CONTRIBUTION TO THE SEA CUCUMBER FAUNA (ECHINODERMATA: HOLOTHUROIDEA) AT THE VICINITY OF BAB EL-MANDAB, RED SEA, YEMEN

The present work is dealing with the sea cucumber (holothuroids) fauna at the vicinity of Bab El-Mandab area, at the entrance of the Red Sea, Yemen. Holothuroid fauna were collected from five sites, these are: Bab El-Mandab, El-Khokha, El-Makha harbor, Gulf of Aden and mangrove area. A total of 28 species belonging to 3 orders, 4 families and 9 genera were reported. Bab El-Mandab area had the highest species diversity; it comprised 22 species represented 78.6 % of the total recorded species. Followed by El-Khokha and El-Makha areas; they included 15 (53.6 %) and 11 (39.3 %) species respectively. On the other hand, mangrove area contained the lowest number of species, being 3 species (10.7 %). Genus Holothuria comprised the largest number of species and included 13 species (46.4 %), however, there were five genera each one was represented by only one species. The results of the present work and previous studies indicated that there are 12 species considered to be new record for such area. Among 28 holothuroids species recorded in the study sites, there are 5 species (17.9%) considered to be endemic to the Red Sea. Habitat distribution revealed that sandy habitat had the largest number of species, 22 species (78.6 %), followed by coral habitat (dead and live corals), 18 species (64.3 %), sea-grass bed 15 species (53.6 %) and the rocky habitat (46.4 %). Notes on the status of species, species diversity and density, habitat and geographical distribution are giving.