Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science1816-49271996-0751Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/jfas.2007.38.46Chaetodon melannotus on the Reef Flat in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt]]>AlwanyMagdy A. StachowitschMichael HanafyMahmoud H. Gab-AllaAli A.F.A. 1200721The food preferences of the highly specialized butterflyfish Chaetodon melannotus were investigated on the reef flat in the Northern Red Sea, Egypt. The food items include nine species of soft corals (belonging to 7 genera, Sinularia, Litophyton, Nephthea, Sarcophyton, Heteroxenia, Lobophytum and Parerythropodium), one species of stolonifera (Tubipora musica), hard substrate and other minor items (including the hard coral genus Pocillipora and soft coral genus Cladiella). In general, the total average feeding rate of C. melannotus was 40.6±
7.6 bites (5 min)‾1. The two most strongly selected genera, Sinularia and Litophyton, represented 78.0% of the total food items: Sinularia [22.6 bites (5 min)‾1, 55.7%], Litophyton [9.0 bites (5 min)‾1, 22.3%]. Based on Ivlevs electivity index, C. melannotus prefers Heteroxenia fuscescens over other soft corals in the Northern Red Sea and tends to feed less on otherssuch as Sarcophyton ehrenbergi and Lobophytum pauciflorum.]]>Alino, P.M., P.W. Sammarco, J.C. Coll,1988C. melannotus (Pisces) for soft corals (Octocorallia: Coelenterata).]]>33136Alino, P.M.,19891989Alino, P.M., J.C. Coll and P.W. Sammarco,1992Chaetodon melannotus (Block et Schneider): visual vs. chemical cues.]]>164209220Alwany, M.A.,19971997Alwany, M.A.,20032003Alwany, M.A., E. Thaler and M. Stachowitsch,2003Chaetodon austriacus and C. trifascialis, in the Northern Red Sea.]]>24165177Benson, A.A. and L. Muscatine,197419810814Burgess, W.E.,1978pp: 832pp: 832Coll, J.C., S.C. La Barre, P.W. Sammarco, W.T. Williams and G.J. Bakus,19828271278Cox, E.F.,1986Hawaiian corals.]]>101161194Ferry-Graham, L.A., P.C. Wainwright, C.D. Hulsey and D.R. Bellwood,2001245120143Ferry-Graham, L.A., P.C. Wainwright and D.R. Bellwood,2001256167184Harmelin-Vivien, M.L.,19791979Harmelin-Vivien, M.L. and Y. Bouchon-Navaro,19812537544Harmelin-Vivien, M.L. and Y. Bouchon-Navaro,19832119127Hourigan, T.F., T.C. Tricas and E.S. Reese,19881988pp: 107-135pp: 107-135Ivlev, V.S.,1961pp: 302pp: 302Kim, Y.S.,199124266271Lasker, H.R.,1985Chaetodon capistratus on Caribbean gorgonians.]]>21213220Margalef, A.,1968Pages: 111Pages: 111Motta, P.J.,1988223967Neudecker, S.,19771977Neudecker, S.,197960666672Neudecker, S.,19855415420Pielou, E.C.,19691st Edn.,Pages: 286Pages: 286Ralston, S.,1981Chaetodon miliaris, a Hawaiian endemic butterflyfish.]]>6167176Randall, J.E.,19675665847Reese, E.S.,1975373761Reese, E.S.,19771267274Righton, D.A.,19971997Sammarco, P.W. and J.C. Coll,19881988pp: 87-116pp: 87-116Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose,19841 Edn.,pp: 128pp: 128Sano, M.,198925194203Talbot, F.H.,1965145431470Tricas, T.C.,19855409414Tricas, T.C.,198925171185Ushakumari, V.S. and C.M. Aravindan,1992Etroplus suratensis (Bloch), in a tropical lake.]]>71519Wild, C., M. Huettel, A. Klueter, S.G. Kremb, M. Rasheed and B.B. Jorgensen,20044286670Wylie, C.R. and V.J. Paul,1989Sinularia (Coelenterata, Alcyonacea): Effects against generalist predators and the butterflyfish Chaetodon unimaculatus Bloch.]]>129141160Zekeria, Z.A., Y. Dawit, S. Ghebremedhin, M. Naser and J.J. Videler,200253163168