The
423
Scarus scaber Valenciennes, 1840
‫برق العين الكحيلة‬

‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Fivesaddle parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء السروج الخمسة‬
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 900 g. depth range 1–20 m.
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa; also around islands of the western Indian Ocean. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Scarus zufar Randall & Hoover, 1995
‫برق ظفار‬
‫جن‬
‫قين‬
Dhofar parrotfish ‫سمكة ببغاء ظفار‬
Family: Scaridae
Distribution
424
Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus, 1766)
‫ابو كوت المبقع‬

Spotted scat ‫المسيقي المبقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 38.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 20°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). mous; freshwater; brackish; 32°N–23°S.
Family: Scatophagidae marine; depth range 1–4 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Kuwait to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia. Reported from Samoa, Tonga, and the Society
Argyrosomus heinii (Steindachner, 1902)
‫أشخلي أسود‬
‫منايه‬
Arabian Sea meagre ‫نحيل بحر العرب‬
Order: Perciformes
Family: Sciaenidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: south coast of Arabia and the Gulf of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
425
Argyrosomus japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)
‫أشخلي فضي‬
‫شماهي‬
Japanese meagre ‫النحيل الياباني‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 181 cm TL (male); maxi- Benthopelagic; oceanodro- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 75.0 kg. mous; brackish; marine.
Family: Sciaenidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: African southeast coast from Cape of Good Hope to southern Mozambique; northern Indian Ocean off Pa-
kistan and northwest coast of India; northern Pacific from southern Korea and Japan, along the Chinese coast to Hong Kong; in Australia along the
entire southern seaboard from North West Cape (north of Shark Bay) in Western Australia to the Burnett River (north of Brisbane) in Queensland.
Atrobucca nibe (Jordan & Thompson, 1911)
‫أشخلي فضي‬
‫بناوه‬
Blackmouth croaker ‫كروكر الفم األسود‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Deep-water: 34°N–28°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm SL (male). range 45–200 m.
Family: Sciaenidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Mozambique and Natal, South Africa, India; China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and off northern Austral-
ia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
426
Johnius borneensis (Bleeker, 1851)
‫بادح القمة السوداء‬

Sharpnose hammer croaker ‫كروكر المطرقة حاد األنف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 34.8 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; freshwater; Tropical: 30°N–36°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male). brackish; marine; depth 32°E–155°E.
Family: Sciaenidae range 0–132 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf eastward to southern China and Taiwan and northern and northeastern Australia and New
Guinea.
Johnius dussumieri (Cuvier, 1830)
‫اشخلي ابيض‬
‫بناوه‬
Sin croaker ‫الكروكر السيئ‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 14.0 cm SL (male). brackish; marine; depth
Family: Sciaenidae range usually upto 40 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Pakistan to the Andaman Islands. Records outside this area are probably misidentifications (e.g. of Johnius
dorsalis in Africa). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
427
Otolithes cuvieri Trewavas, 1974
‫أشخلي‬
‫صارف‬
‫نويبي‬
‫شماهي‬
Lesser tigertooth croaker ‫كروكر أسنان النمر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical
Family: Sciaenidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: coasts of India and Pakistan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Otolithes ruber (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫بناوه‬
‫نويبي‬
‫شماهي‬
‫صارف اصفر الزعانف‬
Tiger-toothed croaker ‫كروكر اسنان النمر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 90.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; amphidro- Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm SL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 34°N–28°S.
Family: Sciaenidae published weight: 7000 g. depth range 10–40 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, including Madagascar (absent in the Red Sea), eastward to southern China Sea and Queensland,
428
Pennahia anea (Bloch, 1793)
Greyfin croaker ‫كروكر رمادي الزعانف‬

Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male). upto 60 m.
Family: Sciaenidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Taiwan and south through the Philippines and Borneo to about the southern tip of Java.
Umbrina canariensis Valenciennes, 1843
‫بادح رصاصي‬
Canary drum ‫طبل الكناري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 80.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical: 14°C–15°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male). range 50–300 m, usually 50°N–28°S.
Family: Sciaenidae 150–200 m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to South Africa, including the western Mediterranean. Western Indian Ocean: east coast of
Africa; probably also in the Arabian Sea under synonyms capensis, sinuata Day and striata Boulenger. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
429
Umbrina ronchus Valenciennes, 1843
‫بادح بو مقل‬
Fusca drum ‫طبل الغبساء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; freshwater; brack- Subtropical: 43°N–36°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). ish; marine; depth range 19°W–56°E.
Family: Sciaenidae 20–200 m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean: western Mediterranean and Gibraltar to the Cape and along the east coast of Africa
to the Arabian Gulf. Not yet recorded from Namibia but may eventually be found there. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Acanthocybium solandri (Cuvier, 1832)
‫كنعد السواحل‬
Wahoo ‫واهو‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 250 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Tropical: 46°N–37°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 170 cm FL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 180°W–180°E.
Family: Scombridae published weight: 83.0 kg. 0–12 m.
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans: in tropical and subtropical waters, including the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas. The
430
Auxis rochei rochei (Risso, 1810)
‫دريجه‬
‫تبانة‬
‫بو مجول‬
Bullet tuna ‫التونة الرصاصة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm FL (male). Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 28°C; 45°N–47°S,
Order: Perciformes mous; brackish; marine; 180°W–180°E.
Family: Scombridae depth starting from 10 m.
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: including the Mediterranean Sea. The eastern Pacific population is recognized as subspecies Auxis
rochei eudorax. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800)
‫دريجة‬
‫تبانة‬
‫بو مجول‬
Frigate tuna ‫تونة البارجة الحربية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 65.0 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 27°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 60.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth starting 61°N–47°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Scombridae published weight: 1720 g; maximum reported from 50 m.
age: 5 years.
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. Eastern Pacific population recognized as subspecies Auxis thazard brachydorax. Many authors
have used the name Auxis thazard as including Auxis rochei in the belief that there was only a single worldwide species of Auxis. Highly migratory
species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
431
Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849)
‫صده‬
‫دريجة‬
Kawakawa ‫كاوا كاوا‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 100.0 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 18°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 60.0 cm FL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 35°N–25°S, 40°E–137°W.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: in warm waters including oceanic islands and archipelagos. A few stray specimens have been collected in the
Eastern Central Pacific. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gymnosarda unicolor (Rüppell, 1836)
‫سقطانة الكنعد‬
Dogtooth tuna ‫تونة اسنان الكلب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 248 cm FL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Tropical: 20°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 190 cm (male); maximum pub- mous; marine; depth range 31°N–30°S, 32°E–130°W.
Family: Scombridae lished weight: 131.0 kg. 10–100 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
432
Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫حقيباء‬
Skipjack tuna ‫التونة الوثابة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 110 cm (male); common Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Tropical: 15°C–30°C;
Order: Perciformes length: 80.0 cm FL (male); maximum pub- mous; marine; depth range 58°N–47°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Scombridae lished weight: 34.5 kg; maximum reported 0–260 m.
age: 12 years.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan in tropical and warm–temperate waters. Not found in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Highly
migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816)
‫ضلعة‬
‫باغة‬
Indian mackerel ‫الماكريل الهندي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 17°C; 34°N–24°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 30°E–180°E.
Family: Scombridae reported age: 4 years. 20–90 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, north to the Ryukyu Islands and China, south to Australia, Melanesia,
and Samoa. Entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
433
Sarda orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
‫سقطانة‬
Striped bonito ‫البونيتو المخطط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 102 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 14°C–23°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 55.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 43°N–41°S, 24°E–77°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: widespread but with many gaps in its known distribution. Eastern Pacific: Hawaiian Islands and Pacific coast of
USA to southern tip of Baja California and Tres Marias Islands extending to Cabo Blanco, Peru (especially during El Niño events), the Galapagos
Islands, and Gulf of Guayaquil. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scomber australasicus Cuvier, 1832
‫عقار‬
‫بمبوه‬
Blue mackerel ‫الماكريل االزرق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 44.0 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 43°N–50°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm FL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 109°E–106°W.
Family: Scombridae published weight: 1360 g. 87–200 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf; from Japan, south to Australia and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: Hawaii and off
Mexico (Socorro Island). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
434
Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, 1782
‫عقار ياباني‬
Chub mackerel ‫ماكريل شوب‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 64.0 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic; oceanodromous; Subtropical: 10°C–27°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm FL (male); maximum marine; depth range 0–300 60°N–55°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Scombridae published weight: 2900 g; maximum reported m, usually 50–200 m.
age: 18 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: anti-tropical, absent from the Indian Ocean except for South Africa, KZN to Western Cape. Replaced by Scomber
colias Gmelin 1789 in the Atlantic. Scomber australasicus is found in the Red Sea and the nothern Indian Ocean, its distribution overlaps with that
of Scomber japonicus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scomberomorus commerson (Lacepède, 1800)
‫كنعد‬
‫ملك السمك‬
Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel ‫الماكريل األسباني النحيل المخطط‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 120 cm TL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 7°W–180°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to Southeast Asia, north to China and Japan and south to southeast Australia, and
to Fiji. Immigrant to the eastern Mediterranean Sea by way of the Suez Canal. Southeast Atlantic: St. Helena. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
435
Scomberomorus guttatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫كنعد كوتات‬
Indo-Pacific king mackerel ‫ملك ماكريل المحيط الهندي الهادي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 76.0 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–neritic; oceanodro- Tropical: 38°N–7°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 55.0 cm FL (male). mous; brackish; marine; 49°E–134°E.
Family: Scombridae depth range 15–200 m,
usually 20–90 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf, India and Sri Lanka to southeast Asia, north to Hong Kong and Wakasa Bay, Sea of Japan. The
Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788)
‫جيذر‬
Yellowfin tuna ‫التونة صفراء الذيل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 239 cm FL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceano- Tropical: 15°C–31°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 150 cm FL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine; 52°N–45°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Scombridae published weight: 200.0 kg; max. reported depth range 1–250 m, usually
age: 9 years. 1–100 m.
Distribution
Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, but absent from the Mediterranean Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
436
Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839)
‫جيذر بو عين‬
Bigeye tuna ‫التونة كبيرة العين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 250 cm TL (male); com- Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Subtropical: 13°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 180 cm FL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth range 45°N–43°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Scombridae published weight: 210.0 kg; maximum report- 0–250 m.
ed age: 11 years.
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. Absent in the Mediterranean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Thunnus tonggol (Bleeker, 1851)
‫سهوة‬
‫قباب‬
Longtail tuna ‫التونة طويلة الذيل‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 70.0 cm FL (male); maximum mous; marine; depth starting 39°E–154°E.
Family: Scombridae published weight: 35.9 kg. from 10 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Guinea, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
437
Brachypterois serrulata (Richardson, 1846)
Sawcheek scorpionfish ‫سمكة عقرب البحر حاد الخد‬

Family: Scorpaenidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Sea of Oman to Philippines and Taiwan. Also reported from the Arafura Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Pterois antennata (Bloch, 1787)
‫سمان الجن‬
‫ديش‬
Broadbarred firefish ‫سمكة النار العقربية الشهيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 42°N–40°S;
Order: Scorpaeniformes depth range 2–50 m. 30°E–137°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Marquesan and Mangaréva islands, north to southern Japan, south to Queensland, Australia, and
Kermadec and Austral islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
438
Pterois mombasae (Smith, 1957)
Frillfin turkeyfish ‫السمك التركي ذو الزعانف الهدبية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 20.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Durban in South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, and New Guinea. First recorded in the northeastern Indian Ocean
from Indonesia and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828)
‫سمان الجن الشوكي‬

‫ديش‬
Devil firefish ‫سمك النار الشيطاني‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N - 36°S, 19°E
Order: Scorpaeniformes depth range upto 60 m. - 112°E.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Port Alfred, South Africa and east to Sumatra, Indonesia. Also known in eastern Mediterra-
nean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
439
Pterois radiata Cuvier, 1829
‫ديش‬
Radial firefish ‫سمكة النار الشعاعي‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New
Caledonia. Records from the Mascarene Islands lack verification and are probably based on Pterois antennata. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pterois russelii Bennett, 1831
‫ديش‬
Plaintail turkeyfish ‫السمك التركي ذو الذيل البسيط‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes depth range 15–60 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Arabian Gulf and East Africa to New Guinea, south to Western Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
440
Scorpaenopsis barbata (Rüppell, 1838)
‫راجوه‬
‫ابو اللبن‬
Bearded scorpionfish ‫سمك العقرب الملتحي‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes depth range upto 30 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to at least the coast of Somalia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scorpaenopsis diabolus (Cuvier, 1829)
False stonefish ‫السمك الصخري الخاطئ‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to the Great
Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
441
Scorpaenodes littoralis (Tanaka, 1917)
‫سمان‬
Cheekspot scorpionfish ‫سمك عقرب البحر مبقع الخد‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 11.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Temperate
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: known from scattered localities. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Scorpaenopsis lactomaculata (Herre, 1945)
‫سمان الجن الخفي‬

Whiteblotched scorpionfish ‫سمك العقرب ابيض البقع‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Distribution
442
Scorpaenopsis venosa (Cuvier, 1829)
Raggy scorpionfish ‫عقرب البحر راكي‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Taiwan (and the Philippines, south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Also reported from the Saya de Malha Bank (76–95 meters). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Anyperodon leucogrammicus (Valenciennes, 1828)
‫هامور‬
Slender grouper ‫الهامور األسطواني األرقط‬
Family: Serranidae 1–80 m, usually 5–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Mozambique and east to the Phoenix Islands, north to Japan, south to Australia. Probably in-
cluding all the islands of the tropical Indian Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
443
Cephalopholis argus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
‫هامور‬
‫سمان‬
‫ضوه‬
‫سمان المرجان‬
Peacock hind ‫الطاووس الهند‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 24°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male). tory; marine; depth range 29°N–34°S, 33°E–122°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Durban, South Africa and eastward to French Polynesia and the Pitcairn group, north to the Ryukyu
and Ogasawara islands, south to northern Australia and Lord Howe Island. May be confused with Cephalopholis cyanostigma. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Cephalopholis hemistiktos (Rüppell, 1830)
‫هامور أحمر‬
‫ضوه‬
‫اشنينوه‬
Yellowfin hind ‫هند صفراء الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 33°N–10°N,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 23.0 cm TL (male); maximum tory; marine; depth range 32°E–66°E.
Family: Serranidae reported age: 26 years. 4–55 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: only from the northern end of the Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf and coast of Pakistan. Records from
elsewhere are apparently based on misidentifications of other species. Misidentified as Cephalopholis miniatus by Kuronuma and Abe from Kuwait.
444
Cephalopholis miniata (Forsskål, 1775)
‫هامور النجوم الزرقاء‬

‫سمان احمر‬
Coral hind ‫هند المرجان‬
Family: Serranidae 2–150 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Durban, South Africa and eastward to the Line Islands; including most islands in the Indian and
west-central Pacific oceans. Absent from Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman. Misidentified as Cephalopholis cyanostigma from Reunion. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
Cephalopholis sexmaculata (Rüppell, 1830)
‫هامور برتغالي‬
Sixblotch hind ‫هند النطاقات الستة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 34°N–23°S,
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 7000 g. tory; marine; depth range 31°E–138°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and eastward to French Polynesia. Reported from the Arafura Sea. Reports by Heemstra
and Randall (1984) from the Sea of Oman, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka are unsubstantiated. Absent from the Arabian Gulf and is not yet known
from Lakshadweep Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
445
Cephalopholis sonnerati (Valenciennes, 1828)
‫هامورالطماطم‬
Tomato hind ‫هند الطماطم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 57.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 34°N–32°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). tory; marine; depth range 31°E–158°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: east coast of Africa (Djibouti, Socotra to Durban) to the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to southern
Queensland (Australia). Not found at the Chagos Archipelago despite intensive survey and not reported from the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. The
Dermatolepis striolata (Playfair, 1867)
‫الهامور الملطخ‬
Smooth grouper ‫الهامور السلس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 85.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 27°N–30°S,
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 10.5 kg. depth range upto 15 m. 32°E–63°E.
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Sea of Oman and south coast of Arabian Peninsula, Aldabra, Comoros, Madagascar, and coast of Africa
from Kenya to Durban, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
446
Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫هامور‬
‫غلفوق‬
‫قطوة‬
Areolate grouper ‫هامور الهاالت‬
Family: Serranidae published weight: 1400 g; maximum reported
age: 15 years.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf to Natal, South Africa and east to Fiji, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea, and
northern Australia. Recently recorded from Tonga. Appears to be absent from Micronesia, Polynesia, and most islands of the western Indian Ocean.
Often confused with Epinephelus chlorostigma. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus bleekeri (Vaillant, 1878)
‫هامورالبليكر‬
‫قطوة‬
Duskytail grouper ‫هامور الذيل الداكن‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 76.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 32°N–17°S,
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Taiwan, Indonesia and the northern coast of Australia. Not known from Japan, but may
occur here. It has not been found at any islands of Micronesia nor Polynesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
447
Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus (Bloch, 1790)
‫هامور‬
‫سمان‬
‫مشخالي‬
Whitespotted grouper ‫هامور النقط البيضاء‬
Order: Perciformes depth range 2–65 m. 26°E–180°E.
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to East London, South Africa and east to Fiji. Recently recorded from Tonga. It is not known
from the Red Sea, but it does occur in the Arabian Gulf. Record from northwestern Australia is doubtful. It is closely related to, and is often confused
with, three other white-spotted species: Epinephelus ongus, Epinephelus summana, and Epinephelus corallicola. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822)
‫هامور‬
‫بالول‬
Orange-spotted grouper ‫هامور النقط البرتغالية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 120 cm TL (male); max- Reef-associated; brackish; Subtropical: 37°N–34°S,
Order: Perciformes imum published weight: 15.0 kg; maximum marine; depth range upto 28°E–180°E.
Family: Serranidae reported age: 22 years. 100 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to at least Durban, South Africa and eastward to Palau and Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands,
south to the Arafura Sea and Australia. Recently reported from the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Frequently misidentified as Epinephelus tauvina
or Epinephelus malabaricus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
448
Epinephelus diacanthus (Valenciennes, 1828)
‫هامور ديسكو‬
Spinycheek grouper ‫هامور الخد الشوكي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 55.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 29°N–5°N,
Order: Perciformes range 10–300 m, usually 56°E–83°E.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: continental shelf of the northern Indian Ocean from the Gulf of Aden to Sri Lanka and Madras, India.
Not known from the Arabian Gulf nor the Red Sea. Records from the western Pacific are based on misidentifications of Epinephelus stictus or
Epinephelus fasciatomaculos. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus epistictus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842)
‫هامور‬
‫برطام‬
Dotted grouper ‫الهامور منقط الظهر‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 70.0 cm TL (male); maximum range 71–291 m. 30°E–154°E.
Family: Serranidae published weight: 7000 g.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Kenya to South Africa; Oman, west coast of India, Korea, Japan including Ogasawara Islands,
China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Arafura Sea and northern Australia. Sometimes misidentified as Epinephelus mag-
niscuttis or Epinephelus heniochus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
449
Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål, 1775)
Blacktip grouper ‫هامور القمم السوداء‬

