Common coral reef fishes of Colombia
Foureye butterflyfish- the most frequently observed reef fish in Colombia. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. (image: www.flmnh.ufl.edu)
Contents
- 1 Introduction Colombia (Common coral reef fishes of Colombia) is a South American nation bounded in the northwest by the Central American nation of Panama, in the east by Venezuela, in the south by Brazil, in the southwest by Peru and Ecuador. Its northern coast fronts the Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem) and its western coast fronts the Pacific Ocean. Over310 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Colombia.
- 2 25 most common species in Colombia
- 3 References and Further Reading
Introduction Colombia (Common coral reef fishes of Colombia) is a South American nation bounded in the northwest by the Central American nation of Panama, in the east by Venezuela, in the south by Brazil, in the southwest by Peru and Ecuador. Its northern coast fronts the Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem) and its western coast fronts the Pacific Ocean. Over310 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Colombia.
25 most common species in Colombia
Blue chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Colombia. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. The following ranking is based on the results of514REEF Fish Surveyscovering a bottom time of660 hours and40 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. Foureye butterflyfish |
93.2 |
few |
|
2. French grunt |
92.8 |
few-many |
|
3. Blue tang |
91.6 |
few-many |
|
4. Redband parrotfish |
90.3 |
few-many |
|
5. Bluehead |
90.1 |
many |
|
6. Blue chromis |
89.7 |
many-abundant |
|
7. Bicolor damselfish |
88.9 |
many |
|
8. Ocean surgeonfish |
87.9 |
few-many |
|
9. Yellowhead wrasse |
86.8 |
many |
|
10. Bar jack |
84.6 |
few |
|
11. Princess parrotfish |
83.5 |
few-many |
|
12. Fairy basslet |
83.5 |
few-many |
|
13. Yellow goatfish |
82.9 |
few |
|
14. Graysby |
82.1 |
few |
|
15. Stoplight parotfish |
80.9 |
few-many |
|
16. Brown chromis |
80.0 |
many |
|
17. Banded butterflyfish |
79.4 |
single-few |
|
18. Sharpnose puffer |
78.0 |
few |
|
19. Spanish hogfish |
76.7 |
few |
|
20.Threespot damselfish |
75.1 |
few-many |
|
21. Coney |
74.9 |
few |
|
22. Rock beauty |
74.7 |
single-few |
|
23. Longspine squirrelfish |
73.7 |
few |
|
24. Schoolmaster |
73.7 |
few |
|
25. Yellowtail snapper |
72.4 |
few |
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
