Common coral reef fishes of Antigua
Contents
Introduction
Antiguais a part of the nation Antigua and Barbuda (Common coral reef fishes of Antigua) inthe Lesser Antillies of the Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem). Over 165 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Antigua.
25 most common species in Antigua
The following ranking is based on the results of 32 surveys covering a bottom time of25 hours and 52 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 |
100.0 |
few-many |
|
2. Bluehead |
90.6 |
many |
|
3. Stoplight parrotfish |
87.5 |
few-many |
|
4.Yellowtail damselfish |
81.3 |
few |
|
5. Foureye butterflyfish |
81.3 |
few-many |
|
6. Yellowtail snapper |
78.1 |
few-many |
|
7. Sergeant major |
78.1 |
few-many |
|
8. Graysby |
78.1 |
few |
|
9. French grunt |
75.0 |
few-many |
|
10. Spanish hogfish |
75.0 |
few |
|
11. Yellowhead wrasse |
75.0 |
few-many |
|
12. Blue chromis |
71.9 |
few-many |
|
13. Bicolor damselfish |
71.9 |
many |
|
14. Banded butterflyfish |
68.8 |
single-few |
|
15. Ocean surgeonfish |
68.8 |
many |
|
16. Rock beauty |
65.6 |
single-few |
|
17. Black durgon |
65.6 |
few-many |
|
18. Redband parrotfish |
65.6 |
few-many |
|
19. Princess parrotfish |
65.6 |
few |
|
20. Trumpetfish |
65.6 |
few |
|
21. Slippery dick |
62.5 |
few-many |
|
22. Coney |
62.5 |
few |
|
23. Yellow goatfish |
59.4 |
many |
|
24. Brown chromis |
59.4 |
many |
|
25. Spotted goatfish |
59.4 |
few |
References and Further Reading
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation
- Geographic Zone Report- 05-27-2009
- REEF Fish Gallery
- Humann, P. and N. Deloach (Editor), 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078