Order: Perciformes mon length: 22.0 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 4–160 28°E–121°W.
Family: Serranidae published weight: 2000 g. m, usually 20–45 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and eastward to the Pitcairn Group, north to Japan and Korea, south to the Arafura Sea,
southern Queensland (Australia) and Lord Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus flavocaeruleus (Lacepède, 1802)
‫هامور النهايات الصفر‬

Blue & yellow grouper ‫الهامور األزرق األصفر‬
Family: Serranidae published weight: 15.0 kg.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden south to Port Alfred, South Africa and east to the northwest tip of Sumatra, Indonesia. Also found
in the islands of western Indian Ocean, including Cargados Carajos and Rodriguez. Not known from the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
450
Epinephelus gabriellae Randall & Heemstra, 1991
‫هامور الجابريل‬
‫سمان‬
‫قطوة‬
Multispotted grouper ‫الهامور كثير البقع‬
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia to Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus indistinctus Randall & Heemstra, 1991
‫هامور‬
‫برطام‬
Somali grouper ‫الهامور الصومالي‬
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the holotype caught off Somalia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
451
Epinephelus lanceolatus (Bloch, 1790)
‫الهامور العمالق‬
Giant grouper ‫الهامور المبرقع‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 270 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 28°N–39°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 190 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 4–100 24°E–122°W.
Family: Serranidae published weight: 400.0 kg. m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Algoa Bay, South Africa and eastward to the Hawaiian and Pitcairn islands, north to southern Japan,
south to Australia. Absence in the Arabian Gulf is puzzling. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus latifasciatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842)
‫هامور‬
‫برطام‬
Striped grouper ‫هامور النطاقات الوحشي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 137 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 33°N–23°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 70.0 cm TL (male); maximum range 20–230 m. 35°W–143°E.
Family: Serranidae published weight: 58.6 kg.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Korea, southern Japan, Taiwan, and northwest
Australia. Unknown from the east coast of Africa, islands of the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Philippines, or New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
452
Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫هامور الكهوف‬
Malabar grouper ‫الهامور الملباري العمالق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 234 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 30°N–32°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 100.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 29°E–173°W.
Family: Serranidae published weight: 150.0 kg. depth range 0–150 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Tonga, north to Japan, south to Australia. It is not known from the Arabian Gulf, where
the closely related Epinephelus coioides is common. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834)
‫هامور النجوم‬
Dusky grouper ‫الهامور المعتم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 150 cm TL (male); max- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 54°N–43°S,
Order: Perciformes imum published weight: 60.0 kg; maximum depth range 8–300 m. 65°W–58°E.
Family: Serranidae reported age: 50 years.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean: throughout the Mediterranean Sea and from the British Isles round to the southern
tip of Africa to southern Mozambique and Madagascar. Southwest Atlantic: southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
453
Epinephelus multinotatus (Peters, 1876)
‫هامور اسود‬
‫ضوه‬
‫برطام‬
White-blotched grouper ‫هامور البقع البيضاء‬
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to southern Mozambique and eastward to Western Australia. Not known from the Red Sea. The
Epinephelus radiatus (Day, 1868)
‫هامور‬
‫هامور خلخل‬
Oblique-banded grouper ‫الهامور مائل النطاقات‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 36°N–24°S,
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: spotty distribution from the Red Sea to Japan and Papua New Guinea. Referred to as Epinephelus morrhua
in Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
454
Epinephelus poecilonotus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842)
‫هامور برعمي‬
Dot-dash grouper ‫هامور النطاقات البنية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 65.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 39°N–35°S,
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 4000 g. marine; depth range 45–375 23°E–179°W.
Family: Serranidae m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: east coast of Africa to Japan, Korea, South China Sea, Vietnam, and Fiji. Unknown from the Red Sea and
Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus polylepis Randall & Heemstra, 1991
‫هامور‬
‫سمان‬
Smallscaled grouper ‫هامور القشور الصغيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 61.0 cm TL (male); 54.7 Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 33°N–8°N,
Order: Perciformes cm TL (female); maximum published weight: range 33–100 m. 44°E–77°E.
Family: Serranidae 2100.0 g.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Gulf, Pakistan, and west coast of India. Since it has only recently
been discovered, it may be expected to have a wider distribution. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
455
Epinephelus retouti Bleeker, 1868
‫هامور‬
‫سمان‬
Red-tipped grouper ‫هامور القمم الحمراء‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: islands in tropical and subtropical waters from the western Indian Ocean to Jarvis Island (Line Islands, Kiribati)
and French Polynesia, including Bassas da India (Mozambique Channel). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus rivulatus (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫هامور‬
Halfmoon grouper ‫هامور نصف القمر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 39.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 36°N–36°S,
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 1400 g. depth range 1–150 m. 23°E–175°E.
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the western Pacific, southward into temperate waters of South Africa, Australia, and New
Zealand. Not known from the Red Sea or Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
456
Epinephelus stoliczkae (Day, 1875)
‫الهامور العسكري الساحلي‬

Epaulet grouper ‫الهامور الكتاف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 38.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine. Tropical: 29°N–10°N,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male). 32°E–68°E.
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea (including Gulf of Suez) and northwestern Indian Ocean to the coast of Pakistan and Sea of
Oman. Not reported from the Gulf of Aqaba nor from Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Epinephelus tukula Morgans, 1959
‫هامور‬
‫البرطام العمالق المبقع‬
Potato grouper ‫هامور البطاطا‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 200 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 35°N–32°S,
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 110.0 kg. depth range 10–150 m. 29°E–150°E.
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to southern Japan and Queensland, Australia. Also from the Paracel Islands in
the South China Sea. There are no records from Madagascar, Mauritius, Maldives, Laccadives, and Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The
457
Epinephelus undulosus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
‫هامور‬
‫سمان‬
Wavy-lined grouper ‫هامور الخطوط المتموجة‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Sea of Oman to Kenya, including Laccadive Islands, India, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman Islands. Not reported
in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. Known also from Indonesia, Sarawak of Malaysia, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and the
Philippines. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Grammistes sexlineatus (Thunberg, 1792)
Sixline soapfish ‫السمك الصابوني سداسي الخطوط‬

Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Marquesan and Mangaréva islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Zealand. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
458
Plectranthias vexillarius Randall, 1980
‫السمك األثري‬
Super fish ‫سمك السوبر‬
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Plectropomus punctatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Marbled coral grouper ‫هامور المرجان الرخامي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 96.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 3°S–31°S,
Order: Perciformes mum published weight: 12.2 kg. depth range 3–62 m. 30°E–75°E.
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Kenya to South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Aldabra, Seychelles, Mauritius, St. Brandon’s Shoals,
Nazareth Bank, and the Chagos Archipelago. Unknown from the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and the Asian coast from Arabia to India. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
459
Pseudanthias marcia Randall & Hoover, 1993
‫حمراء الذوائب‬
Marcia’s anthias ‫مارسيال انثيس‬
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pseudanthias townsendi (Boulenger, 1897)
‫حمرة‬
Townsend’s anthias ‫تاونسند انثيس الصغير‬
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to southern Oman and southern Iran. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
460
Sacura boulengeri (Heemstra, 1973)
Boulenger’s anthias ‫الناسك الصغير‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 19.0 cm TL (male). Marine; demersal; depth Tropical
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from off Muscat, Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Variola louti (Forsskål, 1775)
‫هامور‬
Yellow-edged lyretail ‫هامور الحواف الصفراء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 83.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 30°N–37°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 75.0 cm TL (male); maximum tory; marine; depth range 30°E–23°W.
Family: Serranidae published weight: 12.0 kg. 3–250 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and the Pitcairn Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia.
Not found in the Arabian Gulf nor in Hawaii. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
461
Siganus argenteus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
‫صافي عربي‬
Streamlined spinefoot ‫صافي الخطوط الصفراء‬
Family: Siganidae 1–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Pitcairn. Often the only siganid present on remote islands like Pitcairn, Rapa, and Line.
Siganus canaliculatus (Park, 1797)
‫صافي عربي‬
White-spotted spinefoot ‫صافي النقط البيضاء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceano- Tropical: 30°N–35°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). dromous; brackish; marine;
Family: Siganidae depth range 3–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, south China, Taiwan, and Western Australia. Also known from Ryukyu Islands; Palau and
Yap in Micronesia, and Melanesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
462
Siganus javus (Linnaeus, 1766)
‫صافي صنيفي‬
Streaked spinefoot ‫صافي مخطط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 53.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceano- Tropical: 25°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). dromous; brackish; marine, 30°N–20°S.
Family: Siganidae usually 2–20 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Andaman Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, southern
China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. Records for the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands could
be based on strays. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Siganus luridus (Rüppell, 1829)
‫صافي‬
‫صنيفي‬
Dusky spinefoot ‫الصافي القاتم‬
Family: Siganidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to islands in the western Indian Ocean. Immigrant to Mediterranean via the
Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
463
Sillago chondropus Bleeker, 1849
‫حاسوم‬
‫كاسر مله‬
Clubfoot sillago ‫سيالجو النادل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical: 27°N–30°S,
Order: Perciformes brackish; marine; depth 33°E–148°E.
Family: Sillaginidae range 0–5 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: South Africa, northward to Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, northern New Guinea, Thailand, Philippines,
and Taiwan. Not recorded from southern New Guinea or Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sillago indica McKay, Dutt & Sujatha, 1985
‫حاسوم ابيض‬
Indian sillago ‫السيالجو الهندي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 17.0 cm SL (male). Demersal: non-migratory; Tropical: 20°N–12°N,
Order: Perciformes marine; depth range 0–30 m. 69°E–86°E.
Family: Sillaginidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: East and west coasts of India. Generally confused with other sillaginids in commercial catches. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
464
Sillago sihama (Forsskål, 1775)
‫حاسوم‬
Silver sillago ‫سيالجو فضي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 31.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm SL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 41°N–36°S, 20°E–166°E.
Family: Sillaginidae reported age: 7 years. depth range 0–60 m, usually
0–20 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Knysna, South Africa to Japan and south to Australia. Reported from New Caledonia. Medi-
terranean sea: Turkey. In Japan, this name has often been misapplied to Sillago japonica. Often misidentified as Sillago lutea or Sillago vincenti. The
Euryglossa orientalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫وطية‬
‫لسان‬
Oriental sole ‫النعل الشرقي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm SL (male); com- Demersal; anadromous; Tropical: 31°N–43°S,
Order: Pleuronectiformes mon length: 12.0 cm TL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine; 47°E–149°E.
Family: Soleidae depth range 15–20 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, then off the west coast of India and Sri Lanka, eastward through the Malay Pen-
insula and Archipelago to China and northern Australia. Recorded from the mouth of Vivany River in Madagascar. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
465
Pardachirus marmoratus (Lacepède, 1802)
‫وطية‬
‫خوفة‬
Finless sole ‫نعل عديم الزعانف‬
Family: Soleidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to Durban, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Solea elongata Day, 1877
‫وطية‬
‫لبد‬
‫لسان‬
Elongate sole ‫نعل طويلة‬
Family: Soleidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to the west and east coast of India and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
466
Solea stanalandi Randall & McCarthy, 1989
‫وطية داكنة البقع‬

‫لبد‬
‫لسان‬
Stanaland’s sole ‫نعل ستاناالند‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.3 cm TL male. Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Soleidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Half Moon Bay (near Dhahran). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Zebrias synapturoides (Jenkins, 1910)
‫وطية مخططة‬
‫لبد‬
Indian zebra sole ‫نعل الزرافة الهندية‬
Family: Soleidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf to Papua New Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
467
Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker, 1854
‫سمك المدفع‬
Ghost pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي الشبح‬
Order: Syngnathiformes depth range 0–25 m, usually
Family: Solenostomidae 0–25 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Acanthopagrus berda (Forsskål, 1775)
‫شعم‬
‫خنافة‬
Goldsilk seabream ‫سبيطي اسود‬
Pagre berda ‫شعوم‬
Sargo picnic ‫كوفر الذهب الحريري‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 90.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; oceanodromous; Tropical: 39°N–42°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 35.0 cm TL (male); maximum freshwater; brackish; marine; 22°E–170°E.
Family: Sparidae published weight: 3200 g. depth range 10–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: South Africa (with no records from Mauritius and Réunion) to India extending to Japan and northern Aus-
tralia. Enters freshwaters of Zimbabwe and South Africa (Lower Zambezi, Lucuara River. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
468
Acanthopagrus bifasciatus (Forsskål, 1775)
‫بنت النوخذا‬
‫بو ربان‬
‫فسكر‬
Twobar seabream ‫كوفر الخطين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: - 30°S.
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf south to Natal, South Africa.
Remarks : There is another form of this species with black dorsal fin inhabiting the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman. This form might be Acanthopagrus
catenura a synonym of A. bifasciatus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Acanthopagrus latus (Houttuyn, 1782)
‫شعم ابيض‬
‫ضاف‬
‫سبيطي‬
‫شعم‬
Yellowfin seabream ‫كوفر اصفر الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; freshwater; brack- Tropical: 34°N–20°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male); maximum ish; marine; depth range upto 48°E–154°E.
Family: Sparidae published weight: 1500 g. 50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and along the coast of India to the Philippines, north to Japan, south to Australia. The Arabian
Sea coast of Oman.
469
Acanthopagrus omanensis Iwatsuki & Heemstra, 2010
‫شعم فضي‬
‫دنيس عماني‬
Black Margined Seabream ‫سبيطي الحواف السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.5 cm SL (male). Pelagic; marine. Tropical: 20°N–19°N,
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: currently known only from Duqm, Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Argyrops filamentosus (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫كوفر فرنكة‬
Soldier bream ‫الكوفر الجندي‬
Order: Perciformes depth range - 40 m.
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to Natal, South Africa, including Mauritius, Madagascar, and Réunion. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
470
Argyrops spinifer (Forsskål, 1775)
‫كوفر ضعرة‬
King soldier bream ‫الكوفر جندي الملك‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine; depth Tropical: 34°N–28°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). range usually 5–100 m.
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Indo-Malayan Archipelago and northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast
of Oman.
Boops lineatus (Boulenger, 1892)
‫حضرمي‬
Striped boga ‫البوغا المقلم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male). Demersal: marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Yemen to the Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
471
Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫كوفر سية‬
‫كوفر ظفار‬
‫نهاش‬
Santer seabream ‫كوفر سانتر‬
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Mossel Bay, South Africa and east to India, and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Crenidens crenidens (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ضاف نثيه‬
‫بطان‬
Karenteen seabream ‫الكوفر المراهقة كارين‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; marine. Subtropical
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to Durban, rarely as far as East London, South Africa. Also reported from
the southern coast of Madagascar. Migrated to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
472
Diplodus cervinus (Lowe, 1838)
‫كوفر مخطط‬
‫ضاف‬
Zebra seabream ‫كوفر الزرافة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 55.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceanodro- Subtropical: 47°N–35°S,
Family: Sparidae published weight: 2740 g. 30–300 m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean to the Strait of Gibraltar and South Africa including Madeira and the
Canary islands, but absent from Cape Verde, off Senegal and the Gulf of Guinea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Diplodus cervinus omanensis Bauchot & Bianchi, 1984
‫شعم مخطط‬
‫سعادوة كبيرة‬
Oman porgy ‫بغروس عماني‬
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from southern Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
473
Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫ضاف بو نقطة‬
White seabream ‫كوفر ابيض‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; oceanodromous; Subtropical: 48°N–36°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 22.0 cm TL (male); maximum brackish; marine; depth 18°W–42°E.
Family: Sparidae published weight: 1870 g; maximum reported range 0–50 m, usually 0–50
age: 10 years. m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Mediterranean and Black Sea. Eastern Central Atlantic: Madeira Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫الكوفر الشعري‬
‫نزحة‬
Sand steenbras ‫ستينبار الرمال‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 55.0 cm TL male; common Demersal; brackish; marine; Subtropical; 50°N - 40°S.
Order: Perciformes length: 30.0 cm TL male; max reported age: depth range 0 - 150 m, usual-
Family: Sparidae 12 years . ly 10 - 20 m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay, Strait of Gibraltar and Mediterranean, Black, and Azov seas to Cape of Good Hope, South Af-
rica and the Mozambique Channel. Also found around the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Madeira Isle. Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea; southern
Mozambique to the Cape of Good Hope; not found in tropical east Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
474
Pagellus affinis Boulenger, 1888
‫نزحة‬
‫سية صغيرة‬
Arabian Pandora ‫البندورة العربية‬
Order: Perciformes range upto 150 m.
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden and northern coasts of Somalia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Rhabdosargus haffara (Forsskål, 1775)
‫أم الرحي‬
‫كوفر ضاف‬
‫قرقفان‬
Haffara seabream ‫الكوفر الحفار‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 20.0 cm TL (male). depth starting from 10 m.
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and especially common in the north. Arabian Sea coast of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
475
Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål, 1775)
‫ضاف‬
‫أم الرحي‬
‫قابض‬
Goldlined seabream ‫كوفر الخطوط الذهبية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 80.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceano- Tropical: 36°N–38°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 45.0 cm TL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine; 19°E–155°E.
Family: Sparidae published weight: 12.0 kg. depth upto 60 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan, China, and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes, 1830)
‫سبيطي الثعلب‬
‫شعم فضي‬
‫سبيطي‬
Sobaity seabream ‫كوفر سبيطي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine. Tropical
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf and coasts of India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
476
Sphyraena acutipinnis Day, 1876
‫عقام‬
‫قد‬
Sharpfin barracuda ‫باركودا الزعانف الحادة‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth upto 66 m.
Family: Sphyraenidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan. No record from the
Western Central Pacific but H. Senou believes that it occurs from the Philippines to north-eastern Australia. The exact range is uncertain because
of confusion of this species with Sphyraena helleri. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards, 1771)
‫عقام مجزر‬
‫قد األعماق‬
Great barracuda ‫الباركودا العظيم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 200 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; brackish; Subtropical: 42°N–35°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 140 cm TL (male); maximum marine; depth range 1–100 180°W–180°E.
Family: Sphyraenidae published weight: 50.0 kg. m, usually 3–30 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and east coast of Africa to Hawaii and the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands. Western Atlantic: Massachu-
setts (USA), Bermuda, and throughout the Caribbean Sea to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania,
St. Paul’s Rocks, and São Tomé Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
477
Sphyraena flavicauda Rüppell, 1838
‫غلية‬
‫قد صغير‬
Yellowtail barracuda ‫باراكودا الزعانف الصفراء‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. The exact range is uncertain
because of confusion of this species with Sphyraena obtusata. Mediterranean: Lessepsian migrant. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sphyraena forsteri Cuvier, 1829
‫غلية‬
‫قد بو مقل‬
Bigeye barracuda ‫باراكودا العين الكبيرة‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Southeast Asia and the Marquesan and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to New
Caledonia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
478
Sphyraena jello Cuvier, 1829
‫عقام‬
‫القد الشرس‬
‫كنايا‬
Pickhandle barracuda ‫الباراكودا القناص‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 150 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; oceano- Tropical: 27°N–37°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 120 cm TL (male); maximum dromous; brackish; marine; 29°E–152°E.
Family: Sphyraenidae published weight: 11.5 kg. depth range 20–200 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea (south to the southeastern coast of South Africa and east to New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Recently
reported from Tonga. Due to a widespread confusion with Sphyraena putnamae and Sphyraena qenie, the exact range is uncertain. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829
‫غلية‬
‫قد صغير‬
‫دويلمي‬
Obtuse barracuda ‫الباراكودا البليد‬
Family: Sphyraenidae m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island. Migrated to eastern
Mediterranean from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. The exact range is uncertain because of confusion of this species with Sphyraena flavicauda.
479
Sphyraena putnamae Jordan & Seale, 1905
‫عقام‬
‫قد‬
Sawtooth barracuda ‫باراكودا األسنان الحادة‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 60.0 cm TL (male). depth upto 13 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, north to southern Japan. Reported from Fiji and
Tuvalu. The exact range is uncertain because of confusion of this species with Sphyraena jello and Sphyraena qenie. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Sphyraena qenie Klunzinger, 1870
‫عقام‬
‫قد جني‬
Blackfin barracuda ‫باراكودا الزعانف السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 170 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine. Tropical: 30°N–24°S.
Order: Perciformes mon length: 80.0 cm TL (male); maximum
Family: Sphyraenidae published weight: 7140 g.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the central Indian Ocean and French Polynesia. Eastern Pacific: Mexico and Panama.
The exact range is uncertain because of confusion with Sphyraena jello and Sphyraena putnamae. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
480
Argyropelecus gigas Norman, 1930
Hatchetfish ‫السمك الحاقد‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.0 cm SL (male). Bathypelagic; marine; depth Deep-water; 41°N–54°S.
Order: Stomiiformes range 300–1000 m, usually
Family: Sternoptychidae 400–600 m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to South Africa; northern record from south Iceland. Western Atlantic: 40°N–40°S, including
the Gulf of Mexico. One record from the Patagonian region of Argentina. Indian Ocean: 0°–40°S. Eastern Pacific: 15°S–40°S. Western Pacific:
20°N–40°S. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Chauliodus sloani Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Sloane’s viperfish ‫سلحفاة سلون‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 35.0 cm SL (male). Bathypelagic; marine; depth Deep-water; 70°N–56°S,
Order: Stomiiformes range 200–4700 m, usually 180°W–180°E.
Family: Stomiidae 494–1000 m.
Distribution
Warm and temperate parts of all oceans but with several distributional gaps in the southern central Atlantic, northern Indian
Ocean, eastern Pacific north of the equator, etc. Also found in the western Mediterranean. South China Sea and East China Sea. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
481
Choridactylus lineatus Poss & Mee, 1995
‫دبية الشعر‬
‫سمان الجن المشوك‬
Lined stingfish ‫السمك الالسع المخطط‬
Family: Synanceiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from off Salalah, southern Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Choridactylus multibarbus Richardson, 1848
‫دبية‬
Orangebanded stingfish ‫السمك الالسع ذو النطاقات البرتقالية‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 10.0 cm TL (male). upto 50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, eastwards to Pakistan, India, Gulf of Thailand, China, and the Philippines.
Reported as likely at Seychelles. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
482
Choridactylus striatus Mandrytsa, 1993
‫دبية القمم السوداء‬

