Title of article :
Nudibranchs from the Northern Persian Gulf
Author/Authors :
Rezai, Hamid Darya Negar Pars Consalting Engineers, Tehran, IR Iran , Mohtarami, Seid Ali Asia Aquarium, Bandar Lingeh, IR Iran , Dehghani, Hammed Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Iran , Tavakoli-Kolour, Parviz Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan , Bargahi, Hamid Reza Iranian Fisheries Organization, Tehran, IR Iran , Kabiri, Keivan Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, IR Iran
Abstract :
Field studies were conducted in a number of intertidal and offshore islands in the Persian Gulf
between 2006 to 2013. SCUBA and skin diving surveys were conducted around Larak, Hormuz,
Qeshm, Hengam, Farur, Kish, Lavan, Khark and Farsi islands in the northern region of the
Persian Gulf. Marine invertebrates including nudibranchs were photographed up to 32 m.
Several species of nudibranchs are reported from the northern region of the Persian Gulf, over
the Iranian side. In total, 32 genera of nudibranchs are recorded, which include Fryeria
rüeppelii, Haminoea sp., Chromodoris annulata, Gymnodoris rubropapulosa, Cuthona yamasui,
Hypselodoris maridadilus, Glossodoris pallida, Glossodoris sp., Asteronotus cespitosus,
Marioniopsis viridescens, Stylocheilus striatus, Jorunna funebris and Elysia sp. were recorded
from several Iranian Island in the Persian Gulf. The most common species was Chromodoris
annulata throughout most of the surveyed islands, but Haminoea sp. was highly abundant and
conspicuous species only in Farsi Island. Except for G. pallida, Glossodoris sp. and C. annulata,
all the above species are considered new records for the northern region of the Persian Gulf, but
Bursatella leachii, M. viridescens, Phestilla lugubris, Discodoris lilacina and Haminoea sp. are
new records from the Persian Gulf proper. An increase in several new records to the Iranian
fauna and new records of rare species, in relatively few years results mainly from sampling
effort and contributions by specialists on samples of poorly known sampled areas. Prospects for
finding new and more species are promising given more diving operations are carried out.
Keywords :
Nudibranchs , SCUBA , Underwater photography , Islands , Diversity , Persian Gulf
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics