Common coral reef fishes of the British Virgin Islands
Bicolor damselfish, Stegastes partitus (http://reefguide.org/carib/pixhtml/bicolordamsel5.html)
Contents
- 1 Introduction The British Virgin Islands (Common coral reef fishes of the British Virgin Islands) , a small island nation, is one of the Windward Islandsof the eastern Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem).Over310 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in the British Virgin Islands.
- 2 25 most common species in the British Virgin Islands
- 3 Islands of the British Virgin Islands
- 4 References and Further Reading
Introduction The British Virgin Islands (Common coral reef fishes of the British Virgin Islands) , a small island nation, is one of the Windward Islandsof the eastern Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem).Over310 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in the British Virgin Islands.
25 most common species in the British Virgin Islands
Bluehead—the most frequently observed reef fish in the British Virgin Islands. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. The following ranking is based on the results of2605REEF Fish Surveyscovering a bottom time of2516 hours and23 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report, May 28, 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.
Brown Chromis—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in the British Virgin Islands. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. |
Species |
% of surveys observed |
Mean abundance category |
|
1. Bluehead |
97.7 |
many |
|
2. Blue tang |
97.1 |
few-many |
|
3. Bicolor damselfish |
94.3 |
many |
|
4. Brown chromis |
92.0 |
many-abundant |
|
5. Blackbar soldierfish |
89.7 |
many-abundant |
|
6. Stoplight parrotfish |
88.0 |
few |
|
7. Trumpetfish |
86.9 |
few |
|
8. French grunt |
86.9 |
few-many |
|
9. Redband parrotfish |
86.3 |
few-many |
|
10. Yellowhead wrasse |
85.7 |
few-many |
|
11. Ocean surgeonfish |
84.6 |
few-many |
|
12. Spanish hogfish |
83.4 |
few |
|
13. Threespot damselfish |
82.3 |
few-many |
|
14. Princess parrotfish |
81.1 |
few-many |
|
15. Sergeant major |
80.6 |
few-many |
|
16. Sharpnose puffer |
80.0 |
few |
|
17. Longspine squirrelfish |
78.3 |
few |
|
18. Yellow goatfish |
77.1 |
few |
|
19. Blue chromis |
75.4 |
many |
|
20. Graysby |
74.9 |
few |
|
21. Masked goby |
73.1 |
many-abundant |
|
22. Barred hamlet |
72.0 |
few |
|
23. Striped parrotfish |
71.4 |
few-many |
|
24. Smooth trunkfish |
69.1 |
single-few |
|
25. Bridled goby |
66.9 |
few-many |
Islands of the British Virgin Islands
- Common coral reef fishes of Anegada
- Common coral reef fishes of Tortola
- Common coral reef fishes of Virgin Gorda
References and Further Reading
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation
- Geographic Zone Report- 05-28,2009
- REEF Fish Gallery
- Humann, P. and N. Deloach (Editor), 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078
