Common coral reef fishes of Bimini

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Introduction

Bimini isan island in theBahamas in the West Indies. Over 320 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Bimini. (Common coral reef fishes of Bimini)

25 most common species in Bimini

Blue tang- the most frequently observed reef fish in Bimini. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994.

The following ranking is based on the results of1672REEF Fish Surveyscovering a bottom time of1552 hours and11 minutes.(REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 4, 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.

Blue chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Bimini. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994.

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

85.8

few-many

2. Bluehead

82.1

many

3. Bicolor damselfish

79.6

many

4. Yellowtail snapper

77.7

many

5. French grunt

77.2

many

6. Foureye butterflyfish

74.9

few

7. Blue chromis

73.8

many

8. Yellowhead wrasse

70.9

few-many

9. Bar jack

70.9

few-many

10. Bluestripe grunt

68.1

few-many

11. Ocean surgeonfish

67.5

few-many

12. Sergeant major

66.1

few-many

13. Rock beauty

65.3

single-few

14. Longspine squirrelfish

63.5

few

15. Stoplight parrotfish

62.9

few

16. Spanish hogfish

60.8

few

17. Gray angelfish

60.6

single-few

18. Fairy basslet

60.6

few-many

19. Spotted goatfish

59.4

few

20.Graysby

58.1

single-few

21. Banded butterflyfish

57.5

single-few

22. Black durgon

57.5

few-many

23. Doctorfish

57.2

few

24. Harlequin bass

57.1

few

25. Brown chromis

56.3

many

References and Further Reading

Citation

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