Common coral reef fishes of Puerto Rico
Published: October 7, 2009, 7:32 pm
Updated: September 20, 2010, 5:51 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy Introduction
Puerto Rico is an island in the northern Caribbean Sea that is a territory of the United States of America. Over 340 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Puerto Rico.
25 most common species in Puerto Rico
The following ranking is based on the results of 1120 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 1035 hours and 54 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.
Bluehead—the most frequently observed reef fish in Puerto Rico. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Black durgon—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Puerto Rico. photo by Barbara Reavis, www.scubadiving.com.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Bluehead | 89.6 | many |
2. Blue tang | 89.2 | few-many |
3. Foureye butterflyfish | 87.7 | few |
4. Stoplight parrotfish | 86.6 | few-many |
5. Ocean surgeonfish | 84.9 | few-many |
6. Bicolor damselfish | 84.8 | many |
7. Redband parrotfish | 78.7 | few-many |
8. Longspine squirrelfish | 76.3 | few |
9. Yellowtail damselfish | 75.4 | few |
10. Blue chromis | 72.8 | many |
11. Yellowhead wrasse | 71.1 | few-many |
12. French grunt | 70.1 | few |
13. Bar jack | 70.5 | few |
14. Fairy basslet | 67.1 | few-many |
15. Yellowtail snapper | 66.8 | few |
16. Sergeant major | 66.7 | few-many |
17. Brown chromis | 66.0 | many |
18. Princess parrotfish | 62.6 | few |
19. Striped parrotfish | 62.1 | few-many |
20. Spotted goatfish | 61.7 | single-few |
21. Banded butterflyfish | 61.2 | few |
22. Yellow goatfish | 60.4 | few |
23. Blackbar soldierfish | 58.6 | few |
24. Sharpnose puffer | 58.5 | single-few |
25. Graysby | 57.3 | single-few |
References and Further Reading
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Citation
Mark McGinley (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Common coral reef fishes of Puerto Rico". 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 June 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_Puerto_Rico>
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
Puerto Rico is an island in the northern Caribbean Sea that is a territory of the United States of America. Over 340 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Puerto Rico.
25 most common species in Puerto Rico
The following ranking is based on the results of 1120 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 1035 hours and 54 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.
Bluehead—the most frequently observed reef fish in Puerto Rico. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Black durgon—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Puerto Rico. photo by Barbara Reavis, www.scubadiving.com.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Bluehead | 89.6 | many |
2. Blue tang | 89.2 | few-many |
3. Foureye butterflyfish | 87.7 | few |
4. Stoplight parrotfish | 86.6 | few-many |
5. Ocean surgeonfish | 84.9 | few-many |
6. Bicolor damselfish | 84.8 | many |
7. Redband parrotfish | 78.7 | few-many |
8. Longspine squirrelfish | 76.3 | few |
9. Yellowtail damselfish | 75.4 | few |
10. Blue chromis | 72.8 | many |
11. Yellowhead wrasse | 71.1 | few-many |
12. French grunt | 70.1 | few |
13. Bar jack | 70.5 | few |
14. Fairy basslet | 67.1 | few-many |
15. Yellowtail snapper | 66.8 | few |
16. Sergeant major | 66.7 | few-many |
17. Brown chromis | 66.0 | many |
18. Princess parrotfish | 62.6 | few |
19. Striped parrotfish | 62.1 | few-many |
20. Spotted goatfish | 61.7 | single-few |
21. Banded butterflyfish | 61.2 | few |
22. Yellow goatfish | 60.4 | few |
23. Blackbar soldierfish | 58.6 | few |
24. Sharpnose puffer | 58.5 | single-few |
25. Graysby | 57.3 | single-few |
References and Further Reading
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