Biodiversity:Common coral reef fishes of Colombia
Published: March 30, 2010, 5:51 pm
Updated: September 20, 2010, 3:56 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy Introduction
Colombia is a South American nation bounded in the northwest by the Central American nation of Panama, in the east by Venezuela, in the south by Brazil, in the southwest by Peru and Ecuador. Its northern coast fronts the Caribbean Sea and its western coast fronts the Pacific Ocean. Over 310 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Colombia.
25 most common species in Colombia
Foureye butterflyfish- the most frequently observed reef fish in Colombia. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Blue chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Colombia. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
The following ranking is based on the results of 514 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 660 hours and 40 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 1, 2009). The species are ranked by the percentage of surveys in which a species was observed. Abundance of fishes in REEF Fish Surveys are estimated using the following categories: 1- single =1 individual, 2-few = 2- 10 individuals, 3-many = 11-100 individuals, and 4-abundant > 100 individuals. The mean numeric abundance (ranging from 1 - 4) was calculated for each species.. The mean abundance category is determined as follows: mean abundance category 0 - 1.49 = single, 1.50 - 1.99 = single-few, 2.0 - 2.49 = few, 2.5 - 2.99 = few-many, 3.0 - 3.49 = many, 3.5 -3.99 = many-abundant, and 4.0 = abundant.
Species
| % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Foureye butterflyfish | 93.2 | few |
2. French grunt | 92.8 | few-many |
3. Blue tang | 91.6 | few-many |
4. Redband parrotfish | 90.3 | few-many |
5. Bluehead | 90.1 | many |
6. Blue chromis | 89.7 | many-abundant |
7. Bicolor damselfish | 88.9 | many |
8. Ocean surgeonfish | 87.9 | few-many |
9. Yellowhead wrasse | 86.8 | many |
10. Bar jack | 84.6 | few |
11. Princess parrotfish | 83.5 | few-many |
12. Fairy basslet | 83.5 | few-many |
13. Yellow goatfish | 82.9 | few |
14. Graysby | 82.1 | few |
15. Stoplight parotfish | 80.9 | few-many |
16. Brown chromis | 80.0 | many |
17. Banded butterflyfish | 79.4 | single-few |
18. Sharpnose puffer | 78.0 | few |
19. Spanish hogfish | 76.7 | few |
20. Threespot damselfish | 75.1 | few-many |
21. Coney | 74.9 | few |
22. Rock beauty | 74.7 | single-few |
23. Longspine squirrelfish | 73.7 | few |
24. Schoolmaster | 73.7 | few |
25. Yellowtail snapper | 72.4 | few |
References and Further Reading
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Citation
Mark McGinley (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Common coral reef fishes of Colombia". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth March 30, 2010; Last revised Date September 20, 2010; Retrieved June 18, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_Colombia?topic=49480>
The Author
Mark McGinley is an Associate Professor in the Honors College and Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University. He has conducted research in the evolutionary, behavioral, and community ecology of animals and plants. Dr. McGinley’s recent scholarly interests focus on educating the general public about scientific (particularly environmental) issues. He is currently working closely with students in an interdisciplinary degree program, Natural History and Humanities, which combine ... (Full Bio)
Introduction
Colombia is a South American nation bounded in the northwest by the Central American nation of Panama, in the east by Venezuela, in the south by Brazil, in the southwest by Peru and Ecuador. Its northern coast fronts the Caribbean Sea and its western coast fronts the Pacific Ocean. Over 310 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Colombia.
25 most common species in Colombia
Foureye butterflyfish- the most frequently observed reef fish in Colombia. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Blue chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Colombia. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
The following ranking is based on the results of 514 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 660 hours and 40 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 1, 2009). The species are ranked by the percentage of surveys in which a species was observed. Abundance of fishes in REEF Fish Surveys are estimated using the following categories: 1- single =1 individual, 2-few = 2- 10 individuals, 3-many = 11-100 individuals, and 4-abundant > 100 individuals. The mean numeric abundance (ranging from 1 - 4) was calculated for each species.. The mean abundance category is determined as follows: mean abundance category 0 - 1.49 = single, 1.50 - 1.99 = single-few, 2.0 - 2.49 = few, 2.5 - 2.99 = few-many, 3.0 - 3.49 = many, 3.5 -3.99 = many-abundant, and 4.0 = abundant.
Species
| % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Foureye butterflyfish | 93.2 | few |
2. French grunt | 92.8 | few-many |
3. Blue tang | 91.6 | few-many |
4. Redband parrotfish | 90.3 | few-many |
5. Bluehead | 90.1 | many |
6. Blue chromis | 89.7 | many-abundant |
7. Bicolor damselfish | 88.9 | many |
8. Ocean surgeonfish | 87.9 | few-many |
9. Yellowhead wrasse | 86.8 | many |
10. Bar jack | 84.6 | few |
11. Princess parrotfish | 83.5 | few-many |
12. Fairy basslet | 83.5 | few-many |
13. Yellow goatfish | 82.9 | few |
14. Graysby | 82.1 | few |
15. Stoplight parotfish | 80.9 | few-many |
16. Brown chromis | 80.0 | many |
17. Banded butterflyfish | 79.4 | single-few |
18. Sharpnose puffer | 78.0 | few |
19. Spanish hogfish | 76.7 | few |
20. Threespot damselfish | 75.1 | few-many |
21. Coney | 74.9 | few |
22. Rock beauty | 74.7 | single-few |
23. Longspine squirrelfish | 73.7 | few |
24. Schoolmaster | 73.7 | few |
25. Yellowtail snapper | 72.4 | few |
References and Further Reading
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