Biodiversity:Common coral reef fishes of the Netherlands Antilles
Published: October 7, 2009, 7:45 pm
Updated: September 20, 2010, 4:27 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy Introduction
The Netherlands Antilles (or "Dutch Antilles") consists of five islands in two groups in the Caribbean Sea. The southern group of Curacao and Bonaire lie just north of the Venezuelan coast and the northern group, Saint Eustatius, Saba and Saint Maarten, are located southeast of the Virgin Islands. Over 490 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in the Netherlands Antilles.
25 most common species in the Netherland Antilles
The following ranking is based on the results of 17,990 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 22,729 hours and 2 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 1, 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 the Netherlands Antilles. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Brown Chromis—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in the Netherlands Antilles. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species
| % of surveys observed
| Mean abundance category
|
1. Blue tang | 95.0 | few-many |
2. Stoplight parrotfish | 94.9 | few-many |
3. Brown chromis | 94.5 | many-abundant |
4. Bicolor damselfish | 94.4 | many-abundant |
5. Sergeant major | 93.3 | many |
6. Foureye butterflyfish | 93.3 | many-abundant |
7. Bluehead | 92.7 | many |
8. French grunt | 92.6 | few-many |
9. Yellow goatfish | 92.4 | many |
10. Trumpetfish | 92.0 | few |
11. Schoolmaster | 89.0 | few-many |
12. Blackbar soldierfish | 89.0 | few-many |
13. Blue chromis | 88.7 | many |
14. Smooth trunkfish | 88.6 | few |
15. Princess parrotfish | 88.2 | few-many |
16. Yellowhead wrasse | 87.4 | many |
17. Spanish hogfish | 86.9 | few |
18. Queen parrotfish | 86.7 | few-many |
19. Yellowtail snapper | 86.7 | few-many |
20. Yellowtail damselfish | 86.5 | few-many |
21. Graysby | 86.3 | few-many |
22. Bar jack | 86.3 | few |
23. Banded butterflyfish | 84.9 | few |
24. Fairy basslet | 84.1 | many |
25. Mahogany snapper | 83.1 | few-many |
Islands of the Netherlands Antilles
References and Further Reading
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Citation
Mark McGinley (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Common coral reef fishes of the Netherlands Antilles". 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 22, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_the_Netherlands_Antilles?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
The Netherlands Antilles (or "Dutch Antilles") consists of five islands in two groups in the Caribbean Sea. The southern group of Curacao and Bonaire lie just north of the Venezuelan coast and the northern group, Saint Eustatius, Saba and Saint Maarten, are located southeast of the Virgin Islands. Over 490 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in the Netherlands Antilles.
25 most common species in the Netherland Antilles
The following ranking is based on the results of 17,990 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 22,729 hours and 2 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 1, 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 the Netherlands Antilles. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Brown Chromis—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in the Netherlands Antilles. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species
| % of surveys observed
| Mean abundance category
|
1. Blue tang | 95.0 | few-many |
2. Stoplight parrotfish | 94.9 | few-many |
3. Brown chromis | 94.5 | many-abundant |
4. Bicolor damselfish | 94.4 | many-abundant |
5. Sergeant major | 93.3 | many |
6. Foureye butterflyfish | 93.3 | many-abundant |
7. Bluehead | 92.7 | many |
8. French grunt | 92.6 | few-many |
9. Yellow goatfish | 92.4 | many |
10. Trumpetfish | 92.0 | few |
11. Schoolmaster | 89.0 | few-many |
12. Blackbar soldierfish | 89.0 | few-many |
13. Blue chromis | 88.7 | many |
14. Smooth trunkfish | 88.6 | few |
15. Princess parrotfish | 88.2 | few-many |
16. Yellowhead wrasse | 87.4 | many |
17. Spanish hogfish | 86.9 | few |
18. Queen parrotfish | 86.7 | few-many |
19. Yellowtail snapper | 86.7 | few-many |
20. Yellowtail damselfish | 86.5 | few-many |
21. Graysby | 86.3 | few-many |
22. Bar jack | 86.3 | few |
23. Banded butterflyfish | 84.9 | few |
24. Fairy basslet | 84.1 | many |
25. Mahogany snapper | 83.1 | few-many |
Islands of the Netherlands Antilles
References and Further Reading
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