Common coral reef fishes of Grand Turk
Published: October 7, 2009, 7:04 pm
Updated: September 20, 2010, 7:17 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy Introduction
Grand Turk is one of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the West Indies. Over 310 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
25 most common species in Grand Turk
The following ranking is based on the results of 1083 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 1423 hours and 16 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 3, 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.
Blue tang- the most frequently observed reef fish in Grand Turk. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Blue chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Grand Turk. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Blue tang | 91.4 | few-many |
2. Foureye butterflyfish | 89.4 | few |
3. Blue chromis | 87.7 | many-abundant |
4. Bluehead | 86.9 | many |
5. Stoplight parrotfish | 86.5 | few-many |
6. Fairy basslet | 85.9 | many |
7. Bicolor damselfish | 81.5 | few-many |
8. Yellowtail snapper | 78.9 | few-many |
9. Bar jack | 75.5 | few |
10. Trumpetfish | 75.3 | single-few |
11. Princess parrotfish | 72.1 | few-many |
12. French grunt | 71.7 | few |
13. Rock beauty | 69.8 | single-few |
14. Bluestrip grunt | 69.0 | few |
15. Queen parrotfish | 68.1 | few |
16. Coney | 67.4 | few |
17. Nassau grouper | 66.6 | single-few |
18. Black durgon | 65.6 | few-many |
19. Yellowhead wrasse | 64.9 | few-many |
20. Banded butterflyfish | 62.6 | few |
21. Sharpnose puffer | 62.2 | few |
22. Yellow goatfish | 62.1 | few-many |
23. Schoolmaster | 60.4 | few |
24. Redband parrotfish | 59.8 | few |
25. Crreole wrasse | 57.8 | many |
References and Further Reading
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Citation
Mark McGinley (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Common coral reef fishes of Grand Turk". 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 26, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_Grand_Turk>
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
Grand Turk is one of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the West Indies. Over 310 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
25 most common species in Grand Turk
The following ranking is based on the results of 1083 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 1423 hours and 16 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 3, 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.
Blue tang- the most frequently observed reef fish in Grand Turk. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Blue chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Grand Turk. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Blue tang | 91.4 | few-many |
2. Foureye butterflyfish | 89.4 | few |
3. Blue chromis | 87.7 | many-abundant |
4. Bluehead | 86.9 | many |
5. Stoplight parrotfish | 86.5 | few-many |
6. Fairy basslet | 85.9 | many |
7. Bicolor damselfish | 81.5 | few-many |
8. Yellowtail snapper | 78.9 | few-many |
9. Bar jack | 75.5 | few |
10. Trumpetfish | 75.3 | single-few |
11. Princess parrotfish | 72.1 | few-many |
12. French grunt | 71.7 | few |
13. Rock beauty | 69.8 | single-few |
14. Bluestrip grunt | 69.0 | few |
15. Queen parrotfish | 68.1 | few |
16. Coney | 67.4 | few |
17. Nassau grouper | 66.6 | single-few |
18. Black durgon | 65.6 | few-many |
19. Yellowhead wrasse | 64.9 | few-many |
20. Banded butterflyfish | 62.6 | few |
21. Sharpnose puffer | 62.2 | few |
22. Yellow goatfish | 62.1 | few-many |
23. Schoolmaster | 60.4 | few |
24. Redband parrotfish | 59.8 | few |
25. Crreole wrasse | 57.8 | many |
References and Further Reading
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