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Common coral reef fishes of Eleuthera

Common coral reef fishes of Eleuthera

Bluehead,The most common reef fish of Eleuthera. @ New World Publications Bluehead,The most common reef fish of Eleuthera. @ New World Publications
Published:
Updated: December 14, 2011, 8:29 am
Topics: Biodiversity Marine Ecology Species Oceans and seas Zoology Coral Reefs
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: C Michael Hogan

The common coral reef fishes of Eleuthera are reviewed in this article. Eluthera is an island in the  Bahamas, within the West Indies of the western Atlantic Basin. Over 230 species of coral reef fishes have been identified during Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) fish surveys offshore of Eluthera.

25 most common species in Eleuthera

The following reef fish occurrence rankings are based on the results of 161 fish surveys covering a bottom time of 159 hours and zero minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 4, 2009).  The species are ranked by the percentage of surveys in which a species was observed.  Abundance of fishes in shallow water 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.

Blue chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Eleuthera. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994. Blue chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Eleuthera. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.

 

Species 

% of surveys observed

Mean abundance category

 1.   Bluehead

 89.4

 many

 2.   Stoplight parrotfish  

 85.7

 few

 3.   Blue tang

 85.1

 few-many

 4.   Fairy basslet

 79.5

 many

 5.   Yellowtail snapper

 78.3

 few-many

 6.   Bar jack   

 73.3

 few

 7.   Blue chromis

 69.6

 many

 8.   Nassau grouper

 65.8

 single-few

 9.   Schoolmaster

 65.2

 few-many

 10.  Bicolor damselfish

 64.6

 few

 11.  French grunt 

 63.4

 few-many

 12.  Bluestriped grunt 

 59.6

 few

 13.  Foureye butterflyfish

 59.0

 few

 14.  Ocean surgeonfish

 57.8

 few-many

 15.  Yellowheade wrasse

 55.3

 few-many

 16.  Queen angelfish

 54.7

 single-few

 17.  Gray angelfish

 54.0

 single-few

 18.  Striped parrotfish

 54.0

 few-many

 19.  Great barracuda 

 52.2

 single-few

 20.  Sergeant major

 51.6

 few-many

 21.  Sharpnose puffer

 48.4

 few

 22.  Princess parrotfish

 46.6

 few

 23. Longspine squirrelfish

 46.0

 single-few

 24. Queen parrotfish

 46.0

 few

 25. Redband parrotfish

 45.3

 few

References and Further Reading

Citation

Mark McGinley (Lead Author);C Michael Hogan (Topic Editor) "Common coral reef fishes of Eleuthera". 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 July 10, 2009; Last revised Date December 14, 2011; Retrieved May 22, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_Eleuthera>

The Author

Mark McGinleyMark 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)

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