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Taxonomic, Ecological and Historical Considerations on the Deep-Water Benthic Mollusc Fauna of the Red Sea

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The Red Sea

Part of the book series: Springer Earth System Sciences ((SPRINGEREARTH))

Abstract

The semi-enclosed and narrow Red Sea basin is characterized by bathyal zones in its axial sectors. It is determined by extreme hydrological parameters regarding its deep-water salinity and temperature which are a serious challenge to be coped with by deep-water benthos. Besides, it is separated from the adjacent Indian Ocean (Gulf of Aden) by a remarkably shallow sill that not only opposes easy transit for deep-water benthos but also exerts a strong control on the basin’s hydrology budget during sea-level fluctuations, likely causing pulsing basin-wide extinctions at times of low stands. Among the relevant macrobenthic groups inhabiting the deep Red Sea, Mollusca stand out as the more diverse phylum. Although the full taxonomic appreciation of the Red Sea deep-water molluscs is still unresolved, as many as 262 species are recorded to date from depths below 400 m (163 Gastropoda, 94 Bivalvia, 4 Scaphopoda and 1 Polyplacophora). Part of this fauna is represented by eurybathic species with a wide bathymetric range. A substantial aliquot is equipped with a larval strategy (planktotrophy) in principle enabling the crossing of the shallow sill from the Gulf of Aden. Various taxa occur also in the Indo-West Pacific, and only a few are putatively considered as Red Sea endemics.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to masters, crew and colleagues onboard German and Italian research ships during the expeditions responsible for collecting the great majority of mollusc samples considered in this study. Thanks are due to Najeeb M.A. Rasul for the kind invitation to present our data at the workshop held in Jeddah in 2013 and for editorial handling. Sigrid Hof is thanked for the preparation of the figures. We acknowledge Henk Dekker, Bruno Sabelli and Hjalmar Thiel for their constructive criticism that greatly helped improving the quality of the paper. This article contributes to PRIN2012 Programme (Project 20125JKANY_002, P.I. M.Ligi) and is Ismar-CNR, Bologna scientific contribution n. 1824.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sektion Malakologie, Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Ronald Janssen

  2. ISMAR-CNR, UOS Bologna, Via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy

    Marco Taviani

  3. Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA

    Marco Taviani

Authors
  1. Ronald Janssen
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  2. Marco Taviani
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Correspondence to Ronald Janssen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Saudi Geological Survey Center for Marine Geology, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Najeeb M.A. Rasul

  2. Stewart Geophysical Consultants Pty. Ltd., Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Ian C.F. Stewart

Appendix

Appendix

Preliminary list of benthic mollusc species from the deep Red Sea (> 400 m) (compiled by the senior author)

Enumeration of species is based exclusively on reliable autochthonous records. Species recorded by fragments only or by single, often badly preserved specimens which obviously have been transported from shallow water environments are not taken into account.

  • Polyplacophora

  • Ischnochitonidae

  • Ischnochiton sp.

  • Bivalvia

  • Nuculidae

  • Nucula consentanea Melvill and Standen 1907

  • Manzanellidae

  • Nucinella sp.

  • Nuculanidae

  • Jupiteria sp.

  • Nuculana (Lembulus) sculpta (Issel 1869)

  • Crenellidae

  • Dacrydium sp.

  • Solamen vaillanti (Issel 1869)

  • Mytilidae

  • Amygdalum aff. watsoni (Smith 1885)

  • Brachidontes pharaonis (Fischer 1870)

  • Idas sp.

  • Modiolus sp.

  • Septiferidae

  • Septifer forskali (Dunker 1855)

  • Arcidae

  • Acar plicata (Dillwyn 1817)

  • Arca sp.

  • Barbatia sulcata (Lamarck 1819)

  • Bathyarca anaclima (Melvill and Standen 1907)

  • Bathyarca sp.

  • Bentharca asperula (Dall 1881)

  • Bentharca sp.

  • Ribriarca polycymoides (Thiele & Jaeckel 1931)

  • Limopsidae

  • Limopsis elachista Sturany 1901

  • Gryphaeidae

  • Parahyotissa numisma (Lamarck 1819)

  • Ostreidae

  • Ostrea deformis Lamarck 1819

  • Pteriidae

  • Pteria sp.

