Mudskipper species diversity of the Khur-e-Abee protected area, Hormozgan Province

Mudskipper species diversity in the Khur-e-Abee protected area in the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf in Hormozgan Province was studied monthly. Sampling was done from March 2011 to February 2012 is 56º 24' 58” E, 27º 11' 28” N geographical position. A total of 730 specimens belonging to 3 species and 1 family werecollected by hand. Three species were identified; Boleophthalmus dussumieri, Scartelaos tenuis and Periophthalmus waltoni. The monthly sampling of mudskipper species composition showed that S. tenuis (45.75%), P. waltoni (30.48%) and B. dussumieri (26/02%) were first, second and the third in abundance respectively. Shannon species diversity index (1.09), Simpson index (0.62) and Pielou species index (0.99) were highest in October Whereas the Margalef species richness index (0.62) was the highest in December.