Common coral reef fishes of Haiti

Biodiversity (main)

Published: June 16, 2014, 6:53 pm

Topics:

Biodiversity (main) Fisheries (main) Marine Ecology (main) Coral Reefs (main) Oceans and seas (main) Geography (main) Species (main)

Introduction Haiti (Common coral reef fishes of Haiti) is a country located on thewestern side of island of Hispaniola, while the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern side. Hispaniola is part of the group of islands known as the Greater Antilles. Over 95 species of reef fishes have been identified during limited number of REEF Fish Surveys in Haiti.

25 most common species in Haiti

Bluehead—the most frequently observed and the reef fish with the highest average abundance in Haiti. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. The following ranking is based on the results only 9 REEF Fish Surveyscovering a bottom time of8 hours and52 minutes. (REEF Geographic Zone Report, May 30, 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	88.9	many
2. Trumpetfish	77.8	single-few
3. Dusky damselfish	66.7	many
4. Ocean surgeonfish	66.7	many
5. Barred hamlet	66.7	few
6. Spotted goatfish	66.7	few-many
7. Blue tang	66.7	few-many
8. Yellowhead wrasse	66.7	few
9. Stooplight parrotfish	66.7	few-many
10. Redband parrotfish	55.6	few
11. Sergeant major	55.6	few
12. Yellowtail snapper	55.6	few
13. Slippery dick	55.6	single-few
14. Cocoa damselfish	55.6	few
15. Blue chromis	55.6	few
16. Fairy basslet	55.6	few-many
17. Bar jack	55.6	many
18. Striped parrotfish	55.6	many
19. Yellowtail damselfish	55.6	single-few
20. Black hamlet	55.6	few-many
21. Sharpnose puffer	55.6	few
22. Indigo hamlet	44.4	single-few
23. Spanish hogfish	44.4	single-few
24. Blackbar soldierfish	44.4	single-few
25. Puddingwife	44.4	single-few

References and Further Reading

• Reef Environmental Education Foundation
• Geographic Zone Report- 05-30-2009
• REEF Fish Gallery
• Humann, P. and N. Deloach (Editor), 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078

Citation

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