A Survey of Gastropod Species (Mollusca) in the Intertidal Zone of Hawf Coastal Area in Al-Maharah Governorate-Yemen

Abstract

This study is considered the first exclusive study of gastropod mollusk species on the coast of Hawf, Al Mahra Governorate. It aimed to record the species of gastropod mollusks in the intertidal zone of the Hawf coast, as these species had not been previously recorded and documented. Two coastal sites were chosen in Hawf: the Ramdot coast, which is located at the following coordinates: 16°.31'.145" N, 53°.02'.890" E, and the other coast, the Gahdeb coast, is located at the following coordinates: 16°.36'.846" N, 52°.57'. 136" E. The study was conducted intermittently in 2011, 2018, and 2020, in which 300 samples were collected by hand during low tide times in the intertidal zone of the study sites from different habitats. The total number of gastropod species was 34, belonging to 23 genera, under 17 families. The dominant families were Cypraeidae with 7 species, and Neritidae, with 5 species. In terms of coastal environments, the rocky environment had the most species of gastropod mollusks.