‫سمان الجن المخطط‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Minous coccineus Alcock, 1890
‫سمان الجن السام‬

Onestick stingfish ‫السمك الالسع وحيد العصى‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes upto 50 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Durban, South Africa northwards; also in Red Sea, Arabian Sea and eastward to Gulf of Thailand. Reported
as likely at Seychelles but Randall and van Egmond 1994 believe otherwise. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
483
Minous dempsterae Eschmeyer, Hallacher & Rama-Rao, 1979
‫دبية‬
Obliquebanded stingfish ‫السمك الالسع منحرف النطاقات‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Sea of Oman, Pakistan, and northwestern India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Minous inermis Alcock, 1889
‫سمان الجن األحمر‬

Alcock’s scorpionfish ‫سمكة عقرب البحر الكوك‬
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Somalia, Sea of Oman, India, Myanmar, and western Thailand. Possibly occurring in Seychelles. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
484
Minous monodactylus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
‫سمان الجن الرمادي‬

Grey stingfish ‫عقرب البحر الرمادي‬
Order: Scorpaeniformes upto 55 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, north to southern Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Minous usachevi (Mandrytsa, 1993)

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.8 cm SL (male) Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
485
Synanceia nana Eschmeyer & Rama-Rao, 1973
‫بو لبن المبتهل‬

Red Sea stonefish ‫سمك البحر األحمر الصخري‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Synanceia verrucosa Bloch & Schneider, 1801
‫سمك الصخور الخفي‬

Stonefish ‫السمك الجني جناح الطائر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 40.0 cm SL (male); com- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 30°N–28°S.
Order: Scorpaeniformes mon length: 27.0 cm TL (male); maximum tory; marine; depth upto 30
Family: Synanceiidae published weight: 2400 g. m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands, south to Queensland,
486
Saurida gracilis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
‫شنيوح الثعلب‬
‫كاسور‬
Gracile lizardfish ‫سمكة السحلية النحيلة‬
Order: Aulopiformes depth range 0–135 m.
Family: Synodontidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara
islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe, and Rapa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Saurida longimanus Norman, 1939
‫شنيوح‬
‫كاسور‬
Longfin lizardfish ‫سمكة السحلية طويلة الزعانف‬
Order: Aulopiformes range 100–280 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Sea of Oman, southern Indonesia (including Arafura Sea), and northern and northwestern Australia. The
487
Saurida nebulosa Valenciennes, 1850
‫شنيوح الخطوط السوداء‬

‫كاسور‬
Clouded lizardfish ‫سمكة سحلية السحاب‬
Order: Aulopiformes marine; depth range 0–6 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Mauritius to the Society Islands, north to the Hawaiian Islands, south to Sydney Harbour, New South Wales,
Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795)
‫شنيوح الظهر البني‬

‫كاسور‬
Greater lizardfish ‫سمك السحلية العظمى‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm FL (male); 30 cm Reef-associated; amphidro- Tropical: 30°N–24°S,
Order: Aulopiformes SL (female). mous; marine; depth range 39°E–148°E.
Family: Synodontidae 10–60 m, usually 20–60 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and east coast of Africa (except Kenya), including Madagascar to the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea,
and further east to Southeast Asia and Australia. Does not appear to occur in the central or eastern Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
488
Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848)
‫شنيوح بني‬
‫كاسور‬
Brushtooth lizardfish ‫سمكة سحلية فرشاة األسنان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm SL (male); 23 cm Reef-associated; amphidro- Subtropical: 45°N–40°S.
Order: Aulopiformes SL (female); common length: 30.0 cm TL mous; marine; depth range
Family: Synodontidae (male). 1–350 m.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, Malay Peninsula, southern Philippines, northern Java, Arafura Sea, Louisiade Archipelago, and northern
half and southwestern Australia. Distribution needs revision due to questionable (unconfirmed) occurrences as reported by major references. The
Synodus dermatogenys Fowler, 1912
‫شنيوح الذيل األصفر‬

‫كاسور‬
Sand lizardfish ‫سمكة سحلية الرمل‬
Order: Aulopiformes depth range 1–97 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe.
Throughout Micronesia. Southeast Atlantic: Algoa Bay, South Africa. Most authors misidentified this species as Synodus variegatus (Lacepède). The
Arabian Sea coast of Oman
489
Synodus variegatus (Lacepède, 1803)
‫شنيوح المرجان‬
‫أبو لبن‬
‫كاسور‬
Variegated lizardfish ‫سمكة السحلية الرقطاء‬
Order: Aulopiformes mon length: 30.0 cm TL (male). depth range 3–121 m, usually
Family: Synodontidae 5–60 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south
to the Lord Howe, Kermadec and Rapa islands. Reported from New Zealand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Trachinocephalus myops (Forster, 1801)
‫شنيوح الخطوط الصفراء‬

‫كاسور‬
Snakefish ‫سمك الثعبان‬
Order: Aulopiformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male); maximum depth usually 3–90 m.
Family: Synodontidae reported age: 7 years.
Distribution
Worldwide in tropical and warm temperate waters with the exception of the eastern Pacific and the northeast Atlantic north of
Cape Blanc, Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
490
Acentronura tentaculata Günther, 1870
Shortpouch pygmy pipehorse ‫حصان األقزام اإلنبوبي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 6.3 cm TL (male) Reef-associated; marine; Tropical
Order: Syngnathiformes depth range 1–20 m.
Family: Syngnathidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: northern Red Sea and Mozambique to Torres Straits and Queensland, Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Bryx analicarens (Duncker, 1915)
Pink pipefish ‫سمك الحصان االنبوبي الوردي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 12.5 cm SL (male). Benthopelagic; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Syngnathiformes range 0–45 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Hermits Island (Eritrea), Zanzibar (Tanzania), Seychelles, Makran coast, Kuwait to Abu Dhabi (United
Arab Emirates), and Sea of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
491
Corythoichthys amplexus Dawson & Randall, 1975
‫حصان البحر الثعبان‬

Brown-banded pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي بني النطاقات‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. Record from the Mascarenes
is apparently erroneous. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Corythoichthys flavofasciatus (Rüppell, 1838)
‫حصان البحر ابو المنقار‬

Network pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي الشبكي‬
Order: Syngnathiformes depth upto 25 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to northern Australia and the
Austral Islands. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
492
Corythoichthys haematopterus (Bleeker, 1851)
‫حصان البحر منقار البطة‬

Messmate pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي المرح‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Vanuatu, north to southern Japan. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Cosmocampus banneri (Herald & Randall, 1972)
Roughridge pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي الخام ردج‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum size: 5.8 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 30°N–23°S.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aqaba and East Africa to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu and Marshall islands. Recently recorded from
Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
493
Cosmocampus investigatoris (Hora, 1926)
Investigator pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي المستكشف‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 7.2 cm SL (male). Benthopelagic; marine; depth Tropical
Order: Syngnathiformes range 0–15 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Kuwait to Ko Samui Island, Gulf of Thailand. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Choeroichthys brachysoma Bleeker, 1855
Short-bodied pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي قصير الجسم‬

Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Society Islands, north to the Philippines and Guam, south to northern Australia.
494
Doryrhamphus aurolineatus Randall & Earle, 1994
‫حصان البحر احمر الذوائب‬

Flagtail pipefish ‫السمك اإلننبوبي ذيل العلم‬
Order: Syngnathiformes SL (female). upto 11 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea, Oman, Masirah Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Doryrhamphus excisus Kaup, 1856
‫حصان البحر ذيل المكنسة‬

Bluestripe pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي ذو النطاق األزرق‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: Arabian Gulf and East Africa to the west coast of the Americas. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
495
Halicampus mataafae (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
Samoan pipefish ‫سمك الساموا اإلنبوبي‬

Order: Syngnathiformes depth upto 15 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to Taiwan, south to Queensland, Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
Halicampus zavorensis Dawson, 1984
Zavora pipefish ‫سمك الزافورا اإلنبوبي‬

Order: Syngnathiformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from one specimen from Zavora, Mozambique and two from Sur, Oman. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
496
Hippichthys cyanospilos (Bleeker, 1854)
‫حصان البحر رأس التمساح‬

Blue-spotted pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي ذو النقط الزرقاء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical
Order: Syngnathiformes freshwater; brackish; marine.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: northern Red Sea and East Africa to Fiji. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Hippocampus fuscus Rüppell, 1838
‫حصان البحر األصفر‬

Sea pony ‫مهر البحر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.4 cm OT (male). Demersal; amphidromous; Tropical
Order: Syngnathiformes marine; depth range 0–10 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, and Sri Lanka. Records from South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion
are questionable. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
497
Hippocampus histrix Kaup, 1856
Thorny seahorse ‫حصان البحر الشائك‬

Order: Syngnathiformes tory; marine; depth upto 82
Family: Syngnathidae m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Tanzania and South Africa to Hawaii and Tahiti, north to Japan, south to New Caledonia. Reported from the
Arafura Sea. This name is used for at least four distinct species. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Hippocampus jayakari Boulenger, 1900
Jayakar’s seahorse ‫حصان البحر الجوكر‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 14.0 cm OT (male). Demersal; non-migratory; Tropical
Order: Syngnathiformes marine; depth range usually
Family: Syngnathidae 2–3 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Arabian Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
498
Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852
Spotted seahorse ‫حصان البحر األرقط العنابي‬

Order: Syngnathiformes tory; brackish; marine; depth 32°E–154°W.
Family: Syngnathidae range 0–68 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Pakistan and India to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Society Islands. This name is used for maybe 10 distinct
species in the Indo-Pacific. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Micrognathus andersonii (Bleeker, 1858)
Shortnose pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي ذو األنف القصير‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 8.5 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; marine; Tropical: 35°N–25°S;
Order: Syngnathiformes depth range 0–10 m. 32°E–167°W.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa and Red Sea to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Tonga; Belau, to the eastern Caroline and
Mariana Islands in Micronesia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
499
Siokunichthys bentuviai Clark, 1966
No image available
Barred xenia-pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي زينيا المقلم‬

Order: Syngnathiformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: El Tur, Sinai Peninsula and Dahlak Archipelago (Ethiopia) in the Red Sea, and in the vicinity of Musha
Islands, near Djibouti, in the Gulf of Aden. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus (Bleeker, 1857)
Double-ended pipefish ‫السمك اإلنبوبي ثنائي النهايات‬

Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan; Mariana Islands in Micronesia. The
500
Pelates quadrilineatus (Bloch, 1790)
‫جمجام اصفر‬
‫برعم البقعة السوداء‬
Fourlined terapon ‫ترابون رباعي الخطوط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Subtropical
Family: Terapontidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to southern Japan, New Guinea, and Arafura Sea. Reported from Vanuatu. Migrated
to the Mediterranean from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Terapon jarbua (Forsskål, 1775)
‫برعم القمم السوداء‬

Jarbua terapon ‫ترابون جاربوا‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 36.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; catadromous; Tropical: 26°C–29°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 25.0 cm SL (male). freshwater; brackish; marine; 32°N–32°S.
Family: Terapontidae depth range 20–350 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to the Arafura Sea, Australia, and Lord Howe
Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
501
Terapon puta Cuvier, 1829
‫برعم القشور الصغيرة‬

Small-scaled terapon ‫ترابون القشور الصغيرة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.0 cm TL (male). Benthopelagic; amphidro- Tropical
Order: Perciformes mous; freshwater; brackish;
Family: Terapontidae marine; depth upto 30 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: northern Indian Ocean and the Indo-Australian Archipelago. A lessepsian migrant, now prevalent in the
Mediterranean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Terapon theraps Cuvier, 1829
‫برعم كبير العين‬

Largescaled therapon ‫ترابون كبير القشور‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm SL (male). Reef-associated; freshwater; Tropical
Order: Perciformes brackish; marine.
Family: Terapontidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, Arabian Gulf to India and Andaman Is-
lands; and southeast Asia. Reaches south to the Arafura Sea and northern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
502
Pseudovespicula dracaena (Cuvier, 1829)
Draco waspfish ‫سمك الدبور دراكو‬

Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Tetrarogidae
Distribution
Snyderina guentheri (Boulenger, 1889)
Günther’s waspfish ‫سمك الدبور غونتر‬

Family: Tetrarogidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden, Sea of Oman, and southwest India. Likely at Seychelles. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
503
Arothron hispidus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫بقم اخضر‬
‫فقل‬
White-spotted puffer ‫قنفذ البحر ابيض النقط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 50.0 cm TL (male); maxi- Reef-associated; non-migra- Tropical: 25°C; 30°N–35°S.
Order: Tetraodontiformes mum published weight: 2010 g. tory; brackish; marine; depth
Family: Tetraodontidae range 3–50 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Panama, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to Lord Howe and
Rapa islands. Eastern Pacific: Baja California and the Gulf of California to Panama. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Arothron immaculatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫بقم امرد‬
‫فقل‬
Immaculate puffer ‫القنفذ البخاخ طاهر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male). Reef-associated; brackish; Tropical: 37°N–33°S,
Order: Tetraodontiformes marine; depth range 1–17 m. 32°E–168°E.
Family: Tetraodontidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (including the south coast of South Africa); to Indonesia, north to southern Japan.
504
Arothron meleagris (Lacepède, 1798)
‫بقم اسود‬
‫جزل‬
‫فقل النجوم‬
Guineafowl puffer ‫قنفذ بخاخ الدجاج الحبشي‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Durban, South Africa and east to the Panama, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe
and Easter islands. Eastern Pacific: Guaymas, Mexico to Ecuador. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫بقم ملطخ‬
‫فقل اصفر الظهر‬
Blackspotted puffer ‫قنفذ البحر أسود البقع‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Micronesia and Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales. Replaced by Arothron
diadematus in the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
505
Arothron stellatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫البقم العمالق‬
‫فقل قصاص‬
Starry toadfish ‫سمك الضفدع النجمي‬
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 54.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth range 3–58 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Southeast
Atlantic: south coast of South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Canthigaster coronata (Vaillant & Sauvage, 1875)
‫بقم النطاقات الظهرية السوداء‬

‫فقل أرقط‬
Crowned puffer ‫قنفذ البحر البخاخ كراون‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and east to Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south
to New South Wales. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
506
Canthigaster rivulata (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850)
‫بقم اصفر الزعانف‬

‫فقل ابو نقطة‬
Brown-lined puffer ‫قنفذ البحر البخاخ البني‬
Family:
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa and east to Hawaii, north to southern Japan, south to northwestern Aus-
tralia. Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Canthigaster solandri (Richardson, 1845)
‫البقم الزاهي‬
‫فقل البقعة الظهرية‬
Spotted sharpnose ‫قنفذ البحر المنقط حاد األنف‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia and Tonga; strays
to the Hawaiian Islands. Population from the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Queensland, and Belau differs in coloration (formerly Canthi-
gaster papua); replaced by Canthigaster margaritata in the Red Sea. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
507
Canthigaster valentini (Bleeker, 1853)
‫بقم عين الشمس‬

‫فقل احور العين‬
Valentin’s sharpnose puffer ‫قنفذ البحر البخاخ حاد األنف فلنتاين‬
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa and east to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord
Howe Island. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lagocephalus guentheri Miranda Ribeiro, 1915
‫بقم األعماق االملس‬

