Habitat preference by the marine amphipod Cymadusa filosa (savigny, 1816) (gammaridae), using different artificial substrata from northern Hurghada, red sea, Egypt

Three different artificial substrata (Luffa egyptica, Leaf palm and artificial fibers at each habitat) were used as artificial substrates and fixed on a stainless-steel frame model. Luffa egyptica recoded the highest individual numbers, while the artificial fibers did not record any individuals, with no evidence of any amphipod individuals attached. The most common algal habitats were Sargassum dentifolium and Cystosaira crinite. Moreover, the highest number of the individuals of C. filosa was recorded in the algal habitat with an average 57±17.1 individual per one substrata of the used Luffa egyptica; while the least number of individuals was recorded in the coral habitat with an average 17±7 individual per substrata. A general trend in the finding of the amphipod individuals from different habitat is in the following descending order: algae > seagrasses > rocky with algae > corals in both of Luffa egyptica and Leaf palm. This means that, Luffa egyptica is the most favorable and suitable for the attraction and collection of the amphipod C. filosa and is more appropriate than any other substrata for camouflage and defense.