  • Malleidae

  • Malvufundus regulus (Forsskal 1775)

  • Pectinidae

  • Cryptopecten nux (Reeve 1853)

  • Delectopecten alcocki (E.A. Smith 1904)

  • Delectopecten musorstomi Poutiers 1981

  • Spondylidae

  • Spondylus proneri Lamprell & Healy 2001

  • Anomiidae

  • Pododesmus caelata (Reeve 1859)

  • Anomia achaeus Gray 1850

  • Dimyidae

  • Dimya sp.

  • Limidae

  • Ctenoides annulata (Lamarck 1819)

  • Limea pectinata H. Adams 1870

  • Entoliidae

  • Pectinella aequoris Dijkstra 1991

  • Propeamussiidae

  • Cyclopecten erythraeensis Dijkstra and Janssen 2013

  • Cyclopecten meteorae Dijkstra and Janssen 2013

  • Parvamussium formosum (Melvill and Standen 1907)

  • Parvamussium scitulum (E.A. Smith 1885)

  • Parvamussium siebenrocki (Sturany 1901)

  • Parvamussium thyrideum (Melvill and Standen 1907)

  • Propeamussium steindachneri (Sturany 1901)

  • Similipecten eous (Melvill and Standen 1907)

  • Carditidae

  • Cardites variegata Bruguière 1792

  • Lucinidae

  • Anodontia aff. edentula (Linnaeus 1758)

  • Codakia sp.

  • Ctena divergens (Philippi 1850)

  • Lamellolucina dentifera (Jonas 1846)

  • Lucinidae sp. 1

  • Lucinidae sp. 2

  • Myrtea ? sp.

  • Myrtea sp. 1

  • Myrtea sp. 2

  • Parvilucina sp.

  • Thyasiridae

  • Thyasira sp.

  • Cardiidae

  • Fulvia australis (Sowerby 1834)

  • Fragum nivale (Reeve 1845)

  • Papillocardium papillosum (Poli 1795)

  • Tellinidae

  • Angulus flaccus (Römer 1871)

  • Arcopella isseli (H. Adams 1871)

  • Moerella lactea (H. Adams 1871)

  • Psammotreta praerupta (Salisbury 1934)

  • Semelidae

  • Ervilia scaliola (Issel 1869)

  • Leptomyaria etesiaca (Hedley 1909)

  • Semele fragillima (Issel 1869)

  • Syndosmya cistula Melvill and Standen 1907

  • Solecurtidae

  • Azorinus coarctatus (Gmelin 1791)

  • Kelliellidae

  • Kelliella sp.

  • Ungulinidae

  • Diplodonta subrotundata Issel 1869

  • Veneridae

  • Paphia undulata (Born 1778)

  • Tapes cf. deshayesi (Hanley 1844)

  • Basterotiidae

  • Basterotia borbonica (Deshayes 1863)

  • Galeommatidae

  • Amphilepida ? sp.

  • Kellia ? sp.

  • Pholadidae

  • Xylophaga sp. 1

  • Xylophaga sp. 2

  • Teredinidae

  • Teredinidae sp. 1

  • Teredinidae sp. 2

  • Corbulidae

  • Corbula sp.

  • Varicorbula sp.

  • Cetoconchidae

  • Cetoconcha intracta (Sturany 1901)

  • Cuspidariidae

  • Cardiomya alcocki (Smith 1894)

  • Cardiomya sp.

  • Cuspidaria brachyrhynchus Sturany 1901

  • Cuspidaria corrugata Prashad 1932

  • Cuspidaria dissociata Sturany 1901

  • Cuspidaria hindsiana (A. Adams 1864)

  • Cuspidaria steindachneri Sturany 1901

  • Pseudoneaera minor Thiele & Jaeckel 1931

  • Pseudoneaera thaumasia Sturany 1901

  • Rhinoclama sp.

  • Parilimyidae

  • Panacca sp.

  • Verticordiidae

  • Haliris sp.

  • Euciroa sp.

  • Lyonsiidae

  • Lyonsia sp.

  • Scaphopoda

  • Dentaliidae

  • Graptacme sp.

  • Fustiariidae

  • Pseudantalis sp.

  • Gadilidae

  • Gadila sp.

  • Polyschides sp.

  • Gastropoda

  • Fissurellidae

  • Emarginula sp. 1

  • Emarginula sp. 2

  • Rimula cumingii A. Adams 1853

  • Zeidora (Nesta) nesta (Pilsbry 1891)

  • Zeidora calceolina A. Adams 1860

  • Lepetellidae

  • Lepetella simplicior (Melvill 1912)

  • Lepetella ? sp.