‫فقل ذيل المروحة‬
Diamondback puffer ‫قنفذ البحر البخاخ دايموند‬
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf, southern Oman, India, Indonesia, northwestern Australia and the South China Sea. Reported
from Japan. Southwest Atlantic: Brazil. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
508
Lagocephalus lunaris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
‫بقم املس‬
‫فقل الذيل القوي‬
Green rough-backed puffer ‫قنفذ البحر البخاخ االخضر اسود الظهر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm SL (male). Demersal; oceanodromous; Tropical
Order: Tetraodontiformes brackish; marine.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to South Africa, east along the continental shores to western Pacific, from Japan
to Australia. Southeast Atlantic: south coast of South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789)
‫بقم طويل الذيل‬

‫فقل النقط السوداء‬
Silverstripe blaasop ‫بالسوب الشريط الفضي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 10.0 cm TL (male). Pelagic–neritic; marine. Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Zanzibar and the Indo-Malayan region. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
509
Torquigener flavimaculosus Hardy & Randall, 1983
‫بقم البقع البنية‬

‫فقل عين الضفدع‬
Hadroom ‫هدروم‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: northern Red Sea and Kenya; a recent emigrant to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. Also
reported from the Arabian Gulf and Seychelles. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Gephyroberyx darwinii (Johnson, 1866)
‫ديك البحر االمرد‬

Darwin’s slimehead ‫رأس الوحل دارون‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 60.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; marine; depth Subtropical: 43°N–35°S.
Order: Beryciformes mon length: 45.0 cm TL (male). range 9–1210 m, usually
Family: Trachichthyidae 200–500 m.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Madeira and the Canary Islands to Senegal, Gulf of Guinea, and South Africa. Western Atlantic: southern
Scotian Shelf, Canada to Greater Antilles, western Caribbean, Panama, and northern Gulf of Mexico. Indo-Pacific: off Natal (South Africa), Bay of
Bengal, southern Australia, Chatham Plateau around New Zealand, and the Philippines. Also in northern South America (Moore, pers. comm.). The
510
Hoplostethus druzhinini Kotlyar, 1986
No image available
‫ديك البحر‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 13.1 cm SL (male). Bathypelagic; marine; depth Deep-water
Order: Beryciformes range 330–445 m.
Family: Trachichthyidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Yemen. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Triacanthus biaculeatus (Bloch, 1786)
‫قرقوب أبو شوكه‬

‫شليب الداو‬
Short-nosed tripodfish ‫سمك ترايبود قصير االنف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical: 20°C–30°C.
Order: Tetraodontiformes mon length: 25.0 cm TL (male). depth upto 60 m.
Family: Triacanthidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf eastward through Bay of Bengal to eastern Australia, northward to southern Japan and China.
511
Pseudotriacanthus strigilifer (Cantor, 1849)
‫قربوب رأس الغزال‬

‫شليب الداو‬
Long-spined tripodfish ‫سمك ترايبود طويل الشوكة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 25.0 cm TL (male); com- Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical
Family: Triacanthidae
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Sea of Oman to Indonesia and the Philippines. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Benthodesmus oligoradiatus Parin & Becker, 1970
‫خردويل‬
‫بمبلي‬
Sparse-rayed frostfish ‫سمك الصقيع مفرود الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 51.0 cm SL (male). Benthopelagic; marine; depth Deep-water: 18°N–3°S,
Family: Trichiuridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
512
Eupleurogrammus glossodon (Bleeker, 1860)
‫بمبلي‬
Longtooth hairtail ‫خردويل األسنان الطويلة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; marine; depth Tropical: 31°N–10°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male). upto 80 m. 47°E–135°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: including the Arabian Gulf, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
Eupleurogrammus muticus (Gray, 1831)
‫بمبلي‬
Smallhead hairtail ‫خردويل صغير الرأس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 70.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; brackish; Tropical: 27°N–1°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male). marine; depth upto 80 m. 71°E–109°E.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: including the Arabian Gulf, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Gulf of Thailand, China, and southern
Korean Peninsula. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
513
Trichiurus auriga Klunzinger, 1884
‫بمبلي‬
Pearly hairtail ‫الخردويل اللؤلوئي‬
Order: Perciformes mon length: 23.0 cm TL (male). range 250–350 m. 32°E–139°E.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and west coast of India. Western Pacific: Timor Sea. This species has long been synonymized
with Trichiurus lepturus. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758
‫بمبلي‬
Largehead hairtail ‫خردويل الرأس الكبير‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 234 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; amphidro- Subtropical: 49°N–54°S,
Order: Perciformes mon length: 100.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 114°W–180°E.
Family: Trichiuridae published weight: 5000 g; maximum reported depth range 0–589 m, usually
age: 15 years. 100–350 m.
Distribution
Throughout tropical and temperate waters of the world. Trichiurus japonicus which was originally described from Japan as
Trichiurus lepturus japonicus was synonymized with Trichiurus lepturus. Another nominal species synonymized with Trichiurus lepturus is Trichi-
urus nitens from the eastern Pacific Ocean (California to Peru). The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
514
Trichonotus arabicus Randall & Tarr, 1994
Arabian sand diver ‫غطاس الرمل العربي‬

Family: Trichonotidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Gulf to southern Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Lepidotrigla bentuviai Richards & Saksena, 1977
‫دبية‬
‫فريالة‬
Twohorn gurnard ‫الغرنارد شائك الرأس ذو القرنين‬
Family: Triglidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. Also new material collected from the coast of Oman. The Arabian Sea
coast of Oman.
515
Lepidotrigla bispinosa Steindachner, 1898
‫دبية األعماق الحمراء‬

‫فريالة‬
Bullhorn gurnard ‫الغرنارد شائك رأس البوق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 16.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Subtropical
Family: Triglidae
Distribution
Lepidotrigla faurei Gilchrist & Thompson, 1914
‫دبية‬
‫فريالة‬
Scalybreast gurnard ‫الغرنارد شائك الرأس‬
Family: Triglidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Durban, South Africa northward along the coast of Africa, to the Arabian Sea coast of Oman, Pakistan,
and India. Not found in the Red Sea or Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
516
Lepidotrigla omanensis Regan, 1905
‫دبية حمراء عمانية‬

‫فريالة‬
Oman gurnard ‫الغرنارد العماني‬
Family: Triglidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden and Sea of Oman to south India. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Pterygotrigla hemisticta (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)
‫الدبية الملساء‬
‫فريالة‬
Blackspotted gurnard ‫غرنارد البقع السوداء‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 30.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; marine; depth Deep-water
Family: Triglidae
Distribution
Western Pacific, wide distribution from Japan to Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
517
Enneapterygius hollemani Randall, 1995
‫التنين الشفاف‬
Holleman’s triplefin ‫هولمان الزعانف الثالثية‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 3.9 cm TL (male); 3.25 cm Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Family: Tripterygiidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the central and southern coast of Oman. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Enneapterygius melanospilus Randall, 1995
‫تنين البقعة الظهرية السوداء‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 3.1 cm TL (male); 2.66 cm Demersal; marine; depth Tropical
Distribution
518
Enneapterygius ventermaculus Holleman, 1982
Blotched triplefin ‫تنين الزعانف الثالثية المبقع‬

Order: Perciformes range 0–12 m, usually 0–1 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Pakistan to Natal, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Helcogramma obtusirostre (Klunzinger, 1871)
Hotlips triplefin ‫تنين الزعانف الثالثية ذو الشفاة الساخنة‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 45.0 cm TL (male). Demersal; brackish; marine; Tropical
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Transkei, South Africa and east to the western Pacific. Southeast Atlantic: Ascension Island
and St. Helena. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
519
Helcogramma steinitzi Clark, 1980
Red triplefin ‫تنين الزعانف الثالثية العنابي النجمي‬

Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Peninsula, northern Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Norfolkia brachylepis (Schultz, 1960)
Redfin Triplefin ‫تنين الزعانف الثالثية الحمراء‬

Order: Tripterygiidae depth range 2–7 m.
Family: Tripterygiinae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Fiji, north to the Izu Islands, south to southwest and southeast Australia, and New Calednonia.
Recently recorded from Tonga. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
520
Uranoscopus affinis Cuvier, 1829
‫فريالة‬
‫تنين الرأس الصخري الكبير‬
Class: Actinopterygii Benthopelagic; marine. Tropical
Order: Perciformes
Family: Uranoscopidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean. Locality not stated, FAO areas need verification. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Uranoscopus dollfusi Brüss, 1987
‫فريالة‬
Dollfus’ stargazer ‫دولفوز مراقب النجوم ذو الزعنفة الظهرية السوداء‬
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Suez, Sea of Oman, and Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
521
Velifer hypselopterus Bleeker, 1879
Sailfin velifer ‫فليفر الزعنفة الشراعية‬

Order: Lampriformes upto 110 m.
Family: Veliferidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: taken off southern Madagascar and also reported from India, Vietnam and Japan. Also found in Indonesia,
the Arafura Sea, and northwestern Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758
‫ميخ جارح‬
‫سلسول عمالق‬
Swordfish ‫سمك أبو سيف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 455 cm FL male; common Pelagic–oceanic; oceanodro- Temperate: 5°C–27°C;
Order: Perciformes length: 300 cm TL male; maximum published mous; marine; depth range 61°N–50°S, 180°W–180°E.
Family: Xiphiidae weight: 650.0 kg. 0–800 m, usually 0–550 m.
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific: tropical and temperate and sometimes cold waters, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of
Marmara, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
522
Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758)
‫مشط الطيف‬
Moorish idol ‫الناسك المغربي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 23.0 cm TL (male); com- Reef-associated; marine; Subtropical: 24°C–28°C;
Order: Perciformes mon length: 21.0 cm NG (male). depth range 3–182 m, usually 32°N–37°S, 31°E–70°W.
Family: Zanclidae 5–182 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Rapa and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to the Lord Howe
Island. Eastern Pacific: southern Gulf of California to Peru. Trade restricted in Germany. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe, 1852)
Silvery John dory ‫جون دوري الفضي‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 80.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; marine; depth Deep-water: 58°N–28°S.
Order: Zeiformes mon length: 50.0 cm TL (male); maximum range 50–600 m, usually
Family: Zeidae published weight: 3200 g. 150–300 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia and India to South Africa, but not in the Red Sea. Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to South
Africa. Western Atlantic: Sable Island, Canada to northern North Carolina, USA to northern Argentina. Reported from Indonesia but not in the
Pacific Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
523
Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758
John dory ‫جون دوري‬

Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 90.0 cm TL (male); com- Benthopelagic; oceanodro- Temperate: 75°N–49°S,
Order: Zeiformes mon length: 40.0 cm TL (male); maximum mous; brackish; marine; 17°W–177°E.
Family: Zeidae published weight: 8000 g; maximum reported depth range 5–400 m, usually
age: 12 years. 50–150 m.
Distribution
Worldwide in distribution. Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa, also the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Western Pacific:
Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Also known from the Indian Ocean. The Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
524
525
Bibliography and Recommended Reading

Al-Abdessalaam, T.Z. 1995. Marine species of Sultanate of Oman. Marine Science and Fisheries
Centre, Ministry of Fisheries Wealth, Oman, Sultanate of Oman, 412 pp.
Al-Baharna, W.S. 1986. Fishes of Bahrain. Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Commerce and
Agriculture, Bahrain, 204 pp.
Allen, G.R., Steene, R. and Allen, M. 1998. A guide to Anglerfishes and Butterflyfishes, Odyssey
Publishing, Tropical Reef Research, Perth, Australia, 250 pp.
Basson, P.W., Burchard, Jr., J.E., Hardy, J.T. and Price, A.R.G. 1981. Biotopes of the Western
Arabian Gulf, 2nd edition, 284 pp., Arabian American Oil Company, Dhahran, Saudi Ara-
bia.
Carpenter, K. E., Krupp, F., Jones, D.A. and Zajonz, U. 1997. FAO species identification guide
for fishery purposes. The living resources of Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar,
and the United Arab Emirates. Rome, FAO. 293 p.
Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M., and Fowler, S. 2004. A field guide to the sharks of the world.
Harper-Collins, London, UK. 352 pp.
Debelius, H. 1999. Indian Ocean Reef Guide. Ikan-Unterwasserarchiv, Frankfurt, Germany, 321
pp.
Eschmeyer, W.N. 1990. Catalog of the genera of recent fishes. California Academy of Science,
San Francisco, 697 pp.
Fischer, W. and Bianchi, G. (Eds.). 1984. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes,
Western Indian Ocean, Fishery Area 51, 5 volumes. Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, Rome.
Heemstra, P. and Heemstra, E. 2004. Coastal fishes of South Africa. South African Institute for
Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa, 488 pp.
Last, P.R. and Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and rays of Australia, CSIRO, Australia, 513 pp.
Randall, J. E., 1995. Coastal fishes of Oman. Crawford House Publishing Pty Ltd, Bathurst,
Australia, 439pp.
Smith, M. M. and Heemstra, P. C. (eds.), 1986. Smith’s Sea Fishes. 1047 p. Macmillan South
Africa, Johannesburg.
White, A. W. and Barwani, M. A., 1971. Common sea fishes of the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of
Oman. Trucial States Council, Dubai, 170pp.
526
Source of fish photos and drawings

The fish illustrations used in the present book are those taken for the specimens collected by the
authors from the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman. Other sources were used to obtain fish images as
mentioned below:
A. Fish coloured photos from the Fishbase:

1. Al-Mukhtar, M., Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.
Neobythites steatiticus
2. Alvheim, Oddgeir, Institute of Marine Research, Norway.
Galeocerdo cuvier.
3. Archambault, Clay, 1105 D 15th ave. Suite 110 Box 160, Longview, WA 98632, USA.
Acanthocybium solandri, Tetrapturus audax, Thunnus obesus, Xiphias gladius.
4. Assadi, Hedayat, Ecological Marine Research Institute of Persian Gulf & Oman Sea, P.O.
Box 1597, Bandar Abbass, Iran.
Eupleurogrammus muticus
5. Banks, Ian, Australia.
Nebrius ferrugineus
6. Baur, Jean-Claude, c/o BCAS bureau de liaison, Mohamed V, Quartier Bélvédère, MA-20300
Casablanca, Morocco.
Diodon liturosus, Valenciennea helsdingenii
7. Bednarzik, Juergen, Schloßwerg 32 b, 69190 Walldorf, Germany.
Hippocampus histrix
8. Bijukumar, A., India.
Arnoglossus tapeinosoma.
9. Borsa, Philippe, I R D - Génétique des Populations, BP A5 98848 Nouméa cedex, New Cale-
donia.
Beryx mollis
10. Boyle, Kelly Sherman, California State University, Fullerton - Department of Biological Sci-
ence, Laboratory of Fish Ecology, Seabird Ecology, and Conservation Biology, 6401 Warner
Ave. , Apt. #207, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA.
527
Paracirrhites forsteri
11. Brett, Ole Johan, Norway.
Istigobius decoratus
12. Bukkems, J. Netherlands.
Lutjanus sebae
13. Burt, John, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates.
Lutjanus fulviflamma.
14. Cambraia Duarte, Pedro Miguel Niny, R. Jaime Lopes Dias, n. 6 - 7 esq., Lumiar, 1750-124
Lisboa, Portugal.
Chilomycterus reticulates, Malacocephalus laevis.
15. Cap. Antonio Amaral, Brazil.
Makaira nigricans.
16. Carvalho Filho, Alfredo, University of São Paulo - Museu de Zoologia (MZUSP), Seção de
Peixes, Rua da Consolação 2.920, #33, São Paulo, CEP:01416-001, Brazil.
Prionace glauca, Remora brachyptera, Remora osteochir, Scorpaenopsis venosa.
17. Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Information Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery
Sciences, Information Center, YongDing Road 150 ,Qingta, Beijing, China.
Hippocampus kuda, Makaira mazara.
18. Cook, David C., Department of Fisheries Management, 47 Marlin Drive, Wonga Beach,,
Cairns, Queensland 4873, Australia.
Carangoides praeustus, Halichoeres dussumieri, Lethrinus harak, Lutjanus quinquelineatus,

Lutjanus russellii, Ostracion cubicus, Parupeneus indicus, Pomacanthus semicirculatus.
19. Cornish, Andrew, The University of Hong Kong - Department of Ecology and Biodiversity,
Pokfulam Rd., Hong Kong SAR, China.
Suezichthys gracilis.
20. Costa, Francesco, Via Olimpia Coop. ENES Pal. O, 98168 Messina, Sicily, Italy.
Lobianchia gemellarii
528
21. Devarapalli, Padmavathi, MSN Degree College, KAKINADA - 533 016, Andhra Pradesh, In-
dia.
Carcharhinus hemiodon, Cynoglossus dispar, Ilisha melastoma, Laeops macrophthalmus, Mu-

raenichthys schultzei.
22. Dizon, Michael T., 285 P. Guevarra St. Unit 17, San Juan, Metro Manila 1500, Philippines.
Malacanthus latovittatus.
23. Dolgov, Andrey, Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography (PINRO)
- Department of Ecological Investigations and Mathematic Modeling, Knipovich-St., 6, Mur-
mansk 183763, Russia.
Argyropelecus cf. Gigas.
24. Field, Richard, Country Cottage, Sta Katerina Street, Gharghur, GHR1814, Malta.
Amphiprion sebae, Canthidermis macrolepis, Chaetodon larvatus, Chaetodon semilarvatus, Cir-

rhitichthys calliurus, Coris Formosa, Ctenochaetus striatus, Lethrinus mahsena, Naso unicor-
nis, Pempheris vanicolensis, Plagiotremus townsendi, Plesiops nigricans, Pomacentrus arabicus,
Pseudochromis omanensis, Rhinecanthus assasi, Scarus persicus, Scolopsis ghanam, Scuticaria
tigrina, Siganus javus, Solenostomus cyanopterus, Torpedo sinuspersici, Zanclus cornutus.
25. First, Darko, Croatia.
Pterois miles.
26. Fisheries Research Laboratory, Mie University, Japan
Phtheirichthys lineatus, Saurenchelys cancrivora
27. Flescher, Don, National Marine Fisheries Service Systematics Laboratory, USA.
Carcharias Taurus, Cyttopsis rosea.
28. Freitas, Rui Patricio, University of Cape Verde - Department of Engineering and Sea Science,
CP 163 Mindelo, São Vicente - Cabo Verde, Rua 1 Dji D´Sal, Mindelo, Cape Verde.
Ablennes hians, Caranx lugubris, Coryphaena equiselis, Katsuwonus pelamis.
29. Furlan, Borut, Rudnik II / 14, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Carcharhinus falciformis.
30. Gadig, Otto Bismarck Fazzano, Av. Washington Luiz, 493, ap. 52, 11055-001 Santos, São
Paulo, Brazil.
Mobula thurstoni.
31. Gloerfelt-Tarp, Thomas, 13 Waivote Street, Lami, Fiji.
529
Acanthocepola abbreviate, Amblygaster sirm, Apogon quadrifasciatus, Brachypterois serrula-

ta, Brachypleura novaezeelandiae, Bregmaceros mcclellandi, Carangoides talamparoides, Cen-
triscus scutatus, Cubiceps baxteri, Glyptophidium macropus, Grammoplites scaber, Gymnosarda
unicolor, Hypopleuron caninum, Leiognathus fasciatus, Lutjanus erythropterus, Minous cocci-
neus, Opisthopterus tardoore, Ostichthys acanthorhinus, Pellona ditchela, Pseudorhombus trio-
cellatus, Stolephorus indicus, Velifer hypselopterus.
32. Gomez, Raul, Spain.
Carcharhinus longimanus.
33. Harris, Mark, USA.
Eusphyra blochii.
34. Heemstra, Phillip C., South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (formerly J.L.B. Smith
Institute of Ichthyology), Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
Antennablennius bifilum, Opistognathus muscatensis.
35. Helias, Jean-Francois, IGFA Representative – Thailand, 34/13-14 City Studio 8/21 Sukhum-
vit Road Soi 13, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
Alepes vari, Aphareus rutilans.
36. Herler, Jürgen, University Vienna - Institute of Zoology, Althanstraße 14, A-1090 Vienna,
Austria.
Eviota guttata, Eviota prasina, Gobiodon reticulates.
37. Hermosa, Jr., Gregorio V. , Sultan Qaboos University - Department of Marine Science and
Fisheries, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khod 123, Sultanate of Oman.
Ambassis gymnocephalus, Arnoglossus aspilos, Auxis rochei, Choerodon robustus, Elops

machnata, Encrasicholina devisi, Encrasicholina heteroloba, Hirundichthys oxycephalus, Liza
persicus, Lutjanus rivulatus, Nemipterus randalli, Parupeneus macronemus, Pinjalo pinjalo,
Plectorhinchus sordidus, Pomadasys argenteus, Pomadasys punctulatus, Sardinella albella,
Saurida longimanus, Sphyraena putnamiae, Tenualosa toil.
38. Hernández-González, Carlos L, Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias - Instituto Español

