Biodiversity:Common coral reef fishes of Jamaica
Published: October 7, 2009, 8:29 pm
Updated: September 20, 2010, 4:07 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy Introduction
Jamaica, an island nation, located in Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba and west of Hispaniola. Over 260 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Jamaica.
25 most common species in Jamaica
The following ranking is based on the results of 134 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 157 hours and 29 minutes. REEF Geographic Zone Report, May 28, 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 Chromis—the most frequently observed and reef fish with the greatests mean abundance in Jamaica. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Blue chromis | 89.2 | many-abundant |
2. Bluehead | 88.0 | many |
3. Bicolor damselfish | 82.6 | many |
4. Yellowhead wrasse | 80.9 | few-many |
5. Stoplight parrotfish | 79.2 | few-many |
6. Spotted goatfish | 77.0 | few |
7. Blue tang | 73.8 | few-many |
8. Blackbar soldierfish | 73.5 | few-many |
9. Fairy basslet | 70.8 | few-many |
10. French grunt | 69.9 | few-many |
11. Redband parrotfish | 69.6 | few-many |
12. Harlequin bass | 69.1 | few |
13. Striped parrotfish | 67.6 | many |
14. Barred hamlet | 66.9 | few |
15. Brown chromis | 66.9 | few-many |
16. Sharpnose puffer | 66.9 | many |
17. Yellow goatfish | 66.7 | few-many |
18. Creole wrasse | 65.4 | many |
19. Sharopnose puffer | 64.5 | few |
20. Ocean surgeonfish | 63.7 | few |
21. Rock beauty | 61.5 | single-few |
22. Threespot damselfish | 60.3 | few-many |
23. Trumpetfish | 60.0 | single-few |
24. Princess parrotfish | 60.0 | few-many |
25. Foureye butterflyfish | 56.9 | few |
References and Further Reading
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Citation
Mark McGinley (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Common coral reef fishes of Jamaica". 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_Jamaica?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
Jamaica, an island nation, located in Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba and west of Hispaniola. Over 260 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Jamaica.
25 most common species in Jamaica
The following ranking is based on the results of 134 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 157 hours and 29 minutes. REEF Geographic Zone Report, May 28, 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 Chromis—the most frequently observed and reef fish with the greatests mean abundance in Jamaica. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Blue chromis | 89.2 | many-abundant |
2. Bluehead | 88.0 | many |
3. Bicolor damselfish | 82.6 | many |
4. Yellowhead wrasse | 80.9 | few-many |
5. Stoplight parrotfish | 79.2 | few-many |
6. Spotted goatfish | 77.0 | few |
7. Blue tang | 73.8 | few-many |
8. Blackbar soldierfish | 73.5 | few-many |
9. Fairy basslet | 70.8 | few-many |
10. French grunt | 69.9 | few-many |
11. Redband parrotfish | 69.6 | few-many |
12. Harlequin bass | 69.1 | few |
13. Striped parrotfish | 67.6 | many |
14. Barred hamlet | 66.9 | few |
15. Brown chromis | 66.9 | few-many |
16. Sharpnose puffer | 66.9 | many |
17. Yellow goatfish | 66.7 | few-many |
18. Creole wrasse | 65.4 | many |
19. Sharopnose puffer | 64.5 | few |
20. Ocean surgeonfish | 63.7 | few |
21. Rock beauty | 61.5 | single-few |
22. Threespot damselfish | 60.3 | few-many |
23. Trumpetfish | 60.0 | single-few |
24. Princess parrotfish | 60.0 | few-many |
25. Foureye butterflyfish | 56.9 | few |
References and Further Reading
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