  • Anatomidae

  • Anatoma agulhasensis (Thiele 1925)

  • Anatoma japonica (A. Adams 1862)

  • Scissurellidae

  • Scissurella reticulata Philippi 1853

  • Scissurella rota Yaron 1983

  • Scissurella sp.

  • Sinezona singeri Geiger 2006

  • Sukashitrochus dorbignii (Audouin 1826)

  • Seguenziidae

  • Visayaseguenzia compsa (Melvill 1904)

  • Chilodontidae

  • Danilia sp.

  • Herpetopoma xeniolum (Melvill 1918)

  • Perrinia stellata (A. Adams 1864)

  • Solariellidae

  • Ilanga illustris (Sturany 1900)

  • Zetela mutabilis (Schepman 1908)

  • Trochidae

  • Fossarina mariei (Fischer 1890)

  • Pagodatrochus variabilis (H. Adams 1873)

  • Pseudostomatella papyracea (Gmelin 1791)

  • Areneidae

  • Arene echinacantha (Melvill & Standen 1903)

  • Turbinidae

  • Bolma sp.

  • Skeneidae

  • Cirsonella sp. 1

  • Cirsonella sp. 2

  • Leucorhynchia crossei Tryon 1888

  • Skeneidae sp. 1

  • Skeneidae sp. 2

  • Cocculinidae

  • Cocculinidae ? sp. 1

  • Cocculinidae ? sp. 2

  • Provannidae

  • Provanna ? sp.

  • Cerithiidae

  • Cerithium gloriosum Houbrick 1992

  • Turritellidae

  • Turritella sp.

  • Naticidae

  • Natica sp.

  • Iravadiidae

  • Ceratia sp.

  • Rissoidae

  • Lucidestea ? sp.

  • Rissoina sp.

  • Tornidae

  • Circulus octoliratus (Carpenter 1856)

  • Cochliolepis sp.

  • Teinostoma sp.

  • Bursidae

  • Bufonaria gnorima (Melvill 1918)

  • Bufonaria albivaricosa (Reeve 1844) ? (fide Sturany) = gnorima ?

  • Cassidae

  • Semicassis saburon (Bruguière 1792) (fide Sturany) = faurotis (Jousseaume 1888) ?

  • Tonnidae

  • Tonna galea (Linnaeus 1758)

  • Hipponicidae

  • Cheilea cicatricosa (Reeve 1858)

  • Xenophoridae

  • Stellaria solaris (Linnaeus 1764)

  • Epitoniidae

  • Epitonium cf. scalare (Linnaeus 1758)

  • Epitonium cultellicostatum (Boury 1913)

  • Epitonium deflersi (Jousseaume 1912) ?

  • Epitonium umbilicatum (Pease 1869)

  • Opalia bicarinata (Sowerby 1844)

  • Epitoniidae ? sp.

  • Eulimidae

  • Eulima (s.l.) sp. 1

  • Eulima (s.l.) sp. 2

  • Melanella sp. 1

  • Melanella sp. 2

  • Niso sp.

  • Triphoridae

  • Euthymella concors (Hinds 1843)

  • Inella sp.

  • Metaxia sp.

  • Triphora adamsi (Deshayes 1863)

  • Viriola tricincta (Dunker 1860)

  • Cerithiopsiidae

  • Cerithiopsis sp.

  • Newtoniellidae

  • Cerithiella ? sp.

  • Buccinidae

  • Pollia rubiginosa (Reeve 1846) (fide Sturany)

  • Colubrariidae

  • Colubraria cf. tenera (Gray 1839)

  • Columbellidae

  • Euplica festiva (Deshayes in Laborde 1834)

  • Mitrella erythraeensis Sturany 1900

  • Mitrella nomanensis (Sturany 1900)

  • Fasciolariidae

  • Fusinus bifrons (Sturany 1900)

  • Nassariidae

  • Nassarius lathraius (Sturany 1900)

  • Nassarius steindachneri (Sturany 1900)

    Note There is controversy about the taxonomy and nomenclature of the Nassarius species described by Sturany. The view adopted here is that of the senior author, based on examination of type material. Further study is necessary to solve the problems.

  • Muricidae

  • Murex forskoehlii Röding 1798

  • Costellariidae

  • Costellaria casta (H. Adams 1872)

  • Cystiscidae

  • Granulina sp.

