L.lineatus
erythraeus
smithi
coccinotaenia
ctenion
caritus
lusheri
sandaracatus
D.lineatus
briggsi
bolini
Zoogeography of the Fishes of the Indian Ocean
Table 2. Family Gobiesocidae in the tropical Indian Ocean
Red Sea
X
X
W. Indian
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
E. Indian
X
W. Pacific
X
X
X
455
in the eastern Indian Ocean; 3 species are apparently widespread as they have been
taken in the western Indian Ocean and in the western Pacific.
Family Cirrhitidae, the hawkfishes, is a circumtropical group of 34 species found
mostly in rocky or coral reef areas. Adults average approximately 12 cm in length but
may reach 50 cm and are benthic and generally maintain contact with a substrate. Twelve
species have been reported from the Indian Ocean (Table 3; data from RANDALL, 1963).
Table 3. Family Cirrhitidae in the tropical Indian Ocean
Red Sea
W. Indian
E. Indian
W. Pacific
Cent. Pacific
calliurus
X
punctatus
X
guichenoti
X
indicus
X
bleekeri
X
hemistictus
X
X
pinnulatus
X
X
X
forsteri
X
X
X
X
X
oxycephalus
X
X
X
X
X
typus
X
X
arcatus
X
X
X
fasciatus
X
X
X
A single species is endemic to the Red Sea; 2 species are restricted to the western Indian
Ocean; of the 3 eastern Indian Ocean species, 1 is found also in the Pacific; 6 species range
from the western Indian Ocean to the Pacific.
Genus Acanthurus, the surgeonfishes of the family Acanthuridae, are circum tropical
with about 35 species. Adults average 30 cm and are herbivores in reef and other shallow
areas. A pelagic larval stage, the acronurus, has been taken at considerable distances from
land. A total of 19 species is known from the Indian Ocean (Table 4; data from RANDALL,
1956; 1960). A single species is endemic to the Red Sea; 3 species are restricted to the