Oceanografia, Carretera de San Andrés s/n, 38120-Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Is., Spain.
Umbrina canariensis.
39. http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Public_RecordView?processid=SBF462-11 wikipedia
Epinephelus flavocaeruleus
40. Jackiemora01 - Eigen werk, Wikipedia

530
Makaira mazara
41. Jensen, Johnny, C.M. Larsens Allé 14, 2770 Kastrup¸ Denmark
Labroides dimidiatus, Platax orbicularis.
42. Jing, L., China
Eupleurogrammus muticus
43. Khalaf, Maroof A., The Marine Science Station, P.O. Box 195, Aqaba 77110, Jordan.
Abalistes stellatus, Apolemichthys xanthotis, Corythoichthys flavofasciatus, Remora remora, Si-

derea grisea.
44. Khan, Mohammed Moazzam, Marine Fisheries Department,

Government of Pakistan, Fish Harbour, West Wharf, Karachi,
Pakistan.
Anodontostoma chacunda, Echinorhinus brucus, Hilsa kelee, Histiopterus typus, Leiognathus

daura, Mobula cf japonica, Otolithes cuvieri, Pseudosynanceia melanostigma.
45. King, Dennis R., P.O. BOX 969, UMHLANGA 4320, South Africa.
Apogon natalensis.
46. Kochzius, Marc, University of Bremen, UFT-FB2 Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics,
Leobener Strasse, Bremen 28359, Germany.
Acanthurus dussumieri, Arothron hispidus, Cephalopholis miniata, Gobiodon citrinus, Gom-

phosus caeruleus, Lactoria cornuta.
47. Ligas, Alessandro, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Mari-
na ed Ecologia Applicata “G. Bacci”, v.le N. Sauro, 4 - 57127 Livorno, Italy.
Ophisurus serpens
48. Lourie, Sara A., Redpath Museum, McGill University, Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, H3A
2K6, Québec, Canada.
Hippocampus fuscus.
49. Mensch, Ricky, 205 N. Schanck Ave., Pen Argyl, PA 18072-1524, USA.
Poecilia latipinna.
50. Minguell, Carlos, C/. Gravina - Urb. Paraiso I, 10 - 38109 El Rosario, Santa Cruz de Tenerife,
Spain.
531
Aluterus scriptus, Epinephelus marginatus.
51. Miyahara, Hajime, Hokkaido University - Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Laboratory
of Marine Biodiversity, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan.
Canthigaster valentine.
52. Murdy, Edward O., National Science Foundation - Office of International Science & Engi-
neering, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22230, USA.
Paraluteres prionurus.
53. Noble, Brandi, National Marine Fisheries Service/NOAA, Pascagoula, MS 39568, USA.
Sphyrna mokarran.
54. NREB, Sarawak/ DANIDA, Resources and Environmental Board, Sarawak/Danish Interna-
tional Development System (DANIDA). Malaysia.
Drepane punctata, Lagocephalus lunaris.
55. Nunes, Jorge Luiz Silvam, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) - Departamento de
Oceanografia, Laboratório de Ictiologia¸ Avenida da Arquitetura s/n Cidade Universitária,
Recife - PE ZIP 50.740-550, Brazil.
Omobranchus punctatus.
56. Osmany, H., Pakistan
Anoxypristis cuspidata, Atropus Atropos, Bathymyrus echinorhynchus, Lutjanus ehrenbergii,

Lutjanus russellii, Sphyraena obtusata
57. Ott, Gerhard H. F., Sach + Fach, Holzkrugweg, D-24941 Flensburg, Germany.
Ophiocara porocephala.
58. Owfi, F., Iran
Eupleurogrammus glossodon
59. Patzner, Robert A., University of Salzburg - Institute of Zoology, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34,
A-5020 Salzburg, Österreich, Austria.
Anyperodon leucogrammicus, Apogon aureus, Chaetodon vagabundus, Diplodus sargus sargus,

Kyphosus cinerascens, Parablennius pilicornis, Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos, Pomacanthus im-
perator, Sphyraena barracuda, Sufflamen chrysopterus, Synodus variegates, Valenciennea puel-
laris, Zeus faber.
532
60. Pillon, R., Italy
Pristis zijsron
61. Polack, Dennis, FishWise CC, Box 518, Halfway House, 1685 Gauteng, South Africa.
Plectropomus punctatus, Pomacentrus caeruleus.
62. Postberg, Jan, University of Witten/Herdecke - Institute for Cell Biology, Faculty of Life Sci-
ence, Stockumer Str. 10, D-58448 Witten, Germany.
Rhincodon typus.
63. Randall, John E., 45-1033 Pahuwai Place, Kaneohe, Honolulu, HI 96744, USA.
Abudefduf notatus, Abudefduf septemfasciatus, Abudefduf sexfasciatus, Abudefduf sordidus,

Acanthopagrus berda
Acanthopagrus latus, Acanthurus leucosternon, Acanthurus shoal, Acanthurus tennentii, Acan-
thurus xanthopterus, Acanthoplesiops indicus, Acentrogobius dayi, Aethaloperca rogaa, Alepes
kleinii, Alepes melanoptera, Alloblennius parvus, Alticus kirkii, Ambassis natalensis, Amblyele-
otris diagonalis, Amblyeleotris downingi, Amblyeleotris periophthalma, Amblyeleotris sungami,
Amblyeleotris triguttata, Amblyeleotris wheeleri, Amblygobius albimaculatus, Amblygobius noc-
turnes, Amphiprion clarkia, Amphiprion omanensis, Anampses caeruleopunctatus, Anampses
lineatus, Anampses meleagrides, Antennablennius adenensis, Antennablennius australis, Anten-
nablennius hypenetes
Antennablennius simonyi, Antennablennius variopunctatus, Antennarius coccineus, Antennari-
us nummifer, Antennarius pictus, Aphanius dispar dispar, Apogon coccineus, Apogon cookie, Ap-
ogon cyanosoma, Apogon apogonides, Apogon evermanni, Apogon exostigma, Apogon fleurieu,
Apogon fraenatus, Apogon gularis, Apogon holotaenia, Apogon kalosoma, Apogon omanensis,
Apogon pseudotaeniatus, Apogon semiornatus, Apogon taeniatus, Apogon timorensis, Archamia
fucata, Archamia pallida, Argyrops filamentosus, Arius maculates, Arothron meleagris, Aro-
thron nigropunctatus, Aspidontus taeniatus, Asterropteryx semipunctatus, Atherinomorus la-
cunosus, Bathygobius meggitti, Bifax lacinia, Blenniella periophthalmus, Bodianus axillaries,
Bodianus diana, Boleophthalmus dussumieri, Brachysomophis crocodilinus, Bryaninops tigris,
Callionymus erythraeus, Callionymus filamentosus, Callionymus hindsii, Callionymus marleyi,
Callionymus persicus, Callogobius amikami, Callogobius bifasciatus, Callogobius plumatus,
Calotomus carolinus, Cantherhines dumerili, Cantherhines pardalis, Canthigaster coronata,
Carangoides bajad, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchosm, Carcharhinus amboinensis, Carcharhinus
brevipinna, Carcharhinus dussumieri, Carcharhinus leucas, Carcharhinus limbatus, Carchar-
hinus melanopterus, Carcharhinus plumbeus, Centropyge acanthops, Centropyge multispinis,
Cephalopholis argus, Cephalopholis sexmaculata, Cephalopholis sonnerati, Chaetodon collare,
Cheilinus lunulatus, Cheilio inermis, Cheilodipterus arabicus, Cheilodipterus macrodon, Cheilo-
dipterus novemstriatus, Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus, Cheilopogon suttoni, Liza klunzingeri,
Liza macrolepis, Liza subviridis, Chelonodon patoca, Chaetodon auriga, Chaetodon austriacus,
Chaetodon leucopleura, Chaetodon lunula,Chaetodon melapterus, Chaetodon nigropunctatus,
Chaetodon trifascialis, Chiloscyllium arabicum, Chirocentrus nudus, Chlorurus sordidus, Cho-
eroichthys brachysoma, Choridactylus striatus, Chromis dimidiate, Chromis flavaxilla, Chromis
pembae, Chromis weberi, Chrysiptera annulata, Chrysiptera sheila, Chrysiptera unimaculata,
Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis, Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus, Cirrhitus pinnulatus, Cirripectes fila-
mentosus, Coris africana, Coris aygula, Coris caudimacula ,Coris cuvieri, Coris nigrotaenia, Co-
533
ryogalops anomolus, Coryogalops bulejiensis, Coryogalops monospilus, Coryogalops tessellates,

Fusigobius inframaculatus, Fusigobius neophytes, Corythoichthys amplexus, Corythoichthys
haematopterus, Cosmocampus banneri, Crenidens crenidens, Crenidens indicus, Crenimugil
crenilabis, Cryptocentroides arabicus, Cryptocentrus fasciatus, Cryptocentrus lutheri, Crypto-
centrus strigilliceps, Ctenochaetus strigosus, Cynoglossus bilineatus, Cynoglossus kopsii, Cyno-
glossus lachneri, Cypselurus oligolepis, Dascyllus marginatus, Dermatolepis striolata,
Diademichthys lineatus, Dinoperca petersi, Diplodus cervinus cervinus, Diplogrammus pygmae-
us, Doryrhamphus aurolineatus,
Doryrhamphus excisus excisus, Dussumieria acuta, Echidna nebulosa,
Ecsenius nalolo, Ecsenius pulcher, Ego zebra, Eleutheronema tetradactylum, Enchelycore pard-
alis, Encrasicholina punctifer, Engyprosopon grandisquama, Enneapterygius hollemani, En-
neapterygius melanospilus, Enneapterygius pusillus, Enneapterygius ventermaculus, Ephippus
orbis, Epinephelus bleekeri,
Epinephelus caeruleopunctatus, Epinephelus fasciatus, Epinephelus flavocaeruleus, Epinephelus
lanceolatus, Epinephelus latifasciatus,
Epinephelus malabaricus, Epinephelus multinotatus, Epinephelus poecilonotus, Epinephelus
retouti, Epinephelus rivulatus, Epinephelus undulosus, Escualosa thoracata, Etelis carbuncu-
lus, Etelis coruscans, Euryglossa orientalis, Euthynnus affinis, Eviota pardalota, Eviota sebreei,
Fusigobius maximus, Tomiyamichthys latruncularius, Fowleria abocellata, Fowleria aurita,
Fowleria variegate, Gerres oyena, Gnatholepis anjerensis, Gobiopsis canalis, Grammistes sexlin-
eatus, Gunnellichthys viridescens, Gymnomuraena zebra, Gymnothorax chilospilus, Gymnotho-
rax javanicus, Gymnothorax megaspilus, Gymnothorax nudivomer, Gymnothorax phasmatodes,
Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus, Gymnothorax undulates, Halichoeres lapillus, Halichoeres
iridis, Halichoeres leptotaenia, Halichoeres marginatus, Halichoeres melas, Halichoeres nebulo-
sus, Halichoeres nigrescens, Halichoeres scapularis, Halichoeres signifier, Halichoeres stigmat-
icus, Halichoeres zeylonicus, Halidesmus coccus, Halidesmus thomaseni, Haliophis diademus,
Haliophis guttatus, Helcogramma obtusirostre, Helcogramma steinitzi, Hemigymnus fasciatus,
Hemiramphus far, Hemiramphus marginatus, Hemitaurichthys zoster, Herklotsichthys lossei,
Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus, Hetereleotris vulgare, Hetereleotris zonata, Himantura jen-
kinsii, Hippichthys cyanospilus,
Hippichthys penicillus, Hippocampus jayakari, Hirculops cornifer, Histrio histrio, Hologymno-
sus doliatus, Hypoatherina temminckii, Hyporhamphus sindensis, Hyporhamphus unicuspis,
Istiblennius edentulous, Istiblennius pox, Istiblennius spilotus, Istiophorus platypterus, Isurus
oxyrinchus, Johnius belangerii, Johnius carutta, Johnius dussumieri, Johnius borneensis, Ky-
phosus bigibbus, Labroides bicolour, Lactarius lactarius, Lamnastoma orientalis, Lepadichthys
lineatus, Leptojulis cyanopleura, Leptoscarus vaigiensis, Lethrinus obsoletus, Lutjanus argen-
timaculatus, Lutjanus bohar, Lutjanus fulvus, Lutjanus gibbus, Lutjanus johnii, Lutjanus kas-
mira, Lutjanus lunulatus, Lutjanus sanguineus, Macropharyngodon bipartitus, Melichthys in-
dicus, Mene maculate, Micrognathus andersonii, Mimoblennius cirrosus, Minous monodactylus
Monocentris japonica, Monotaxis grandoculis,
Pempheris convexa, Pempheris ellipse, Pempheris flavicycla, Pempheris kuriamuria, Pempheris
micromma, Pempheris rochai, Valamugil cunnesius, Valamugil seheli, Mugil cephalus, Mulloid-
ichthys vanicolensis, Myrichthys colubrinus, Myrichthys maculosus, Naso elegans, Naso fageni,
Naso lituratus, Neoniphon samara, Neopomacentrus cyanomos, Neopomacentrus sindensis,
Norfolkia brachylepis, Novaculichthys taeniourus, Oedalechilus labiosus, Oman ypsilon, Omo-
branchus elongates, Oplopomus oplopomus, Ostracion cyanurus, Oxycheilinus bimaculatus,
Oxycheilinus digramma, Oxyurichthys papuensis, Pleurosicya micheli, Pampus argenteus, Par-
ablennius opercularis, Parablennius thysanius, Paracaesio sordidus, Parachaeturichthys poly-
nema, Paragaleus randalli, Parapercis hexophtalma, Parapercis maculate, Parapercis nebulosa,
Parapriacanthus ransonneti, Parioglossus raoi, Parupeneus barberinus, Parupeneus bifasciatus,
Parupeneus cyclostomus, Parupeneus pleurostigma, Parupeneus trifasciatus, Pegasus volitans,
534
Pereulixia kosiensis, Periophthalmus waltoni, Petroscirtes ancylodon Petroscirtes mitratus, Pho-

toblepharon steinitzi, Platycephalus indicus, Platycephalus longiceps, Plectroglyphidodon leu-
cozonus, Plectorhinchus gaterinus, Plectorhinchus gibbosus, Plectorhinchus playfairi, Plotosus
lineatus, Polydactylus plebeius, Pomacanthus asfur, Pomacentrus aquilus, Pomacentrus leptus,
Pomacentrus trichourus, Pomacentrus trilineatus, Pomadasys taeniatus, Priacanthus blochii,
Priolepis cincta, Priolepis randalli, Pristipomoides sieboldii, Pristipomoides zonatus, Pristotis
obtusirostris, Pseudanthias marcia, Pseudanthias townsendi, Pseudocheilinus hexataenia, Pseu-
dochromis aldabraensis, Pseudochromis caudalis, Pseudochromis leucorhynchus, Pseudochro-
mis linda, Pseudochromis nigrovittatus, Pseudochromis persicus, Pseudotriacanthus strigilifer,
Pteragogus flagellifer, Ptereleotris arabica, Ptereleotris heteroptera, Ptereleotris microlepis,
Ptereleotris monoptera, Pterocaesio chrysozona, Pterois radiate, Ruvettus pretiosus, Rhabda-
mia cypselura, Rhabdosargus haffara, Rhinobatos granulatus, Rhynchobatus djiddensis, Rhyn-
chorhamphus georgii, Sardinella gibbosa, Sargocentron caudimaculatum, Sargocentron diade-
ma, Sargocentron seychellense, Sargocentron spiniferum, Saurida gracilis, Saurida nebulosa,
Scartella emarginata, Scarus arabicus, Scarus falcipinnis, Scarus ferrugineus, Scarus frenatus,
Scarus fuscopurpureus, Scarus niger, Scarus psittacus, Scarus rubroviolaceus, Scarus scaber,
Scarus zufar, Scomberoides lysan, Scomberomorus guttatus, Scorpaenodes littoralis, Scorpae-
nopsis diabolus, Siderea flavocula, Siderea pictus, Siganus luridus, Syngnathoides biaculeatus,
Siphamia mossambica, Siphamia versicolor, Solea elongate, Sparidentex hasta, Sphyraena jello,
Sphyrna lewini, Stethojulis albovittata, Stethojulis interrupta, Stolephorus commersonnii, Stron-
gylura leiura, Strongylura strongylura, Synanceia nana, Synanceia verrucosa, Synchiropus stel-
latus,
Taeniura lymma, Tenualosa ilisha, Terapon puta, Terapon theraps, Thalassoma loxum, Thalas-
soma lunare, Thalassoma lutescens, Thamnaconus melanoproctes, Thryssa baelama, Thryssa
hamiltonii,
Thunnus albacaresm, Thysanophrys celebica, Thysanophrys chiltonae, Trachinotus botla, Tra-
chinotus mookalee, Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus, Triaenodon obesus, Trichonotus arabicus,
Trimma winterbottomi, Trypauchen vagina, Tylosurus acus acus, Tylosurus crocodilus croco-
diles, Upeneus doriae, Upeneus pori, Upeneus sundaicus, Valenciennea persica, Valenciennea
sexguttata, Vanderhorstia mertensi, Variola louti, Xyrichtys bimaculatus,
Yongeichthys nebulosus, Zebrasoma xanthurum, Zebrias captivus.
64. Rao, Yannamani K., India.
Uranoscopus affinis
65. Ratmuangkhwang, S., Thailand.

