Common coral reef fishes of Anguilla

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ocean surgeonfish Acanthurus bahianus (By Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), via Wikimedia Commons)

Introduction

Anguilla (Common coral reef fishes of Anguilla) is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. It consists of the main island of Anguilla itself, approximately 26 km (16mi) long by 5 km (3.1mi) wide at its widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands and cays with no permanent population. Over 165 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Aguilla.

25 most common species in Anguilla

Blue Tang—the most frequently observed fish in Anguilla. Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough.

The following ranking is based on the results of102 surveys covering a bottom time of74 hours and 56 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report, May 27, 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.

Species

% of surveys observed

Mean abundance category

1. Blue tang

99.0

many

2. Stoplight parrotfish

98.0

few-many

3. Bluehead

98.0

many

4. Ocean surgeonfish

95.1

many

5. Redband parrotfish

90.2

many

6. Doctorfish

87.3

few

7. Queen parrotfish

86.3

few

8. Yellowtail damselfish

86.3

few

9. Chromis

85.3

many

10. Bar jack

85.3

few

11. Bicolor damselfish

82.4

few-many

12. Slippery dick

81.4

few

13. Damselfish

81.4

few-many

14. Yellowhead wrasse

81.4

few-many

15. Sergeant major

80.4

few-many

16. Sharpnose puffer

78.4

single-few

17. Clown wrasse

78.4

few

18. French grunt

77.5

few

19. Striped parrotfish

77.5

few

20. Spotted goatfish

76.5

few

21. Foureye butterflyfish

76.5

single-few

22. Puddingwife

76.5

single-few

23. Princess parrotfish

76.5

few-many

24. Beaugregory

75.5

few

25. Blue chromis

71.6

many

References and Further Reading

Citation

McGinley, M. (2014). Common coral reef fishes of Anguilla. Retrieved from http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_Anguilla