Biodiversity:Common coral reef fishes of Salt Cay
Published: October 7, 2009, 6:59 pm
Updated: September 20, 2010, 7:20 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy Introduction
Salt Cay is one of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the West Indies. Over 210 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Salt Cay.
25 most common species in Salt Cay
The following ranking is based on the results of 216 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 224 hours and 42 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 Salt Cay. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Blue chromis—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Salt Cay. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Blue tang | 92.1 | few-many |
2. Stoplight parrotfish | 92.1 | few-many |
3. Bluehead | 90.3 | many |
4. Foureye butterflyfish | 88.4 | few |
5. Fairy basslet | 86.1 | many |
6. Rock beauty | 85.6 | few |
7. Blue chromis | 84.7 | many-abundant |
8. Bicolor damselfish | 84.3 | few-many |
9. Trumpetfish | 81.5 | single-few |
10. French grunt | 80.6 | few-many |
11. Schoolmaster | 77.3 | few |
12. Queen parrotfish | 73.6 | few |
13. Coney | 70.4 | few |
14. Bluestriped grunt | 70.4 | few-many |
15. ellowtail snapper | 68.5 | few-many |
16. Yellowhead wrasse | 68.1 | few-many |
17. Princess parrotfish | 67.1 | few |
18. Banded butterflyfish | 67.1 | few |
19. Bar jack | 66.7 | few |
20. Redband parrotfish | 66.7 | few-many |
21. Creole wrasse | 64.8 | many |
22. Longsnout butterflyfish | 61.1 | single-few |
23. Ocean surgeonfish | 60.6 | few |
24. Harlequin bass | 59.7 | few |
25. Smooth trunkfish | 58.3 | 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 Salt Cay". 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 20, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_Salt_Cay?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
Salt Cay is one of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the West Indies. Over 210 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Salt Cay.
25 most common species in Salt Cay
The following ranking is based on the results of 216 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 224 hours and 42 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 Salt Cay. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Blue chromis—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Salt Cay. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species | % of surveys observed | Mean abundance category |
1. Blue tang | 92.1 | few-many |
2. Stoplight parrotfish | 92.1 | few-many |
3. Bluehead | 90.3 | many |
4. Foureye butterflyfish | 88.4 | few |
5. Fairy basslet | 86.1 | many |
6. Rock beauty | 85.6 | few |
7. Blue chromis | 84.7 | many-abundant |
8. Bicolor damselfish | 84.3 | few-many |
9. Trumpetfish | 81.5 | single-few |
10. French grunt | 80.6 | few-many |
11. Schoolmaster | 77.3 | few |
12. Queen parrotfish | 73.6 | few |
13. Coney | 70.4 | few |
14. Bluestriped grunt | 70.4 | few-many |
15. ellowtail snapper | 68.5 | few-many |
16. Yellowhead wrasse | 68.1 | few-many |
17. Princess parrotfish | 67.1 | few |
18. Banded butterflyfish | 67.1 | few |
19. Bar jack | 66.7 | few |
20. Redband parrotfish | 66.7 | few-many |
21. Creole wrasse | 64.8 | many |
22. Longsnout butterflyfish | 61.1 | single-few |
23. Ocean surgeonfish | 60.6 | few |
24. Harlequin bass | 59.7 | few |
25. Smooth trunkfish | 58.3 | single-few |
References and Further Reading
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