Morphological and taxonomic study for some fish families eggs with reference to their abundance in the North West of Arabian Gulf

الملخص EN

Eggs of fish sampling was conducted at two stations in the northwestern part of Arabian Gulf (Shatt Al- Arab estuary A1 and Khor Amaya A2), during April 2012 to March 2013.

A total of 2902 fish eggs were collected using conical plankton net (mesh size 330μm).

Six families (Sciaenidae, Clupeidae, Soleidae, Polynemidae, Engraulidae and Ariidae) of fish eggs were identified.

Sciaenid fish egg comprised 45.6 % of all eggs collected and peak of abundance (1680.3 egg/10m²) at station A2 in May.

Water temperature was ranged 13-34ºC and salinity was 32-42 ‰.

Water temperature seams to be the most vital factor in determining the onset of the spawning in the Arabian Gulf.

This study showed the importance of northwestern part of Arabian Gulf as spawning sites and nursery for Sciaenidae, Clupeidae, Soleidae, Polynemidae, Engraulidae and Ariidae.