First Record of the Critically Endangered Fan Mussel Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal

Ibrahim Et Al., Nesreen K.

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2024.342566

First Record of the Critically Endangered Fan Mussel Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Nesreen K. Ibrahim et al.

10.21608/ejabf.2024.342566

Abstract

Pinna nobilis is an endemic species to the Mediterranean Sea, and it has been documented as "Critically Endangered" on the IUCN Red List. The present study recorded the first occurrence of P. nobilis in the Suez Canal. Samples were randomly collected by fishermen using free diving. Only nine living specimens of P. nobilis were collected during June, July and September 2023. In the laboratory, samples were washed with water, and their biometric parameters were measured. The sediment of the study area was mostly consisted of muddy sand. The total length of pinnid samples ranged from 21.2 to 45.4cm. The soft body wet weight accounted for 14.8% of the total wet weight. Seven epibiont taxa belonging to five groups of macro-epibionts were registered. The current study suggested that the Suez Canal is a suitable environment for P. nobilis.