Common coral reef fishes of Costa Rica
Published: October 7, 2009, 4:19 pm
Updated: September 20, 2010, 5:43 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy Introduction
Costa Rica is a Central American nation located between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Its eastern coast fronts the Caribbean Sea while its western coast fronts the Pacific Ocean. In limited sampling, over 80 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Costa Rica.
25 most common species in Costa Rica
The following ranking is based on the results of only 28 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 24 hours. (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.
Yellowtail damselfish—the most frequently observed reef fish in Costa Rica. photo by J.E. Randall, www.fishbase.org.
Glassy sweeper—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Costa Riva. photo by Florent Charpin, www.reefguide.org.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category
|
1. Yellowtail damselfish | 71.4 | few |
2. Bluehead | 64.3 | few-many |
3. Dusky damselfish | 60.7 | few-many |
4. Sergeant major | 60.7 | many |
5. Spanish hogfish | 53.6 | few |
6. Ocean surgeonfish | 50.0 | few |
7. Stoplight parrotfish | 50.0 | few-many |
8. Blue tang | 50.0 | few |
9. Spanish grunt | 50.0 | few-many |
10. Yellowtail snapper | 42.9 | few |
11. Doctorfish | 42.9 | few-many |
12. Spotfin butterflyfish | 42.9 | single-few |
13. Banded butterflyfish | 39.3 | few |
14. Squirrelfish | 39.3 | single-few |
15. Clown wrasse | 35.7 | few |
16. Porkfish | 32.1 | few |
17. Redlip blenny | 28.6 | few |
18. Bluestriped grunt | 25.0 | few-many |
19. Lane snapper | 25.0 | few-many |
20. Schoolmaster | 21.4 | few-many |
21. Blackbar soldierfish | 21.4 | single-few |
22. Bar jack | 21.4 | single-few |
23. Sharpnose puffer | 21.4 | single-few |
24. Yellow goatfish | 21.4 | few |
25. Striped parrotfish | 21.4 | few |
References and Further Reading
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Citation
Mark McGinley (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Common coral reef fishes of Costa Rica". 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 October 7, 2009; Last revised Date September 20, 2010; Retrieved May 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_Costa_Rica>
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
Costa Rica is a Central American nation located between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Its eastern coast fronts the Caribbean Sea while its western coast fronts the Pacific Ocean. In limited sampling, over 80 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Costa Rica.
25 most common species in Costa Rica
The following ranking is based on the results of only 28 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 24 hours. (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.
Yellowtail damselfish—the most frequently observed reef fish in Costa Rica. photo by J.E. Randall, www.fishbase.org.
Glassy sweeper—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Costa Riva. photo by Florent Charpin, www.reefguide.org.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category
|
1. Yellowtail damselfish | 71.4 | few |
2. Bluehead | 64.3 | few-many |
3. Dusky damselfish | 60.7 | few-many |
4. Sergeant major | 60.7 | many |
5. Spanish hogfish | 53.6 | few |
6. Ocean surgeonfish | 50.0 | few |
7. Stoplight parrotfish | 50.0 | few-many |
8. Blue tang | 50.0 | few |
9. Spanish grunt | 50.0 | few-many |
10. Yellowtail snapper | 42.9 | few |
11. Doctorfish | 42.9 | few-many |
12. Spotfin butterflyfish | 42.9 | single-few |
13. Banded butterflyfish | 39.3 | few |
14. Squirrelfish | 39.3 | single-few |
15. Clown wrasse | 35.7 | few |
16. Porkfish | 32.1 | few |
17. Redlip blenny | 28.6 | few |
18. Bluestriped grunt | 25.0 | few-many |
19. Lane snapper | 25.0 | few-many |
20. Schoolmaster | 21.4 | few-many |
21. Blackbar soldierfish | 21.4 | single-few |
22. Bar jack | 21.4 | single-few |
23. Sharpnose puffer | 21.4 | single-few |
24. Yellow goatfish | 21.4 | few |
25. Striped parrotfish | 21.4 | few |
References and Further Reading
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