Ellochelon vaigiensis
Lutjanus quinquelineatus
66. Reeve, A., USA

Hemipristis elongata
67. Reyes Lobao-Tello, Pablo Ricardo, Universidad Austral de Chile, Escuela de Biologia Mari-
na, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile.
Beryx splendens
68. Reyes, Rodolfo B. Philippine.

Cheilopogon abei
535
69. Rezvani, S. Gilkolaei, Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO), P.O. Box: 14155 -
6116, Tehran, Iran.
Chaenogaleus macrostoma, Minous dempsterae, Pennahia anea.
70. Romanov, Evgeny V., Unite de Recherche no 109 (THETIS), IRD Centre de Recherche Ha-
lieutique Mediterraneenne et Tropicale, Avenue Jean Monnet - BP 171, 34203 Sete Cedex,
France.
Alopias pelagicus.
71. Sainsbury, Keith, CSIRO - Division of Fisheries, CSIRO, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001,
Australia.
Acropoma japonicum, Anoxypristis cuspidate, Apogon nigripinnis, Dipterygonotus balteatus,

Fistularia commersonii, Grammatobothus polyophthalmus, Nuchequula gerreoides, Leiogna-
thus equulus, Lophiomus setigerus, Manta birostris, Pentaprion longimanus, Priacanthus tay-
enus , Pristipomoides multidens, Pristis zijsron, Protonibea diacantha, Rogadius pristiger, Roga-
dius pristiger, Sorsogona tuberculata, Sphyraena obtusata, Ulua mentalis.
72. Senou, Hiroshi, Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History - Division of Fishes, Ja-
pan.
Antennarius scriptissimus.
73. Shao, Kwang-Tsao, Academia Sinica - Institute of Zoology, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan.
Alepocephalus bicolour, Apogon lineatus, Apogon striatus, Argyrosomus japonicus, Atropus at-
ropos, Benthosema suborbital, Brachysomophis cirrocheilos, Bembrops caudimacula, Benthose-
ma pterotum, Cheilopogon abei, Cryptocentrus filifer, Dactyloptena gilberti, Euleptorhamphus
viridis, Gymnothorax herrei, Halicampus mataafae, Hypogaleus hyugaensis, Megalops cypri-
noids, Naucrates doctor, Nematalosa nasus, Oxyporhamphus convexus, Paraplagusia blochii,
Sardinella melanura, Sillago chondropus, Tylosurus acus melanotus.
74. South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa
Suezichthys caudavittatus (Steindachner, 1898)
75. Tanaka, Hiroyuki, 2-2-79 Jinguh, Miyazaki, Miyazaki 880, Japan.
Paracheilinus mccoskeri.
76. Tassapon Krajangdara, Thailand.
Ephippus orbis
77. Townsend, Ditch, United Kingdom.

536
Liza tade.
78. Trevor, Michael N., P.O. Box 325, Majuro, MH 969600, Marshall Islands.
Atule mate, Caranx melampygus, Ellochelon vaigiensis, Kuhlia mugil, Siganus argenteus, Sphy-
raena forsteri.
79. Tyler, Elizabeth, Oxford University - Zoology Department, Tropical Ecology Group, South
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS¸ United Kingdom.
Lethrinus borbonicus.
80. Walter, Thorsten, Bogor Agricultural University - Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science,
Department of Fish Health, Campus IPB Darmaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia.
Remorina albescens.
81. Winterbottom, Richard, Royal Ontario Museum - Dept. of Ichthyology and Herpetology,
Queen’s Park, Toronto, Canada.
Cynoglossus puncticeps, Gazza minuta, Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus, Plesiops mystaxus,

Scomber australasicus, Spratelloides delicatulus, Trimma omanensis.
82. Wirtz, Peter, PO Box 103, P - 9125 Canico, Madeira Is.¸ Portugal.
Omobranchus fasciolatus.
83. Zoological Garden ZAGREB, Maksimirski perivoj bb, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Home/
Privat: Odakova 3, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Scatophagus argus.
B. From the private collection of:
1. William D. Anderson, Grice Marine Biological Laboratory, College of Charleston, 205 Fort
Johnson, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Symphysanodon andersoni
2. Sergey Bogorodsky of Station of Naturalists, Omsk, Russia
Lepadichthys bilineatus
3. Ken Graham, 6/8 Elonera St, Rydalmere NSW 2116, Australia.
Bathygadus furvescens
4. Heemstra, Phillip C., South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (formerly J.L.B. Smith
Institute of Ichthyology), Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
537
Pterygotrigla Arabica, Sorsogona melanoptera.
5. Hoover, John, Volcano, Hawaii, USA
Rusichthys explicitus.
6. Randall, John E., 45-1033 Pahuwai Place, Kaneohe, Honolulu, HI 96744, USA.
Acanthopagrus omanensis, Albula oligolepis, Apogon truncates, Briggsia hastingsi, Chlidich-

thys cacatuoides, Ilisha sirishai, Ilisha compressa, Opistognathus nigromarginatus, Platybelone
argalus argalus, Plectranthias vexillarius, Pseudochromis punctatus, Sillago indica, Spratelloi-
des gracilis, Thryssa whiteheadi.
7. Piotrovsky, Alexey S., Southern Scientific Research Institute of Marine Fish. & Ocean. (Yu-
gNIRO) ,Sverdlov St., 334500, Kerch, Crimea, Ukraine
8. SAIAB, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Acentronura tentaculata, Cubiceps pauciradiatus, Eridacnis sinuans, Halicampus zavorensis,

Hemipristis elongates, Heterodontus ramalheira, Lophiodes mutilus, Parexocoetus mento, Platy-
belone argalus, Sillago arabica, Symbolophorus evermanni.
9.Williams , Jeffrey T., Div of Fishes, Museum Support Center, MRC-534, 4210 Silver Hill
Road., Suitland, MD 20746, USA.
Scolecenchelys gymnota
10. Zsilavecz, Guido, 7 Blackwood Drive, 7806 Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
Atractoscion aequidens.
C. Black and white drawings
1. Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Food and Agriculture, Organization of the United
Nations.
Albula forsteri, Bathycongrus macrocercus, Benthodesmus oligoradiatus, Benthosema subor-

bitale, Bryx analicarens, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides, Cephaloscyllium silasi, Cosmocam-
pus investigatoris, Cynoglossus acutirostris, Cynoglossus dubius, Eridacnis Radcliffei, Eupleu-
rogrammus glossodon, Galeus Schultzi, Hirundichthys coromandelensis, Laeops guentheri,
Lepidotrigla bentuviai, Lepidotrigla faueri, Makaira indica, Neobythites steatiticus, Neobythites
stefanovi, Omobranchus mekranensis, Parascolopsis townsendi, Phtheirichthys lineatus, Piso-
donophis hoeveni, Pomadasys multimaculatum, Prognichthys brevipinnis, Psenopsis cyanea,
Pseudovespicula dracaena,
Sillago attenuate, Sorsogona nigripinna, Spottobrotula mahodadi, Stalix omanensis, Suezichthys
caudovittatus, Tetrapturus angustirostris, Tosana niwae, Trichiurus auriga, Xenisthmus balius.
538
١-‫الملحق رقم‬
‫أنواع األسماك التي تم تسجيلها من سواحل بحر العرب العمانية‬
Fish species described or recorded from the

Arabian Sea coast of Oman after the completion of
this Atlas
539
Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788)
Bluntnose sixgill shark ‫قرش االنف الحاد ذوالخياشيم الستة‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 482 cm TL male; common Marine; bathydemersal; Subtropical, preferred 25 °C
Order: Hexanchiformes length: 300 cm TL male depth range 1 - 2500 m
Family: Hexanchidae
Distribution
Circumglobal: Western & Eastern Atlantic. Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
Deania profundorum (Smith & Radcliffe, 1912)
Arrowhead dogfish ‫كلب البحر سهمي الرأس‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 79.0 cm TL male Marine; bathydemersal; Subtropical, preferred 25 °C
Order: Squaliformes depth range 205 - 1800 m
Family: Centrophoridae
Distribution
Northwest Atlantic. Western Central Pacific: Philippine. Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
540
Echinorhinus brucus (Bonnaterre, 1788)
Bramble shark ‫القرش المتعلق‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 310 cm TL male; common Marine; bathydemersal; Deep-water, preferred 26 °C
Order: Squaliformes length: 200 cm TL depth range 10 - 900 m,
Family: Echinorhinidae usually 350 - 900 m
Distribution
Western Atlantic. Western Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
Spottobrotula mossambica Nielsen, Schwarzhans & Uibelin, 2015
‫سمك موزمبيق‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 310 cm TL male; common Marine; bathydemersal;
Order: Ophidiiformes length: 200 cm TL depth range 22 - 82 m
Family: Ophidiidae
Distribution
Known from Oman to the Mozambique Channel. The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
541
Lepadichthys bilineatus Craig, Bogorodsky, Randall & Mal, 2015
Clingfish ‫السمك المتشبث‬

Class: Actinopterygii Marine; bathydemersal
Order: Perciformes
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman
Parapterois macrura (Alcock, 1896)
Scorpaeniformes ‫فرياله أثرية‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 12.4 cm SL Marine; depth range 64 - 430
Order: Scorpaeniformes m
Distribution
Indian Ocean: west coast of India. Known from the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
542
Symphysanodon andersoni Kotthaus, 1974
Slopefish ‫السمك المائل‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 15.7 cm SL. Marine; benthopelagic; depth
Order: Perciformes range 190 - 290 m.
F: Symphysanodontidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea coasts of Oman, Kutch, an in the NE quadrant of the Arabian Sea on the west coast
of India.
Epinephelus chabaudi (Castelnau, 1861)
Moustache grouper ‫هامور أبو شارب‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 137 cm TL; common length: 70.0 Marine; reef-associated;
Order: Perciformes cm TL. depth 9 - 300 m.
Family: Serranidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
543
Siphamia mossambica Smith, 1955
Sea urchin cardinal ‫كاردينال قنفذ البحر‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 4.0 cm TL Marine; reef-associated;
Order: Perciformes depth range 5 - 26 m
Family: Apogonidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: along the east coast of Africa from Kenya to South Africa, Seychelles, Comoro Islands, Madagascar and
Mauritius. The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
Lutjanus sapphirolineatus Iwatsuki, Al-Mamry & Heemstra, 2016
‫طريطره‬
‫شويقيه‬
Arabian blue-striped snapper ‫النهاش العربي أزرق الخطوط‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 7.9-15.3 cm TL Marine; reef-associated
Order: Perciformes
Family: Lutjanidae
Distribution
this species is confined to the Middle East, and is currently known only from Somalia and the Arabian coasts of Oman.
544
Acanthopagrus arabicus Iwatsuki, 2013
‫شعم‬
‫سبيطي‬
Arabian yellowfin seabream ‫الكوفر العربي اصفر الزعانف‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 34.5 cm SL; common length: 30.0 Marine; pelagic-neritic;
Order: Perciformes cm TL. depth down to 50 m.
Family: Sparidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea coasts of Oman, Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
Johnius majan Iwatsuki, Jawad & Al-Mamry, 2012
‫بادح‬
‫نجرور‬
Majan croaker ‫نجرور مجان‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 15.8 cm SL male, 14.7 cm SL fe- Marine; benthopelagic.
Order: Perciformes male.
Family: Sciaenidae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Sea of Oman, and Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
545
Uranoscopus crassiceps Alcock, 1890
‫فرياله‬
Stargazers ‫مراقب النجوم‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 27.0 cm TL. Marine; demersal; depth
Order: Perciformes range 179 - 220 m.
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia and Yemen (Gulf of Aden), Arabian Sea coasts of Oman and India. The Arabian Sea coasts of
Oman.
Bembrops platyrhynchus (Alcock, 1894)
‫أبو لبن‬
‫بومالوك‬
Natal duckbill ‫المولود منقار البطه‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 25.0 cm TL. Marine; bathydemersal;
Order: Perciformes depth range 200 - 549 m,
Family: Percophidae Deep-water.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Tasman Sea, off the coast of Somalia and South Africa. The
Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
546
Pempheris convexa Randall & Victor, 2014
Sweeper ‫المكنسة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 11.5 – 11.8 cm TL. Marine; Coral reef, rock wall Tropical
Order: Perciformes areas, channel exposed to the
Family: Pempheridae open sea, depth 9 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.The Maldives Islands, North Malé Atoll. The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
Pempheris ellipse Randall & Victor, 2015
Elongated orbit sweeper ‫مكنسة المدار الطويل‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 3.1 – 9.3 cm TL. Marine; tide pool; 6 – 9 m.
OrderPerciformes
Family: Pempheridae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
547
Pempheris flavicycla Randall, Bogorodsky & Alpermann 2013
Sweeper ‫المكنسة‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 6.5 – 14.3 cm TL. Marine; clear-water, cor-
Order: Perciformes al-reef areas; depth less than
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Lakshadweep (formerly Laccadive Archipelago), India; Andaman Islands; Red Sea, the Arabian Sea coasts of
Oman; Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Chagos Archipelago, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Similan Islands and island of Phuket, Thailand. The Arabian
Sea coasts of Oman,
Pempheris kuriamuria Randall & Victor, 2014
Kuriamuria sweeper ‫مكنسة كوريا موريا‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 9.5 – 11.2 cm TL. Marine; clear-water, cor-
Order: Perciformes al-reef areas; depth less than
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
548
Pempheris mangula Cuvier, 1829
Black-edged sweeper ‫مكنسة الحواجب السوداء‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 16.0 cm TL Marine; demersal; depth Tropical
Order: Perciformes down to 20 m
Family: Pempheridae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Visakhapatnam and Tuticorin on the east coast of India, and Kovalam in Kerala on the southwest coast. The
Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
Pempheris micromma Randall & Victor, 2014
Small eye sweeper ‫مكنسة العيون الصغيرة‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 11.7 cm TL. Marine; rocky tidal channel;
Order: Perciformes depth 0 – 1.5 m.
Family: Pempheridae
Distribution
West Indian Ocean: The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
549
Pempheris rochai Randall & Victor, 2014
Rocha sweeper ‫مكنسة روشا‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 11.5 cm TL. Marine
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pempheridae
Distribution
West Indian Ocean: the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
Pempheris schwenkii Bleeker, 1855
Black-stripe sweeper ‫مكنسة الشريط األسود‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 15.0 cm TL. Marine; reef-associated;
Order: Perciformes depth range 5 - 40 m.
Family: Pempheridae
Distribution
widely distributed in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
550
Hemigymnus sexfasciatus (Rüppell, 1835)
‫لبروس‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 36.5 cm TL. Marine; reef-associated;
Order: Perciformes depth range 1 - 20 m.
Family: Labridae
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea coasts of Oman and Yemen.
Callionymus omanensis Fricke, Jawad & Al-Mamry, 2014
‫دبية‬
Oman dragonet ‫الثنين العماني‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 11.1 cm TL. Marine; demersal; depth
Order: Perciformes down to 500 m.
Distribution
The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
551
Tripterodon orbis Playfair, 1867
‫عماد‬
African spadefish ‫سمك المسحاة األفريقي‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 75.0 cm TL; common length: Marine; reef associated
Order: Perciformes 30.0 cm TL
Family: Ephippidae
Distribution
Somalia, Kenya, South Africa. The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman
Naso unicornis (Forsskål, 1775)
‫فوطة القرن‬
Bluespine unicornfish ‫سمك احادي القرن ازرق االشواك‬
Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 70.0 cm FL; common length: Marine; reef associated,
Order: Perciformes 50.0 cm TL depth range 1 - 180 m
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord
Howe and Rapa islands. The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
‫‪552‬‬
‫الملحق رقم ـ ‪2‬‬

‫أنواع األسماك المسجلة من سواحل بحر العرب العمانية التي لم‬
‫يتم الحصول على صور لها‬
‫‪Fish species without photos reported from the‬‬

‫‪Arabian Sea coast of Oman‬‬
553
Sunagocia omanensis Knap & Randall, 2013
No image available
Omani flathead fish ‫السمك مسطح الرأس العماني‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 12.9 cm TL. Marine; rocky bottom and
Order: Scorpaeniformes adjacent sand and rubble;
Family: Platycephalidae depth 21 m.
Distribution
Indian Ocean: The Arabian Sea coasts of Oman.
Sillago caudicula Kaga, Imamura & Nakaya, 2010
No image available
Smelt whiting ‫السمك األبيض ذو الرائحة‬

Class: Actinopterygii Max length: 154.9 cm TL. Marine; pelagic-neritic.
Order: Perciformes
Family: Sillaginidae
Distribution
Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea coasts of Oman, Kutch, an in the NE quadrant of the Arabian Sea on the west coast
of India.
‫‪554‬‬
‫الملحق رقم ـ ‪3‬‬

‫األسماك التي أضيفت مؤخرًا‬
‫‪Recently Added Species‬‬

555
Myersina filifer (Valenciennes, 1837)
Class: Actinopterygii 132 mm TL male. Marine, demersal. Temperate
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific region from the Arabian Gulf to the Reunion area and to Indonesia, Philippines, North Australia. The
Ellochelon vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
‫قاط‬
‫بياح اصفر الزعانف‬
Squaretail mullet ‫البوري مربع الذيل‬
Class: Actinopterygii Maximum length: 63.0 cm. marine, freshwater, brackish, Tropical
Order: Mugilidae reef-associated; catadromous,
Family: Mugilidae depth range 0 - 5 m.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and south to East Africa, eastward to north and south Japan and Australia. The Arabian Sea coast of
Oman.
556
4 ‫الملحق رقم ـ‬
‫ملحق األسماء العلمية‬
Index of scientific names
Explanation of the System
Times new Roman (Bold) : Family Name

Times new Roman (Italics) : Species scientific name
557
Rhinochimaeridae Narcinidae Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus 90

