Abstract
Approximately 22 species of sea anemones and 20 species of alcyonarians were found on the reef fringing the shallow water at Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba) and other localities along the Red Sea coast of the Sinai Peninsula. Investigations showed that these 2 groups of non-scleractinian coelenterates from (on different substrates) well identified colonies, part of them inhabiting sandy bottoms, other groups growing on the reef surface. Observations lead to the conclusion that several of the sea anemones and alcyonarians can act, under certain conditions, as factors limiting the development of hermatypic corals. In some areas, several species of the 2 groups of animals are found together with their symbiotic partners, such as fishes and crustaceans.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Abel, E.: Rhytmik bei Anthozoen. Neptum 12, 331–333 (1963).
Bayer, F. M.: Contribution to the nomenclature, systematics and morphology of the Octocorallia. Proc. U.S. natn. Mus. 105 (3357), 207–220 (1955).
Borrodaille, L. A.: Marine crustaceans III. The Xanthidae and some other crabs. In: Fauna and geography of the Maldive and Laccadive Archipelagos. Vol. 1, pp 237–271 (1902).
Calgren, O.: A survey of the Ptychodactaria, Corallimorpharia and Actinaria. K. svenska Vetensk-Akad. Handl. 1 (1), 1–120 (1949).
Davenport, D. and K. S. Norris: Observations on the symbiosis of the sea anemone Stoichactis and the pomacentrid fish, Amphiprion percula. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 115, 397–410 (1958).
Ehrenberg, C. G.: Die Koralltiere des Rothen Meeres, 156 pp. Berlin: Kgl. Akad. Wiss. 1834.
England, K. W.: Anthopleura elatensis n. sp. (Actiniidae, Actiniaria) from the Red Sea. Israel J. Zool. 18, 1–7 (1969).
Fingerman, M.: Tidal rhythmicity in marine organisms. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 25, 481–489 (1960).
Fishelson, L.: Observations on the biology and behavior of Red Sea coral fishes. Bull. Sea Fish. Res. Stn Haifa 37, 11–26 (1964).
—: Observations and experiments on the Red Sea anemones and their symbiotic fish Amphiprion bicinctus. Bull. Sea Fish. Res. Stn Haifa 39, 1–14 (1965).
Fishelson, L.: Marine biological and oceanographical research in the Red Sea, 65 pp. (mimeographed). Tel-Aviv University 1968.
Gohar, H. A. F.: Studies on the Xeniidae of the Red Sea. Publs mar. biol. Stn Ghardaqa 2, 25–118 (1940).
—: Commensalism between fish and anemone (with a description of the eggs of Amphiprion bicinctus Rüppell). Publs mar. biol. Stn Ghardaqa 6, 35–44 (1948).
Graaf, F.: Anemonenfische. Aquar.- u. Terrar.-Z. 21 (10), 289–291 (1968).
Graefe, G.: Zur Anemomen-Fisch-Symbiose nach Freilanduntersuchungen bei Eilat/Rotes Meer. Z. Tierpsychol. 21 (4), 468–485 (1964).
Jacquotte, R.: Notes de faunistique et de biologie marines de Madegascar: 1. Sur l'association de quelques crustaces aved des cnidaires récifaux dans la région de Tuléar. Reel Trav. Stn mar. Endoume 32, 175–178 (1964).
Kalk, M.: Coelenterata. In: A natural history of Inhaca Island, Mocambique, pp. 46–56. Ed. by W. Macnae and M. Kalk. Johannesburg: University Press 1958.
Klunzinger, C. B.: Die Koralltiere des Rothen Meeres, Vol. 1, 98 pp. Berlin: Gutman 1877.
Kükenthal, W.: Über einige Korallentiere des Roten Meeres. Festschrift zum siebzichsten Geburtstage von Ernst Heckel. Jena. Denkschriften 11, 33–57, Jena (1904).
Magnus, D. B. E.: Zur Ökologie einer nachtaktiven Flachwasser-Seefeder (Octocorallia, Pennatularia) im Roten Meer. Veröff. Inst. Meeresforsch. Bremerh. (Sondbd) 2, 369–380 (1966).
Marshall, N.: Detritus over the reef and its potential contribution to adjacent waters of the Eniwetok Atoll. Ecology 46, 343–344 (1965).
Pax, F.: Hexacorallia. Handb. Zool. 1, 770–901 (1923/1925).
Renzr, M. De: Sobre la filogenia de los cnidarios particularmente de la clase de los antozoos. Instituto Biol. apl. 41, 89–101, Barcelona (1966).
Robertson, R.: Coelenterate-associated prosobranch gastropods. Rep. Am. malac. Un. Pacif. Div. 6–8 (1965).
Ross, D. M., and L. Sutton: The swimming response of the sea-anemone Stomphia coccinea to electrical stimulation. J. exp. Biol. 41, 735–749 (1964a).
—: Inhibition of the swimming response by food and nematocyst discharge during swimming in the sea-anemone Stomphia coccinea. J. exp. Biol. 41, 751–757 (1964b).
Safriel, U. and Y. Lipkin: Note on the intertidal zonation of the rocky shores at Eilat (Red Sea, Israel). Israel J. Zool. 13, 187–190 (1964).
Squires, D. F.: The southern ocean: a potential for coral studies. Rep. Smithson. Instn 1963, 447–459, Washington (1964).
Verseveldt, J.: Report on the Octocorallia (Stolonifera and Alcyonacea) of the Israel South Red Sea Expedition, 1962, with notes on other collections from the Red Sea. Bull. Sea Fish. Res. Stn Haifa 40, 28–48 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg
This research has been sponsored partly by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution, No. SFC-7-0074 to L. B. Slobodkin (N. Y.) and L. Fishelson (T.-A.).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fishelson, L. Littoral fauna of the Red Sea: the population of non-scleractinian anthozoans of shallow waters of the Red Sea (Eilat). Marine Biology 6, 106–116 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347239
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347239