الفهرس 
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Abstract
The Mediterranean fish fauna is basically related to the Atlanto- Mediterranean and Indopacific faunestic regions. A few cosmopolitan and endemic elements may be present (Tortonese, 1964). After the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, several fishes have entered from the Red sea into the eastern Mediterranean. The progressive decrease in salinity of the Bitter lakes and the cessation of the Nile flood after the completion of the Aswan high dam have facilitated the passage and dispersion of Red Sea species into the Mediterranean (Ben-Tuvia, 1972). In the Mediterranean Sea Tortonese (1964) and Ben Tuvia (1972) recorded the presence of 30 fish species which may be regarded as Red Sea immigrants through the Suez Canal.
Siganids or rabbit fishes are a group of marine fish belonging to the family Siganidae (Teuthididae) which are widely distributed in the Indopacific region (Marshall, 1966; Okada, 1966). Herald (1961) mentioned that Woodland (personal communication) claims that the number of Siganid fish species known are about 30 species, However Herald (loc. cit) states that according to his own observation the number of known Siganid species is only 25 valid species. Many of these species are of economic importance where they occur.
Taxonomical studies on the Siganids of the Indopacific (Jawa; Sumatra; Ceylon) were done by Fowler and Bean (1929) and Tortonese (1947). Mendis, (1954), in his catalogue, key and bibliography for fishes of Ceylon, gave a.