Common coral reef fishes of Bonaire
Stoplight parrotfish-the most frequently observed reef fish in Bonaire. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. (Florent Charpin, http://reefguide.org/stoplightparrotfish.html)
Contents
- 1 Introduction Bonaireis an island in the Netherlands Antilles (Common coral reef fishes of Bonaire) (or "Dutch Antilles") located to the north of the Venezuelan coast in the Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem).Over475 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Bonaire.
- 2 25 most common species in Bonaire
- 3 References and Further Reading
Introduction Bonaireis an island in the Netherlands Antilles (Common coral reef fishes of Bonaire) (or "Dutch Antilles") located to the north of the Venezuelan coast in the Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem).Over475 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Bonaire.
25 most common species in Bonaire
Brown chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean abundance in Bonaire. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. The following ranking is based on the results of16,307REEF Fish Surveyscovering a bottom time of20,992 hours and42 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.
|
Species |
% of surveys observed |
Mean abundance category |
|
1. Stoplight parrotfish |
95.9 |
few-many |
|
2. Blue tang |
95.7 |
few-many |
|
3. Brown chromis |
95.4 |
many-abundant |
|
4. Bicolor damselfish |
95.0 |
many-abundant |
|
5. Sergeant major |
94.1 |
many |
|
6. Foureye butterflyfish |
93.9 |
few |
|
7. Yellow goatfish |
93.9 |
many |
|
8. Bluehead |
93.5 |
many-abundant |
|
9. French grunt |
93.3 |
few-many |
|
10. Trumpetfish |
93.3 |
few |
|
11. Schoolmaster |
91.7 |
few-many |
|
12. Blackbar soldierfish |
90.8 |
few-many |
|
13. Smooth trunkfish |
90.0 |
few |
|
14. Blue chromis |
89.9 |
many |
|
15. Princess parrotfish |
89.9 |
few-many |
|
16. Bar jack |
89.9 |
few |
|
17. Queen parrotfish |
89.3 |
few-many |
|
18. Yellowhead wrasse |
89.0 |
many |
|
19. Spanish hogfish |
88.9 |
few |
|
20.Graysby |
88.8 |
few-many |
|
21. Yellowtail snapper |
88.8 |
few-many |
|
22. Yellowtail Ddamselfish |
88.0 |
few-many |
|
23. Mahogany snapper |
86.5 |
few-many |
|
24. Banded butterflyfish |
86.0 |
few |
|
25. Fairy basslet |
85.6 |
many |
References and Further Reading
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation
- Geographic Zone Report- 06-01-2009
- REEF Fish Gallery
- Humann, P. and N. Deloach (Editor), 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078