Harriotta raleighana 28 Narcine oculifera 57 Cheilodipterus persicus 91
Neoharriotta pinnata 28 Rhinobatidae Fowleria aurita 91
Alopiidae Glaucostegus halavi 57 Fowleria variegate 92
Alopias pelagicus 29 Glaucostegus granulatus 58 Holapogon maximus 92
Carcharhinidae Rhina ancylostoma 58 Jaydia truncate 93
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 29 Rhinobatos punctifer 59 Rhabdamia cypselura 93
Carcharhinus amboinensis 30 Rhinobatos salalah 59 Siphamia versicolor 94
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides 30 Rhynchobatus djiddensis 60 Ariidae
Carcharhinus altimus 31 Torpedinidae Arius maculatus 94
Carcharhinus brevipinna 31 Torpedo panther 60 Netuma bilineata 95
Carcharhinus dussumieri 32 Torpedo sinuspersici 61 Netuma thalassina 95
Carcharhinus falciformis 32 Acanthuridae Plicofollis dussumieri 96
Carcharhinus hemiodon 33 Acanthurus dussumieri 61 Plicofollis tenuispinis 96
Carcharhinus limbatus 33 Acanthurus mata 62 Ariommatidae
Carcharhinus macloti 34 Acanthurus sohal 62 Ariomma indica 97
Carcharhinus melanopterus 34 Acanthurus tennentii 63 Atherinidae
Carcharhinus plumbeus 35 Acanthurus xanthopterus 63 Atherinomorus lacunosus 97
Carcharhinus sorrah 35 Ctenochaetus striatus 64 Hypoatherina temminckii 98
Odontaspididae Ctenochaetus strigosus 64 Balistidae
Carcharias Taurus 36 Naso elegans 65 Abalistes stellatus 98
Carcharhinidae Naso fageni 65 Canthidermis macrolepis 99
Galeocerdo cuvier 36 Naso lituratus 66 Melichthys indicus 99
Loxodon macrorhinus 37 Naso unicornis 66 Odonus niger 100
Negaprion acutidens 37 Zebrasoma xanthurum 67 Rhinecanthus assasi 100
Rhizoprionodon acutus 38 Acropomatidae Sufflamen chrysopterum 101
Rhizoprionodon oligolinx 38 Acropoma japonicum 67 Sufflamen fraenatum 101
Triaenodon obesus 39 Albulidae Batrachoididae
Centrophoridae Albula argentea 68 Bifax lacinia 102
Deania profundorum 39 Albula forsteri 68 Colletteichthys dussumieri 102
Ginglymostomatidae Albula oligolepis 69 Balistidae
Nebrius ferrugineus 40 Alepocephalidae Ablennes hians 103
Hemigaleidae Alepocephalus bicolor 69 Belonidae
Chaenogaleus macrostoma 40 Conocara fiolenti 70 Platybelone argalus argalus 103
Hemipristis elongate 41 Ambassidae Tylosurus acus acus 104
Paragaleus randalli Compagno 41 Ambassis gymnocephalus 70 Tylosurus acus melanotus 104
Hemiscylliidae Ambassis natalensis 71 Tylosurus choram 105
Chiloscyllium arabicum 42 Anomalopida Strongylura leiura 105
Chiloscyllium indicum 42 Photoblepharon steinitzi 71 Strongylura strongylura 106
Heterodontidae Antennariidae Berycidae
Heterodontus omanensis 43 Antennarius coccineus 72 Beryx mollis 106
Lamnidae Antennarius indicus 72 Beryx splendens 107
Isurus oxyrinchus 43 Antennarius nummifer 73 Blenniidae
Pristidae Antennarius indicus 73 Alloblennius anuchalis 107
Anoxypristis cuspidate 44 Antennarius scriptissimus 74 Blenniidae
Pristis zijsron 44 Histrio histrio 74 Alloblennius parvus 108
Proscylliidae Apistidae Alticus kirkii 108
Eridacnis radcliffei 45 Apistus carinatus 75 Antennablennius adenensis 109
Rhincodontidae Apogonidae Antennablennius australis 109
Rhincodon typus 45 Apogon apogonides 75 Antennablennius bifilum 110
Scyliorhinidae Apogon aureus 76 Antennablennius hypenetes 110
Galeus schultzi 46 Apogon coccineus 76 Antennablennius simonyi 111
Sphyrnidae Apogon cookie 77 Antennablennius variopunctatus 111
Eusphyra blochii 46 Apogon cyanosoma 77 Aspidontus taeniatus 112
Sphyrna lewini 47 Apogon dhofar 78 Blenniella periophthalmus 112
Sphyrna mokarran 47 Apogon evermanni 78 Cirripectes filamentosus 113
Triakidae Apogon exostigma 79 Ecsenius nalolo 113
Hypogaleus hyugaensis 48 Apogon fasciatus 79 Ecsenius pulcher 114
Iago omanensis 48 Apogon fleurieu 80 Hirculops cornifer 114
Mustelus mosis 49 Apogon fraenatus 80 Istiblennius edentulous 115
Dasyatidae Apogon gularis 81 Istiblennius pox 115
Himantura gerrardi 49 Apogon holotaenia 81 Istiblennius spilotus 116
Himantura imbricate 50 Apogon kalosoma 82 Mimoblennius cirrosus 116
Himantura jenkinsii 50 Apogon lineatus 82 Oman ypsilon 117
Himantura uarnak 51 Apogon natalensis 83 Omobranchus elongates 117
Pastinachus sephen 51 Apogon nigripinnis 83 Omobranchus fasciolatus 118
Taeniura lymma 52 Apogon omanensis 84 Omobranchus mekranensis 118
Taeniura meyeni 52 Apogon pseudotaeniatus 84 Omobranchus punctatus 119
Gymnuridae Apogon quadrifasciatus 85 Parablennius opercularis 119
Gymnura poecilura 53 Apogon queketti 85 Parablennius pilicornis 120
Myliobatidae Apogon semiornatus 86 Parablennius thysanius 120
Aetobatus narinari 53 Apogon striatus 86 Pereulixia kosiensis 121
Aetomylaeus nichofii 54 Apogon taeniatus 87 Petroscirtes ancylodon 121
Manta birostris 54 Apogon timorensis 87 Petroscirtes mitratus 122
Mobula kuhlii 55 Archamia fucata 88 Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos 122
Mobula japonica 55 Archamia pallida 88 Plagiotremus townsendi 123
Mobula thurstoni 56 Cheilodipterus arabicus 89 Scartella emarginata 123
Rhinoptera jayakari 56 Cheilodipterus macrodon 89 Xiphasia setifer 124
Cheilodipterus novemstriatus 90
558
Bothidae Centrolophidae Diodontidae

Arnoglossus arabicus 124 Psenopsis cyanea 161 Chilomycterus reticulatus 193
Arnoglossus aspilos 125 Cepolidae Cyclichthys orbicularis 194
Arnoglossus tapeinosoma 125 Acanthocepola abbreviate 161 Cyclichthys spilostylus 194
Bothus pantherinus 126 Acanthocepola indica 162 Diodon holocanthus 195
Chascanopsetta lugubris 126 Chaetodontidae Diodon hystrix 195
Engyprosopon grandisquama 127 Chaetodon Auriga 162 Diodon liturosus 196
Grammatobothus polyophthalmus 127 Chaetodon austriacus 163 Lophodiodon calori 196
Laeops macrophthalmus 128 Chaetodon collare 163 Drepaneidae
Laeops nigrescens 128 Chaetodon dialeucos 164 Drepane longimana 197
Bregmacerotidae Chaetodon gardineri 164 Echeneidae
Bregmaceros arabicus 129 Chaetodon larvatus 165 Echeneis naucrates 197
Bregmaceros mcclellandi 129 Chaetodon leucopleura 165 Phtheirichthys lineatus 198
Bregmaceros nectabanus 130 Chaetodon lunula 166 Remorina albescens 198
Caesionidae Chaetodon melapterus 166 Remora brachyptera 199
Caesio lunaris 130 Chaetodon nigropunctatus 167 Remora osteochir 199
Caesio varilineata 131 Chaetodon semilarvatus 167 Remora remora 200
Dipterygonotus balteatus 131 Chaetodon trifascialis 168 Eleotridae
Pterocaesio chrysozona 132 Chaetodon vagabundus 168 Ophiocara porocephala 200
Callionymidae Hemitaurichthys zoster 169 Elopidae
Callionymus carebares 132 Heniochus acuminatus 169 Elops machnata 201
Callionymus erythraeus 133 Roa jayakari 170 Emmelichthyidae
Callionymus hindsii 133 Champsodontidae Erythrocles schlegelii 201
Callionymus margaretae 134 Champsodon omanensis 170 Engraulidae
Callionymus marleyi 134 Chanidae Encrasicholina devisi 202
Callionymus muscatensis 135 Chanos chanos 171 Encrasicholina heteroloba 202
Callionymus persicus 135 Chirocentridae Encrasicholina punctifer 203
Diplogrammus pygmaeus 136 Chirocentrus dorab 171 Stolephorus commersonnii 203
Synchiropus stellatus 136 Chirocentrus nudus 172 Stolephorus indicus 204
Carangidae Cirrhitidae Thryssa baelama 204
Alectis ciliaris 137 Cirrhitichthys calliurus 172 Thryssa hamiltonii 205
Alectis indicus 137 Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus 173 Thryssa setirostris 205
Alepes djedaba 138 Cirrhitus pinnulatus 173 Thryssa vitrirostris 206
Alepes kleinii 138 Paracirrhites forsteri 174 Ephippidae
Alepes melanoptera 139 Clupeidae Ephippus orbis 206
Alepes vari 139 Amblygaster sirm 174 Platax orbicularis 207
Atropus atropos 140 Anodontostoma chacunda 175 Platax teira 207
Atule mate 140 Dussumieria acuta 175 Exocoetidae
Carangoides armatus 141 Dussumieria elopsoides 176 Cheilopogon abei 208
Carangoides bajad 141 Escualosa thoracata 176 Cypselurus oligolepis 208
Carangoides chrysophrys 142 Herklotsichthys lossei 177 Hirundichthys coromandelensis 209
Carangoides coeruleopinnatus 142 Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus 177 Hirundichthys oxycephalus 209
Carangoides equula 143 Hilsa kelee 178 Parexocoetus mento 210
Carangoides ferdau 143 Nematalosa Arabica 178 Prognichthys brevipinnis
Carangoides fulvoguttatus 144 Nematalosa nasus 179 Fistulariidae 210
Carangoides gymnostethus 144 Opisthopterus tardo 179 Fistularia commersonii 211
Carangoides malabaricus 145 Sardinella albella 180 Fistularia petimba 211
Carangoides praeustus 145 Spratelloides delicatulus 180 Gempylidae
Carangoides talamparoides 146 Sardinella gibbosa 181 Nealotus tripes 212
Caranx heberi 146 Sardinella longiceps 181 Neoepinnula orientalis 212
Caranx ignobilis 147 Sardinella melanura 182 Ruvettus pretiosus 213
Caranx lugubris 147 Sardinella sindensis 182 Gerreidae
Caranx melampygus 148 Spratelloides gracilis 183 Gerres infasciatus 213
Caranx sexfasciatus 148 Tenualosa toil 183 Gerres longirostris 214
Decapterus macarellus 149 Congridae Gerres oyena 214
Decapterus macrosoma 149 Bathycongrus macrocercus 184 Pentaprion longimanus 215
Decapterus russelli 150 Bathymyrus echinorhynchus 184 Gobiesocidae
Elagatis bipinnulata 150 Conger cinereus 185 Briggsia hastingsi 215
Gnathanodon speciosus 151 Xenomystax trucidans 185 Lepadichthys lineatus 216
Megalaspis cordyla 151 Coryphaenidae Gobiidae
Naucrates doctor 152 Coryphaena equiselis 186 Acentrogobius dayi 216
Parastromateus niger 152 Coryphaena hippurus 186 Amblyeleotris diagonalis 217
Scomberoides commersonnianus 153 Cynoglossidae Amblyeleotris downingi 217
Scomberoides lysan 153 Cynoglossus acutirostris 187 Amblyeleotris periophthalma 218
Scomberoides tol 154 Cynoglossus arel 187 Amblyeleotris sungami 218
Seriola dumerili 154 Cynoglossus bilineatus 188 Amblyeleotris triguttata 219
Selaroides leptolepis 155 Cynoglossus carpenter 188 Amblygobius albimaculatus 219
Seriolina nigrofasciata 155 Cynoglossus dispar 189 Amblygobius nocturnus 220
Selar crumenophthalmus 156 Cynoglossus dubius 189 Asterropteryx semipunctata 220
Trachinotus africanus 156 Cynoglossus kopsii 190 Bathygobius meggitti 221
Trachinotus baillonii 157 Cynoglossus lachneri 190 Boleophthalmus dussumieri 221
Trachinotus blochii 157 Cynoglossus puncticeps 191 Bryaninops tigris 222
Trachinotus botla 158 Paraplagusia blochii 191 Callogobius amikami 222
Trachinotus mookalee 158 Dactylopteridae Callogobius bifasciatus 223
Ulua mentalis 159 Dactyloptena gilberti 192 Coryogalops adamsoni 223
Uraspis helvola 159 Dactyloptena orientalis 192 Coryogalops anomolus 224
Centriscidae Dinopercidae Coryogalops bulejiensis 224
Centriscus scutatus 160 Dinoperca petersi 193 Coryogalops monospilus 225
Coryogalops tessellatus 225
559
Cryptocentroides arabicus 226 Kuhliidae Lutjanus bengalensis 298

Cryptocentrus lutheri 226 Kuhlia mugil 262 Lutjanus bohar 299
Cryptocentrus strigilliceps 227 Kyphosidae Lutjanus coeruleolineatus 299
Gobiesocidae Kyphosus bigibbus 263 Lutjanus ehrenbergii 300
Diademichthys lineatus 227 Kyphosus cinerascens 263 Lutjanus erythropterus 300
Gobiidae Kyphosus vaigiensis 264 Lutjanus fulviflamma 301
Ego zebra 228 Labridae Lutjanus fulviflamma 301
Eviota guttata 228 Anampses caeruleopunctatus 264 Lutjanus gibbus 302
Eviota pardalota 229 Anampses lineatus 265 Lutjanus johnii 302
Eviota prasina 229 Anampses meleagrides 265 Lutjanus kasmira 303
Eviota sebreei 230 Bodianus axillaris 266 Lutjanus lunulatus 303
Fusigobius inframaculatus 230 Bodianus diana 266 Lutjanus lutjanus 304
Fusigobius maximus 231 Bodianus macrognathos 267 Lutjanus malabaricus 304
Fusigobius neophytus 231 Cheilinus lunulatus 267 Lutjanus monostigma 305
Gnatholepis anjerensis 232 Choerodon robustu 268 Lutjanus quinquelineatus 305
Gobiodon citrinus 232 Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis 268 Lutjanus rivulatus 306
Gobiodon reticulatus 233 Coris formosa 269 Lutjanus russellii 306
Gobiopsis canalis 233 Coris aygula 269 Lutjanus sanguineus 307
Hetereleotris vulgari 234 Coris caudimacula 270 Lutjanus sebae 307
Hetereleotris zonata 234 Coris cuvieri 270 Paracaesio sordida 308
Istigobius decoratus 235 Gomphosus caeruleus 271 Pinjalo pinjalo 308
Istigobius ornatus 235 Halichoeres hortulanus 271 Pristipomoides filamentosus 309
Lobulogobius omanensis 236 Halichoeres iridis 272 Pristipomoides multidens 309
Oxyurichthys papuensis 236 Halichoeres lapillus 272 Pristipomoides sieboldii 310
Palutrus meteori 237 Halichoeres leptotaenia 273 Pristipomoides zonatus 310
Papillogobius melanobranchus 237 Halichoeres marginatus 273 Macrouridae
Parachaeturichthys polynema 238 Halichoeres melas 274 Bathygadus furvescens 311
Pleurosicya micheli 238 Halichoeres nebulosus 274 Coelorinchus flabellispinnis 311
Priolepis cinctus 239 Halichoeres nigrescens 275 Coryphaenoides macrolophus 312
Priolepis randalli 239 Halichoeres scapularis 275 Malacocephalus laevis 312
Scartelaos tenuis 240 Halichoeres signifer 276 Nezumia investigatoris 313
Tomiyamichthys latruncularius 240 Halichoeres stigmaticus 276 Malacanthidae
Trimma omanensis 241 Hemigymnus fasciatus 277 Malacanthus latovittatus 313
Valenciennea helsdingenii 241 Hologymnosus doliatus 277 Megalopidae
Valenciennea persica 242 Labroides bicolor 278 Megalops cyprinoides 314
Valenciennea puellaris 242 Labroides dimidiatus 278 Menidae
Valenciennea sexguttata 243 Leptojulis cyanopleura 279 Mene maculata 314
Vanderhorstia mertensi 243 Macropharyngodon bipartitus 279 Monacanthidae
Yongeichthys nebulosus 244 Novaculichthys taeniourus 280 Aluterus Monoceros 315
Haemulidae Oxycheilinus bimaculatus 280 Aluterus scriptus 315
Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus 244 Oxycheilinus digramma 281 Cantherhines pardalis 316
Plectorhinchus gaterinus 245 Paracheilinus mccoskeri 281 Paraluteres prionurus 316
Plectorhinchus gibbosus 245 Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 282 Stephanolepis diaspros 317
Plectorhinchus pictus 246 Pteragogus flagellifer 282 Thamnaconus melanoproctes 317
Plectorhinchus playfairi 246 Stethojulis albovittata 283 Monocentris japonica 318
Plectorhinchus schotaf 247 Stethojulis interrupta 283 Monodactylidae
Plectorhinchus sordidus 247 Suezichthys caudavittatus 284 Monodactylus argenteus 318
Pomadasys aheneus 248 Thalassoma loxum 284 Mugilidae
Pomadasys argenteus 248 Thalassoma lunare 285 Crenimugil crenilabis 319
Pomadasys commersonnii 249 Thalassoma lutescens 285 Liza klunzingeri 319
Pomadasys kaakan 249 Xyrichtys bimaculatus 286 Liza macrolepis 320
Pomadasys maculatus 250 Lactarius lactarius 286 Liza persicus 320
Pomadasys multimaculatum 250 Leiognathidae Liza subviridis 321
Pomadasys olivaceus 251 Equulites elongatus 287 Moolgarda pedaraki 321
Pomadasys punctulatus 251 Gazza minuta 287 Mugil cephalus 322
Pomadasys stridens 252 Leiognathus daura 288 Oedalechilus labiosus 322
Pomadasys taeniatus 252 Leiognathus equulus 288 Valamugil seheli 323
Hemiramphidae Leiognathus fasciatus 289 Mullidae
Euleptorhamphus viridis 253 Leiognathus oblongus 289 Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 323
Hemiramphus far 253 Photopectoralis bindus 290 Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 324
Hemiramphus marginatus 254 Lethrinidae Parupeneus barberinus 324
Hyporhamphus sindensis 254 Gymnocranius griseus 290 Parupeneus cyclostomus 325
Oxyporhamphus convexus 255 Lethrinus borbonicus 291 Parupeneus heptacanthus 325
Holocentridae Lethrinus harak 291 Parupeneus indicus 326
Myripristis murdjan 255 Lethrinus lentjan 292 Parupeneus macronemus 326
Neoniphon sammara 256 Lethrinus mahsena 292 Parupeneus margaritatus 327
Ostichthys acanthorhinus 256 Lethrinus microdon 293 Parupeneus pleurostigma 327
Sargocentron caudimaculatum 257 Lethrinus nebulosus 293 Parupeneus trifasciatus 328
Sargocentron diadema 257 Lethrinus obsoletus 294 Parupeneus rubescens 328
Sargocentron rubrum 258 Monotaxis grandoculis 294 Upeneus doriae 329
Sargocentron seychellense 258 Lophiidae Upeneus pori 329
Sargocentron spiniferum 259 Lophiodes insidiator 295 Upeneus tragula 330
Istiophoridae Lophiodes mutilus 295 Muraenesocidae
Istiophorus platypterus 259 Lophiomus setigerus 296 Gavialiceps taeniola 330
Makaira indica 260 Lutjanidae Muraenesox cinereus 331
Makaira mazara 260 Aphareus rutilans 296 Echidna nebulosa 331
Makaira nigricans 261 Etelis carbunculus 297 Enchelycore pardalis 332
Tetrapturus angustirostris 261 Etelis coruscans 297 Gymnomuraena zebra 332
Tetrapturus audax 262 Lutjanus argentimaculatus 298 Gymnothorax chilospilus 333
560
Gymnothorax favagineus 333 Pempheridae Pomacentrus arabicus 400

