The distribution of eared horse mussel, Modiolus auriculatus (KRAUSS, 1848) along the Red Sea coast of Egypt

Abstract

A study on the ecology of the mussel Modiolus auriculatus that inhabits the inter-tidal rocky substrate of Hurghada area at the Red Sea coast of Egypt was carried out. A coastal survey had taken place during the period from February 2011 to January 2012; it covered the area between Ras Gharib (150km. North Hurghada City), of lat. 28° 21′ 43′′ and long. 33° 05′ 47′, and South El-Quseir of lat. 26° 05′ 53′′ and long. 34° 17′ 50′′. Eighteen sites were studied, and the surveyed species, M. auriculatus, was recorded in five stations out of those 18. The results of the survey also showed that the total number of individuals recorded at the station was 12,533 in five sites (Marine Biology station (NIOF), South El-Quseir, El-Quseir Harbor, North El-Quseir and Mangrove South Safaga); of which 12,133 of them were alive and 400 were dead. The examination of the field data sheets revealed that M. auriculatus was recorded at different types of habitats during the survey, and that each of these habitats had unique characters.