Zoogeographic patterns of Red Sea fishes – are they correlated to success in colonization of the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal?

ABSTRACT

A total of 1217 fish species were analysed and the percentage of species in each of a number of zoogeographic patterns was calculated. An additional two categories, Atlanto-Mediterranean (anti-Lessepsian and mariculture escapees) and two cichlid species, were not included in our calculations. The present paper presents the division of the Red Sea indigenous ichthyofauna into the following categories: Red Sea endemic (15.1%), Red Sea and Oman, Aden, and Arabian Gulf (12.7%), Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean (8.6%), Red Sea and Indian Ocean (5.2%), Red Sea and Indo-Pacific (53.3%) and Red Sea and circumglobal (5.1%). The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 resulted in a massive migration of Red Sea biota into the Mediterranean, among them 104 fish species. Several studies have attempted to determine whether there are traits that correlate with success in colonization of the Mediterranean by Red Sea fishes (Lessepsian migration). The results of our study demonstrate similar zoogeographic distribution patterns between the Red Sea ichthyofauna and those of the Lessepsian migrants. Thus, no correlation was found between wide-range distribution and success in colonization of the Mediterranean by Red Sea fish species, via the Suez Canal.

KEYWORDS:

• Red Sea
• zoogeography
• Indo-Pacific
• fish species
• Lessepsian migration
• endemism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.