  • Mitridae

  • Mitra gonatophora Sturany 1903

  • Olividae

  • Ancilla eburnea (Deshayes 1830)

  • Ancilla lineolata (A. Adams 1853)

  • Ancilla cinnamomea Lamarck 1801 ? (fide Sturany)

  • Borsoniidae

  • Microdrillia circumvertens (Melvill and Standen 1901)

  • Tomopleura reevei (C.B. Adams 1850)

  • Clathurellidae

  • Clathurella pertabulata (Sturany 1903)

  • Cochlespiridae

  • Thatcheriasyrinx orientis (Melvill 1904)

  • Conidae

  • Conus grangeri G.B. Sowerby III 1900

  • Drilliidae

  • Clavus inchoatus (Sturany 1903)

  • Clavus siebenrocki (Sturany 1903)

  • Clavus sp. 1

  • Clavus sp. 2

  • Splendrillia sp. 1

  • Splendrillia sp. 2

  • Horaiclavidae

  • Paradrillia nannodes (Sturany 1903)

  • Mangeliidae

  • Antiguraleus sp.

  • Leiocithara sp.

  • Pseudoraphitoma ? sp.

  • Pseudoraphitoma kilburni Morassi & Bonfitto 2001

  • Pseudoraphitoma sp. 1

  • Pseudoraphitoma sp. 2

  • Pseudomelatomidae

  • Compsodrillia ? sp. 1

  • Compsodrillia ? sp. 2

  • Inquisitor ? sp.

  • Ptychobela cf. flavidula (Lamarck 1822)

  • Ptychobela sp.

  • Raphitomidae

  • Aliceia sp.

  • Daphnella sp.

  • Favriella sp.

  • Mioawateria sp.

  • Pseudodaphnella ? sp.

  • Rimosodaphnella ? sp.

  • Taranidaphne amphitrites (Melvill & Standen 1903)

  • Taranidaphne dufresnei Morassi & Bonfitto 2001

  • Teretia sp.

  • Veprecula vepratica (Hedley 1903)

  • Turridae

  • Gemmula aff. monilifera (Pease 1860)

  • Gemmula sp. 1

  • Gemmula sp. 2

  • Unedogemmula indica (Röding 1798)

  • Xylodisculidae

  • Xylodiscula sp.

  • Acteonidae

  • „Acteon“ sp. 1

  • „Acteon“ sp. 2

  • „Acteon“ sp. 3

  • Architectonicidae

  • Pseudotorinia yaroni Bieler 1993

  • Solatisonax acutecarinata (Thiele 1925)

  • Pyramidellidae

  • Chrysallida comacum (Melvill 1910)

  • Chrysallida pupula A. Adams 1861

  • Chrysallida sp.

  • Miralda gemma (A. Adams 1861)

  • Odostomella chorea (Hedley 1909)

  • Odostomia anabathmis Melvill 1910

  • Odostomia eutropia Melvill 1899

  • Odostomia sp.

  • Ondina? sp.

  • Oscilla appeliusi (Hornung & Mermod 1925)

  • Pyramidella pulchella (A. Adams 1854)

  • Pyramidellidae gen. sp. indet.

  • Pyrgulina comacea Melvill 1910

  • Pyrgulina tenerrima (Melvill 1906)

  • Syrnola massauensis (Hornung & Mermod 1924)

  • Syrnola sp. 1

  • Syrnola sp. 2

  • Syrnola sp. 3

  • Turbonilla sp. 1

  • Turbonilla sp. 2

  • Turbonilla sp. 3

  • Turbonilla sp. 4

  • Turbonilla sp. 5

  • Turbonilla sp. 6

  • Turbonilla sp. 7

  • Turbonilla sp. 8

  • Turbonilla sp. 9

  • Turbonilla sp. 10

  • Turbonilla sp. 11

  • Turbonilla sp. 12

  • Ringiculidae

  • Ringicula sp.

  • Haminoeidae

  • Haminoea sp.

  • Diniatys dentifer (A. Adams 1850)

  • Cylichnidae

  • Mnestia sp.

  • Roxania lithensis (Sturany 1903)

  • Philinidae

  • Phanerophthalmus smaragdinus (Rüppell & Leuckart 1830)

  • Philine sp.

  • Retusidae

  • Retusa sp.

  • Volvulella sp.

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Janssen, R., Taviani, M. (2015). Taxonomic, Ecological and Historical Considerations on the Deep-Water Benthic Mollusc Fauna of the Red Sea. In: Rasul, N., Stewart, I. (eds) The Red Sea. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45201-1_29

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