Common coral reef fishes of Barbados
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Contents
Introduction
Barbados (Common coral reef fishes of Barbados) , a small island nation, is one of the Windward Islandsof the eastern Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem).Over225 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Barbados.
25 most common species in Barbados
The following ranking is based on the results of134REEF Fish Surveyscovering a bottom time of157 hours and29 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.
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 |
References and Further Reading
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation
- Geographic Zone Report- 05-27-2009
- Fish Gallery
- Humann, P. and N. Deloach (Editor), 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078