Gymnothorax flavimarginatus 334 Parapriacanthus ransonneti 368 Pomacentrus caeruleus 401
Gymnothorax flavoculus 334 Pempheris vanicolensis 368 Pomacentrus leptus 401
Gymnothorax griseus 335 Pentacerotidae Pomacentrus trichourus 402
Gymnothorax javanicus 335 Histiopterus typus 369 Pomacentrus trilineatus 402
Gymnothorax johnsoni 336 Percophidae Pristotis obtusirostris 403
Gymnothorax megaspilus 336 Bembrops caudimacula 369 Pomatomus saltatrix 403
Gymnothorax meleagris 337 Bembrops platyrhynchus 370 Priacanthidae
Gymnothorax nudivomer 337 Peristediidae Cookeolus japonicus 404
Gymnothorax pictus 338 Satyrichthys adeni 370 Priacanthus blochii 404
Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus 338 Pinguipedidae Priacanthus hamrur 405
Gymnothorax undulatus 339 Parapercis alboguttata 371 Pellona ditchela 405
Scuticaria tigrina 339 Parapercis hexophtalma 371 Psettodidae
Myctophidae Parapercis maculata 372 Psettodes erumei 406
Benthosema fibulatum 340 Parapercis nebulosa 372 Pseudochromidae
Benthosema pterotum 340 Parapercis robinsoni 373 Chlidichthys cacatuoides 406
Benthosema suborbitale 341 Platycephalidae Halidesmus coccus 407
Coris aygula 341 Cociella crocodilus 373 Haliophis diademus 407
Symbolophorus evermanni 342 Cociella punctata 374 Haliophis guttatus 408
Nemipteridae Cociella somaliensis 374 Pseudochromis aldabraensis 408
Nemipterus bipunctatus 342 Grammoplites scaber 375 Pseudochromis caudalis 409
Nemipterus japonicus 343 Grammoplites suppositus 375 Pseudochromis leucorhynchus 409
Nemipterus peronii 343 Kumococius rodericensis 376 Pseudochromis linda 410
Nemipterus randalli 344 Papilloculiceps longiceps 376 Pseudochromis nigrovittatus 410
Parascolopsis aspinosa 344 Platycephalus indicus 377 Pseudochromis omanensis 411
Parascolopsis eriomma 345 Rogadius melanopterus 377 Pseudochromis persicus 411
Parascolopsis townsendi 345 Rogadius pristiger 378 Pseudochromis punctatus 412
Scolopsis bimaculatus 346 Sorsogona Nigripinnis 378 Rusichthys explicitus 412
Scolopsis ghanam 346 Sorsogona prionota 379 Ptereleotridae
Scolopsis taeniatus 347 Sorsogona tuberculata 379 Parioglossus raoi 413
Scolopsis vosmeri 347 Thysanophrys celebica 380 Ptereleotris arabica 413
Saurenchelys cancrivora 348 Thysanophrys chiltonae 380 Ptereleotris heteroptera 414
Nomeidae Acanthoclininae Ptereleotris microlepis 414
Cubiceps baxteri 348 Acanthoplesiops indicus 381 Ptereleotris monoptera 415
Cubiceps nanus 349 Plesiopidae Rachycentridae
Cubiceps pauciradiatus 349 Plesiops mystaxus 381 Rachycentron canadum 415
Nomeus gronovii 350 Plesiops nigricans 382 Scaridae
Ophichthidae Plotosidae Calotomus carolinus 416
Brachysomophis cirrocheilos 350 Plotosus limbatus 382 Chlorurus sordidus 416
Brachysomophis crocodilinus 351 Plotosus lineatus 383 Chlorurus strongylocephalus 417
Ichthyapus omanensis 351 Polymixiidae Leptoscarus vaigiensis 417
Lamnostoma orientalis 352 Polymixia fusca 383 Scarus arabicus 418
Muraenichthys gymnopterus 352 Labridae Scarus falcipinnis 418
Muraenichthys schultzei Bleeker 353 Eleutheronema tetradactylum 384 Scarus ferrugineus 419
Myrichthys colubrinus 353 Polynemidae Scarus frenatus 419
Myrichthys maculosus 354 Polydactylus plebeius 384 Scarus fuscopurpureus 420
Neenchelys cheni 354 Polydactylus sextarius 385 Scarus ghobban 420
Ophisurus serpens 355 Pomacanthidae Scarus niger 421
Pisodonophis hoeveni 355 Apolemichthys xanthotis 385 Scarus persicus 421
Scolecenchelys gymnota 356 Centropyge acanthops 386 Scarus psittacus 422
Spottobrotula mahodadi 356 Centropyge multispinis 386 Scarus rubroviolaceus 422
Xyrias multiserialis 357 Pomacanthus asfur 387 Scarus scaber 423
Ophidiidae Pomacanthus imperator 387 Scarus zufar 423
Brotula multibarbata 357 Pomacanthus maculosus 388 Scatophagidae
Dicrolene nigricaudis 358 Pomacanthus semicirculatus 388 Scatophagus argus 424
Glyptophidium macropus 358 Pomacentridae Sciaenidae
Hypopleuron caninum 359 Abudefduf notatus 389 Argyrosomus heinii 424
Neobythites steatiticus 359 Abudefduf septemfasciatus 389 Argyrosomus japonicus 425
Neobythites stefanovi 360 Abudefduf sexfasciatus 390 Atrobucca nibe 425
Opistognathidae Abudefduf sordidus 390 Johnius borneensis 426
Opistognathus muscatensis 360 Abudefduf vaigiensis 391 Johnius dussumieri 426
Opistognathus nigromarginatus 361 Amphiprion clarkii 391 Otolithes cuvieri 427
Stalix omanensis 361 Amphiprion omanensis 392 Otolithes ruber 427
Ostraciidae Amphiprion sebae 392 Pennahia anea 428
Lactoria cornuta 362 Chromis dimidiata 393 Umbrina canariensis 428
Ostracion cubicus 362 Chromis flavaxilla 393 Umbrina ronchus 429
Ostracion cyanurus 363 Chromis pembae 394 Scombridae
Tetrosomus gibbosus 363 Chromis weberi 394 Acanthocybium solandri 429
Paralichthyidae Chromis xanthopterygia 395 Auxis rochei rochei 430
Cephalopsetta ventrocellatus 364 Chrysiptera annulata 395 Auxis thazard 430
Pseudorhombus annulatus 364 Chrysiptera sheila 396 Euthynnus affinis 431
Coris Pseudorhombus arsius 365 Chrysiptera unimaculata 396 Gymnosarda unicolor 431
Pseudorhombus elevatus 365 Dascyllus trimaculatus 397 Katsuwonus pelamis 432
Pseudorhombus malayanus 366 Neopomacentrus cyanomos 397 Rastrelliger kanagurta 432
Pseudorhombus triocellatus 366 Neopomacentrus miryae 398 Sarda orientalis 433
Parazenidae Neopomacentrus sindensis 398 Scomber australasicus 433
Cyttopsis rosea 367 Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 399 Scomber japonicus 434
Pegasus volitans 367 Plectroglyphidodon leucozonus 399 Scomberomorus commerson 434
Pomacentrus aquilus 400 Scomberomorus guttatus 435
561
Thunnus albacares 435 Crenidens crenidens 471 Lagocephalus guentheri 507

Thunnus obesus 436 Diplodus cervinus 472 Lagocephalus lunaris 508
Thunnus tonggol 436 Diplodus cervinus omanensis 472 Lagocephalus sceleratus 508
Scorpaenidae Diplodus sargus sargus 473 Torquigener flavimaculosus 509
Brachypterois serrulata 437 Lithognathus mormyrus 473 Trachichthyidae
Pterois antennata 437 Pagellus affinis 474 Gephyroberyx darwinii 509
Pterois mombasae 438 Rhabdosargus haffara 474 Hoplostethus druzhinini 510
Pterois miles 438 Rhabdosargus sarba 475 Triacanthidae
Pterois radiata 439 Sparidentex hasta 475 Triacanthus biaculeatus 510
Pterois russelii 439 Sphyraenidae Pseudotriacanthus strigilifer 511
Scorpaenopsis barbata 440 Sphyraena acutipinnis 476 Benthodesmus oligoradiatus 511
Scorpaenopsis diabolus 440 Sphyraena barracuda 476 Eupleurogrammus glossodon 512
Scorpaenodes littoralis 441 Sphyraena flavicauda 477 Eupleurogrammus muticus 512
Scorpaenopsis lactomaculata 441 Sphyraena forsteri 477 Trichiurus auriga 513
Scorpaenopsis venosa 442 Sphyraena jello 478 Trichiurus lepturus 513
Serranidae Sphyraena obtusata 478 Trichonotidae
Anyperodon leucogrammicus 442 Sphyraena putnamae 479 Trichonotus arabicus 514
Cephalopholis argus 443 Sphyraena qenie 479 Triglidae
Cephalopholis hemistiktos 443 Sternoptychidae Lepidotrigla bentuviai 514
Cephalopholis miniata 444 Argyropelecus gigas 480 Lepidotrigla bispinosa 515
Cephalopholis sexmaculata 444 Stomiidae Lepidotrigla faurei 515
Cephalopholis sonnerati 445 Chauliodus sloani 480 Lepidotrigla omanensis 516
Dermatolepis striolata 445 Synanceiidae Pterygotrigla hemisticta 516
Epinephelus areolatus 446 Choridactylus lineatus 481 Tripterygiidae
Epinephelus bleekeri 446 Choridactylus multibarbus 481 Enneapterygius hollemani 517
Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus 447 Choridactylus striatus 482 Enneapterygius melanospilus 517
Epinephelus coioides 447 Minous coccineus 482 Enneapterygius ventermaculus 518
Epinephelus diacanthus 448 Minous dempsterae 483 Helcogramma obtusirostre 518
Epinephelus epistictus 448 Minous inermis 483 Helcogramma steinitzi 519
Epinephelus fasciatus 449 Minous monodactylus 484 Norfolkia brachylepis 519
Epinephelus flavocaeruleus 449 Minous usachevi 484 Uranoscopidae
Epinephelus gabriellae 450 Synanceia nana 485 Uranoscopus affinis 520
Epinephelus indistinctus 450 Synanceia verrucosa 485 Uranoscopus dollfusi 520
Epinephelus lanceolatus 451 Saurida gracilis 486 Veliferidae
Epinephelus latifasciatus 451 Saurida longimanus 486 Velifer hypselopterus 521
Epinephelus malabaricus 452 Saurida nebulosa 487 Xiphiidae
Epinephelus marginatus 452 Saurida tumbil 487 Xiphias gladius 521
Epinephelus multinotatus 453 Saurida undosquamis 488 Zanclidae
Epinephelus radiatus 453 Synodus dermatogenys 488 Zanclus cornutus 522
Epinephelus poecilonotus 454 Synodus variegatus 489 Zeidae
Epinephelus polylepis 454 Trachinocephalus myops 489 Zenopsis conchifer 522
Epinephelus retouti 455 Syngnathidae Zeidae
Epinephelus rivulatus 455 Acentronura tentaculata 490 Zeus faber 523
Epinephelus stoliczkae 456 Bryx analicarens 490
Epinephelus tukula 456 Corythoichthys amplexus 491 Appendix Atlas-1 538
Epinephelus undulosus 457 Corythoichthys flavofasciatus 491
Grammistes sexlineatus 457 Corythoichthys haematopterus 492 Hexanchidae
Plectranthias vexillarius 458 Cosmocampus banneri 492 Hexanchus griseus 539
Plectropomus punctatus 458 Cosmocampus investigatoris 493 Centrophoridae
Pseudanthias marcia 459 Choeroichthys brachysoma 493 Deania profundorum 539
Pseudanthias townsendi 459 Doryrhamphus aurolineatus 494 Echinorhinidae
Sacura boulengeri 460 Doryrhamphus excisus 494 Echinorhinus brucus 540
Variola louti 460 Halicampus mataafae 495 Ophidiidae
Siganidae Halicampus zavorensis 495 Spottobrotula mossambica 540
Siganus argenteus 461 Hippichthys cyanospilos 496 Gobiesocidae
Siganus canaliculatus 461 Hippocampus fuscus 496 Lepadichthys bilineatus 541
Siganus javus 462 Hippocampus histrix 497 Scorpaenidae
Siganus luridus 462 Hippocampus jayakari 497 Parapterois macrura 541
Sillaginidae Hippocampus Kuda 498 Symphysanodontidae
Sillago chondropus 463 Micrognathus andersonii 498 Symphysanodon andersoni 542
Sillago indica 463 Siokunichthys bentuviai 499 Serranidae
Sillago sihama 464 Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus 499 Epinephelus chabaudi 542
Soleidae Terapontidae Apogonidae
Euryglossa orientalis 464 Pelates quadrilineatus 500 Siphamia mossambica 543
Pardachirus marmoratus 465 Terapon jarbua 500 Lutjanidae
Solea elongata 465 Terapon puta 501 Lutjanus sapphirolineatus 543
Solea stanalandi 466 Terapon theraps 501 Sparidae
Zebrias synapturoides 466 Pseudovespicula dracaena 502 Acanthopagrus arabicus 544
Solenostomidae Snyderina guentheri 502 Sciaenidae
Solenostomus cyanopterus 467 Tetraodontidae Johnius majan Iwatsuki 544
Sparidae Arothron hispidus 503 Uranoscopidae
Acanthopagrus berda 467 Arothron immaculatus 503 Uranoscopus crassiceps 545
Acanthopagrus bifasciatus 468 Arothron meleagris 504 Percophidae
Acanthopagrus latus 468 Arothron nigropunctatus 504 Bembrops platyrhynchus 545
Acanthopagrus omanensis 469 Arothron stellatus 505 Pempheridae
Argyrops filamentosus 469 Canthigaster coronata 505 Pempheris convexa 546
Argyrops spinifer 470 Canthigaster rivulata 506 Pempheris ellipse 546
Boops lineatus 470 Canthigaster solandri 506 Pempheris flavicycla 547
Cheimerius nufar 471 Canthigaster valentini 507 Pempheris kuriamuria 547
562
Pempheris mangula 548

Pempheris micromma 548
Pempheris rochai 549
Pempheris schwenkii 549
Labridae
Hemigymnus sexfasciatus 550
Callionymidae
Callionymus omanensis 550
Ephippidae
Tripterodon orbis 551
Acanthuridae
Naso unicornis 551
Appendix Atlas-2 552
Platycephalidae
Sunagocia omanensis 553
Sillaginidae
Sillago caudicula 553
Appendix Atlas-3 554
Mugilidae
Ellochelon vaigiensis 555
Gobiidae
Myersina filifer 555
563
‫حقوق الطبع حمفوظة‬
‫لوزارة الزراعة والثـروة ال�سمكية‪� ،‬سلطنة عمان‬
‫‪Printing & Design‬‬

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Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sultanate of Oman

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said

About the first two Authors

Laith A. Jawad Dr. Juma bin Mohammed Al-Mamry

Field Atlas to the Fishes of the Arabian Sea coasts

Figure 1 Sunset at Ashkhara coast.

Figure 2 Mountainous view of the Arabian Sea coast of Oman.

Figure 3 Sea view of Arabian Sea coast of Oman

The Study of Fish

Figure 5 External features of bony fishes.

Figure 6 The external features of bony fish head.

Figure7 External features of sharks.

Figure 8 External features of rays.

Figure 9 External features of skates.

Figure10 Fish biometric measurements.

Figure 11 Fishing boats preparation for new fishing trip.

Figure 12 Loading of fibreglass fishing boats at Dhalkot fishing port.

Figure 13 Preparation of casting net for more fish samples

Figure 16 RV Al-Mustaquila trawler in operation in the Arabian Sea, waters of

Figure 17 Loading the catch from the trawl net.

Figure 18 Bony and cartilaginous fish catch.

Figure 19 Investigating specimens on board of the RV Al-Mustaquila trawler.

Figure 20 Good catch of Rhinoptera jayakari on the deck of RV Al-Mustaquila,

Harriotta raleighana Goode& Bean, 1895

Pacific longnose chimaera ‫كاميرا المحيط الهادي طويلة الخطم‬

Neoharriotta pinnata (Schnakenbeck, 1931)

Sicklefin chimaera ‫كاميرا الزعنفة المنجلية‬

Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Bleeker, 1856)

Carcharhinus amboinensis (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides (Whitley, 1934)

Carcharhinus altimus (Springer, 1950)

Carcharhinus brevipinna (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Carcharhinus dussumieri (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Carcharhinus hemiodon (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Carcharhinus limbatus (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Carcharhinus macloti (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827)

Carcharhinus sorrah (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Carcharias taurus Rafinesque, 1810

Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822)

Loxodon macrorhinus Müller & Henle, 1839

Negaprion acutidens (Rüppell, 1837)

Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell, 1837)

Rhizoprionodon oligolinx Springer, 1964

Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837)

Centrophorus isodon (Chu, Meng & Liu, 1981)

Blackfin gulper shark ‫القرش المبتلع اسود الزعنفة‬

Nebrius ferrugineus (Lesson, 1831)

Chaenogaleus macrostoma (Bleeker, 1852)

Hemipristis elongata (Klunzinger, 1871)

Paragaleus randalli Compagno, Krupp & Carpenter, 1996

Chiloscyllium arabicum Gubanov, 1980

Chiloscyllium indicum (Gmelin, 1789)

Slender bambooshark ‫سنور البامبو االسطواني‬

Heterodontus omanensis Baldwin, 2005

Oman bullhead shark ‫قرش البلهد العماني‬

Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810

Anoxypristis cuspidata (Latham, 1794)